A question for those of you who frequent contests...

[icon_modeler]

Originally Posted by Scale-Master

Drunken Monkey's recent post ended with this comment:
"what's to stop you to commision parts equal to those you saw at the extreme end of the scratchbuilt spectrum?
if it is viable as you say it is, why would you still need/want to seperate built kits and scratch builds?"


Coupled with the thought of a friend who can create anything he wants in digital 3D drawings, but the making of the physical parts is done by someone else, then he final finishes and assembles them as needed into a complete model. (Very much like a custom made one of a kind kit of his specifications.)
With stereo lithography and hobby CNC machines on the rise, this is very much a part of the future of modeling. I bet it will come into play at a contest sooner or later to some degree.

It got me to thinking...

Would that be accepted/allowed as either a scratchbuilt model or kit built model in a contest should the truth be known as to its "manufacture"?
If allowed ro compete, should it be allowed to compete in either arena? Or which one?

I have my opinions as to what would be fair, just curious what you guys would say.

Keep in mind in this semi-hypothetical discussion, the model is not offered for public sale as a kit. Where is that line drawn for this situation?

So Mark, what is your opinion? I am one of those people who can create just about anything he wants as a 3D model and if I save enough money I can even have it made. I would consider it to be scratch building but I'm sure many will not see it the same way I do.

The reason I feel it should be classified as scratch biulding is that the part was made from a file that "I" created in the computer. There is no machine operator turning the dials to create my part the machine is creating a part from a digital blue print that I created. Not really the same as paying someone to machine a part for you. The reality of this situation is that I researched the part, I dimensioned the part and I created the part in the computer. What I pay for is someone to transfer my digital file into a solid part.

I'm interested to hear what other here think about this and how it fits into a contest situation.

Icon Modeler

[lumpulus]

Originally Posted by icon_modeler

So Mark, what is your opinion? I am one of those people who can create just about anything he wants as a 3D model and if I save enough money I can even have it made. I would consider it to be scratch building but I'm sure many will not see it the same way I do.

The reason I feel it should be classified as scratch biulding is that the part was made from a file that "I" created in the computer. There is no machine operator turning the dials to create my part the machine is creating a part from a digital blue print that I created. Not really the same as paying someone to machine a part for you. The reality of this situation is that I researched the part, I dimensioned the part and I created the part in the computer. What I pay for is someone to transfer my digital file into a solid part.

I'm interested to hear what other here think about this and how it fits into a contest situation.

Icon Modeler

D,

All the kits you have, and you have to scratch stuff?

[Scale-Master]

Icon,
I think the way you describe it makes a strong argument for it being scratchbuilt.
But with CNC machining already prevalent in the hobby, and the perspective that "it is" or "is not" scratchbuilt when a second party is involved in the execution, and depending on who you ask, where does that place SL parts?

I do not have that answer... yet... I need to learn more about the SL process.

It is kind of a case where I know "what is", and "what isn't", except for what I don't know.

The easy answer is do it all yourself and eliminate any gray areas...?

[icon_modeler]

Originally Posted by lumpulus

D,

All the kits you have, and you have to scratch stuff?

Naw, Lump, just for the sake of discussion

Originally Posted by Scale-Master

Icon,
I think the way you describe it makes a strong argument for it being scratchbuilt.
But with CNC machining already prevalent in the hobby, and the perspective that "it is" or "is not" scratchbuilt when a second party is involved in the execution, and depending on who you ask, where does that place SL parts?

I do not have that answer... yet... I need to learn more about the SL process.

It is kind of a case where I know "what is", and "what isn't", except for what I don't know.

The easy answer is do it all yourself and eliminate any gray areas...?

SM, the thing that makes SL different to that of CNC is that with CNC there is still a programmer involved and program software. Many of the parts I draw and have made via SL could be made via CNC but they would need to be put through some type of programming software so that the CNC machine code could be generated. During that time is when the "Programmer" would select tool types and tool offsets etc. Thus a step in the production of the part I would be completely void of. To the best of my knowledge this is not the case with SL. That is the reason for the huge price differences between CNC parts and SL parts. SL is very much like sending a word doc to your printer. You press the go button and with some time you get a finished part. Now there are different levels of finish you can get your parts made to conform too that may require the outfit making your parts to do some hand finish work. That is not the case with my parts though. I have found through trial and error that if I have someone else finish my parts they generally sand off detail that should be left on the part. So, when I get parts made now I get what they call a Strip and Ship part. They are generally cheaper when you have them made that way because they outfit making the part does not do as much if any QA inspection of the part. When I get the parts now I do all my own finish work to insure no details were inadvertantly sanded off.

As for doing everything "yourself" if I only had an extra half a mill laying around I would be all over that idea. Makes a $1000.00 for a Sherline Lathe seem like childs pay.

[Scale-Master]

"As for doing everything "yourself" if I only had an extra half a mill laying around I would be all over that idea. Makes a $1000.00 for a Sherline Lathe seem like childs pay."

I was thinking along those lines when I wrote that.
But how long before the same percentage of home machinists that exist now will be owning SL type printers? It very well could be in our not too distant future...