How do we get 3D printing going in Canberra?

matt31221 said :

So is this 3D printing a gimmick? What can it print? Metal or plastic and biggest question – how the heck does it do it?

Google “reprap” and you’ll know. Lots of youtube videos, too. Basically it is like an inkjet printer that heats up a plastic rod and layers it out as it cools and hardens. Although people have also used chopped up plastic milk bottles as feedstock…

As to what it can print, well the body shells for model trains like the picture on Riotact atm about Yet Another Fast Train Inquiry can be done.

So is this 3D printing a gimmick? What can it print? Metal or plastic and biggest question – how the heck does it do it?

Apparently concepts for a food printer are already in the works:

http://othersideofscience.com/2011/08/food-printer-a-revolution-in-food/

Erg0 said :

Is anyone else concerned that we’re in the process of giving our eventual machine overlords the means to infinitely reproduce?

hopefully they’ll remember who their friends are.

Is anyone else concerned that we’re in the process of giving our eventual machine overlords the means to infinitely reproduce?

Hmm a memory has surfaced of reading an article in New Scientist last year about 3D printing and how they are begining to use it to make palnes and cars that aren’t restricted to the old welded metal problems. They were talking about printing into a vat of metal powder and dusting it off afterwards. aybe then i should have looked more into it.

Found it: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20737-3d-printing-the-worlds-first-printed-plane.html

They also have other articles on 3D printing as well.

Don’t we just need to buy one 3D printer, then use it to print more 3D printers?

Ah, fair cop, must be a different artist!

One of the key ideas behind the 3d printers is that you can print off a large proportion of the components so that you can make additional printers. Theoretically once a couple of people have them they won’t be hard to source. You’ll just need the metal beams, printing head, filament, stepper motors, electronics and printing surfaces.

One of the things that people fail to realise with 3d printers, is that you can make prints with moving parts, all within the single print – for example you could make a working monkey wrench, or a toy car.

3D printing is awesome. I’ve replaced a broken part in my Roomba robot from a CAD file on Thingiverse.
I think it’s more appropriate to liken 3D printing to the early days of home PCs. I’m old enought to remember that era. People would build a PC in their garage – and by build I mean circuit boards and soldering. Other people would ask what can it do, and your answer would be hmmm, not much, but you just wait.
Botmill is an example of a great cheap printer that is partially made from parts printed by a botmill. Makerbot has just come out with a new bigger print bed 3d printer which prints in two colours of ABS plastic.
An exciting technology indeed.

Aestabjoo said :

Myself and two mates built are in the process of building a Longboat Prusa. We built the frame over the Christmas break and will be putting the brains in it tonight. I’m a member of MHV and plan on opening it up to members use on request.

Also, MHV have an additional frame built, it’s just waiting for the smarts. I believe they’ve also got a kit on order. If you’re interested, why not join their mailing list and say g’day to the community?

In regards to the guy at the Portrait Gallery selling jewelery, I think you’ll find that those were laser cut. The pattern’s made using a very complex mathematical algorhythm that formulates natural looking leaf-life constructs. The dude who makes it is a great guy, and quite a genious. “Neat Objects” is the name the guy sells under – http://www.etsy.com/shop/neatobjects?ref=seller_info

I don’t remember any of the necklaces or brooches. I do remember that he had rings that were mostly flower looking and he was explaining the process of 3D printing to me though, so maybe it was someone different.

Using the printer he discribed for anything else other then jewlery didn’t occur to me until i looked at the links other commentors have included above.

Myself and two mates built are in the process of building a Longboat Prusa. We built the frame over the Christmas break and will be putting the brains in it tonight. I’m a member of MHV and plan on opening it up to members use on request.

Also, MHV have an additional frame built, it’s just waiting for the smarts. I believe they’ve also got a kit on order. If you’re interested, why not join their mailing list and say g’day to the community?

In regards to the guy at the Portrait Gallery selling jewelery, I think you’ll find that those were laser cut. The pattern’s made using a very complex mathematical algorhythm that formulates natural looking leaf-life constructs. The dude who makes it is a great guy, and quite a genious. “Neat Objects” is the name the guy sells under – http://www.etsy.com/shop/neatobjects?ref=seller_info

The thing is there will be a few phases of this.

Like the guys advertising VHS to DVD transfers at the local shops five years there will be a period where the printers are rare and you can make good money making people’s lost chess pieces and the backs of ear rings.

But at some point they will be pretty common.

Then again people still get paid a lot to make websites, something anyone could learn how to do if they were so inclined.

But it seems likely that before too long the only thing that will need manufacturing is 3d printers.

and possibly servo motors…

Baldy said :

That is awesome. The inner kid in me can see the toy/sport gear possibilities.

The outer adult in me can see all those little niggly things that i need to buy for the house. Plugs, curtain rings, bottle stops, ect. to many people at the BBQ and not enought knves and folks? No problem, I’ll just print some off. I dare sya that the machine will pay for it self afetr a while just in saving/ time.

Plus very outer geek in me thinks “yay. new toy”.

I was at the Portrait gallery drinks last year when they had a market. There was a guy selling jewllery printed from one of these machines. Just think; ooops, i forgot such and suches birthday, better quickly design and print off a necklace and earings for her.

The possibilities.

/excited geek rant

That is awesome. The inner kid in me can see the toy/sport gear possibilities.

The outer adult in me can see all those little niggly things that i need to buy for the house. Plugs, curtain rings, bottle stops, ect. to many people at the BBQ and not enought knves and folks? No problem, I’ll just print some off. I dare sya that the machine will pay for it self afetr a while just in saving/ time.

Plus very outer geek in me thinks “yay. new toy”.

I was at the Portrait gallery drinks last year when they had a market. There was a guy selling jewllery printed from one of these machines. Just think; ooops, i forgot such and suches birthday, better quickly design and print off a necklace and earings for her.

The possibilities.

Ops, sorry johnboy. I assumed they already had one from their flickr stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angusgr/6249406384/in/pool-1459916@N22/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16503443

I was reading in The Age that you can buy plastic printers for kids for around $1200. So unless you can make them cheaper than that I wouldn’t see a market for it.

MHV are great, but they’re in the “we’ve ordered one printer” stage.

Which is a world away from getting an economy into the game.

Its already done. Check out the mob at http://www.makehackvoid.com/