And if some day I crumble and actually get one
Are there any that will print steel (or high temp composites) that will allow me to create engine parts for my car?
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NASA is experimenting with similar machines.
You can't directly print most metals yet. (Maybe you could print gallium or mercury, but there are issues with metals that are liquid near room temperature...)
You can use lasers to selectively create metals from starting powders - http://www.nasa.gov/...tive_melting.html You can also 3D print a form and then cover it with metal - http://www.shapeways...dprinting_gallery The process lays down a thin layer of stainless steel powder, this is bound by a binding material. Layer after layer is applied and the resulting model is then lifted out of the powder. The model is then heated, cured and infused with bronze. Then in this case it is polished. This is a very new process and we're taking it straight out of the lab and bringing it to you. AWESOME!!!!11 :-/ It's still a very young technique. HTH. Cheers, Scott. |
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Yes...
but they are not as simple as a plastic printer.
Much more complicated and are typically kind of a laser ablation technique. And you'd be fare better off buying the parts rather than making them at this point. --
greg@gregfolkert.net PGP key 1024D/B524687C 2003-08-05 Fingerprint: E1D3 E3D7 5850 957E FED0 2B3A ED66 6971 B524 687C |