Next step in moulding models?

[bigfrit]

Just a little thought about modeling in general...

just was watching this programme about the newest printers, and they were experimenting with a 3-d plastic printer.
I was wondering, could this mean the next step inmodel car making?
First developping a 3-d model, "printing" it, and making moulds of it ?

This could mean we could have every model of every car ever made! and It doesn't seem so far of. Imagine within a few years the priices of those machines will be as low as computers, one with skill and dedication would be able to make models of every car he-she wants!
chack this out ; http://www.cadinfo.net/editorial/z402.htm



could this mean a revolution? what do you think ?

Olivier

[bigfrit]

sorry about the size of the pic

[flyonthewall]

I was wondering the same thing myself. Ive seen art made by such a process and the results are very good.

[sausage]

A few years ago there was a japanese device called the Roland Modela which made 3d models out of wood. Seems like plastic is the next step in evolution now. Perhaps in the years to come we'll see rapid metal prototyping systems for the home user!

[hirofkd]

Modela is a 3d carving machine. It's essentially a computer controlled vertical mill. You can retrofit an existing mill to do the same task. It's just expensive.
What bigfrit is talking about is probably 3d printer. Basically, you have a 3d object on PC, and slice them in a constant pitch to obtain many section cut images, then print them on a surface, filled with powders that react with water from the printer nozzle. It keeps stacking the section images to complete the object.
It's a part of so called rapid prototyping. (try some google search.)
Another is to cut something with laser, and I've seen demo in person, but don't know much abut the technical stuff.

As far as I know, only Tamiya and Bandai is employing the rapid prototyping for sample models. The prototype of the Enzo kit, you saw in HLJ's show report was made that way.

I asked http://www.toybuilders.com/ to make a part, and this is the result. Can you guess what it's for?

[srlxy]

looks like a rim to me...

[tonioseven]

A Nismo LM GT-1?!

[bigfrit]

A monza rim to go on the Enzo?

oh, and thanks for the info Hiro!

ciaoo Olivier

[Hiroboy]

Originally posted by hirofkd
I asked http://www.toybuilders.com/ to make a part, and this is the result. Can you guess what it's for?

F & F Supra ?

What was the cost like ?

[flyonthewall]

I came across the toy builders site once before, what are their costs for such a project?

[daggerlee]

where would the fun be? Unless it was for sprues.

At any rate, I've heard that Tamiya does all their designs in CAD (all computer), and then they send it to this machine the size of a small trailer home, that carves the piece out from a piece of metal - don't know the accuracy of that, though.

[Colov99]

those machines that make the molds out of metal are very accurate.... down to something like 1/1000 of an inch or better... basicly you take a block of metal... send the machine the information through the CADCAM software. and it makes it. it will tell you to flip the block or change bits from time to time but from what know the result is nice. (if i try i can get access to this type). the other 3D printer works by turning a powder or simliar substance hard using a catylist. it does it in layers. those are also very accurate and can do complex shapes including a ball within a ball within a ball. so they do work very well, but are hell of expensive... hope that helps anyone.

[Jay!]

Walter (wkma7six) gets to work with those rapid prototyping machines now.

He said it works with laser-cured resin or something...

[64 Chevy]

mabe this will mean perfect fitting parts and no mold lines.

[Colov99]

Originally posted by jay@af
Walter (wkma7six) gets to work with those rapid prototyping machines now.

He said it works with laser-cured resin or something...

that sounds about right... i havent seen any since the trade show in boston i went to 2 or 3 years ago. but my dads company is having a model of a project made by one of those i think. (they own the metal making one)