The copier outfit I work for (I won't mention the name) is supposed to be getting into 3D printers, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of one yet. I'm really, REALLY curious to see what it's all about and how it works. AND what it can make, what it can't make, and all that stuff. So far it's a mystery.
Firelock76 Don't buy the whole "3D printers can produce guns" thing. The recievers can be produced out of (for lack of a better term) hard plastic, so can the stocks, but the barrels, firing pins, springs, bolts, slides, are still going to be good old steel or they won't last or contain the pressures of firing, especially the barrels. Mind you, I've never seen a 3D printer up close and personal, so forgive me if I've just made a fool of myself by the previous comment. The thing is I remember the "plastic gun that can't be seen by a metal detector" panic back in the 1980's when the Glock pistol with the phenolic resin frame came out. Only the frame was plastic, everything else was steel.
Don't buy the whole "3D printers can produce guns" thing. The recievers can be produced out of (for lack of a better term) hard plastic, so can the stocks, but the barrels, firing pins, springs, bolts, slides, are still going to be good old steel or they won't last or contain the pressures of firing, especially the barrels.
Mind you, I've never seen a 3D printer up close and personal, so forgive me if I've just made a fool of myself by the previous comment. The thing is I remember the "plastic gun that can't be seen by a metal detector" panic back in the 1980's when the Glock pistol with the phenolic resin frame came out. Only the frame was plastic, everything else was steel.
Wayne (Firelock 76):
A couple of questions spring to mind referencing the 3D Printers. I've seen small, 'demo' 3D printers in a couple of retail locatons around here.
How large has one of those got to be to produce parts for a small passenger bus?
It has been said in a couple of articles, I've seen that with some aircraft manufacturers they do currently use some 3D produced parts in their aircraft (?).
Another question springs up, as well. With the 'shape' of the American road infrastructure, HOW Durable, with the finished part/bus be? How long will they be able to stand up to the constant 'pounding' of simply driving around towns?
And what wil you charge to 'service' one of these printers?
P.S. Wonder when Model Railroader will make their first printed 'kit-bashing' article?
Who would have thought 3D printers could produce guns? The Airbus 350 XWB contains over 1000 component printed by 3D printers. The USAF and IAF are using 3D printers. The list goes on and on and is increasing.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Aren't computers wonderful?? The whole design proposal sounds like it work well as long as the real world (which has a way of messing things up) stays out of the way.
Wondering if this is where transportation is going?
I think these people think more in terms of creating computers on wheels rather than further evolving the automobile.
The prospect of not having to sink thousands of dollars into depreciating vehicles to me is interesting if the mobility is truly convenient.
Maybe the auto industry has met its match.
http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/16/11952072/local-motors-3d-printed-self-driving-bus-washington-dc-launch
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