the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range April 27, 2017 08:34AM |
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Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range April 27, 2017 09:36AM |
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Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range April 27, 2017 10:57AM |
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Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range April 27, 2017 11:40AM |
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Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range April 27, 2017 04:10PM |
Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 21 |
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leadinglights
Although it is obviously good to have printed parts that are accurate, strong and aesthetically appealing, to think that 3D printing should replace all other manufacturing processes is not practical and will lead to disappointment. Incremental improvements in 3D printing are worth pursuing, but not at the expense of spending effort that would be better dedicated to engineering the product or part so that it can satisfactorily be made with 3D printing methods.
I think that my point is best shown by pointing to the construction of the bridge at Ironbridge in Shropshire (U.K.). This was the first ever cast iron bridge and was made in 1779. The construction, including all of the parts, are made with the same joints as would be used in a wooden bridge and the iron beams even have the same dimensions as would have been used in a wooden bridge.
As fascinating as it is to look at the iron bridge now, at that time many would have seen it as a complete folly: Nearly as much wood would have been used to make the patterns for the parts as would have been used had it been an all timber construction. This is not to mention the wood used to make the charcoal for smelting the iron and the labour of mining the ore, casting everything and assembling the heavy cast iron.
Before trying to make unbreakable and very accurate parts which are as smooth as lacquer it would be better to engineer them to take advantage of their strengths and use other processes such as machining or fitting inserts to make up for the deficiencies. It is a mindset thing, don't look at the broken impeller of you vacuum cleaner and think you can replace it with a 3D printed part, look rather to the thing that nobody makes at all because of shape complexity or for some other reason.
Mike
Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range April 27, 2017 04:23PM |
Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 21 |
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DjDemonD
Well as a statement of desirability then yes I agree. I would like to be able to buy for modest cost a machine that can produce parts in a wide range of useful materials including metals, that are smooth, made to high precision and fast to produce.
Now the important bit is how do we make one?
Have you any ideas how we might move things forward? Any ideas that are not currently patents held by the big boys like Stratasys?
Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range April 28, 2017 05:49AM |
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Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range May 04, 2017 04:02PM |
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Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range May 04, 2017 04:07PM |
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Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range May 04, 2017 05:49PM |
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Re: the implications of smooth, high tolerance, strong parts of good geimetries range May 04, 2017 06:00PM |
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