3D Printing - Can anyone explain this to a simple mind like mine?

[mikemorvan]

What IS 3D printing? This article is beyond me? Thanks for the enlightenment.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/10041993/3D-printing-the-new-bottom-up-industrial-revolution.html

[miket]

It makes a part by laying thin layer upon thin layer of material ( plastic ) forming a 3 dimensional shape. The company I work for has one. It is cool but super slow and great for prototype work but not for production.

[41Chevy]

http://www.wimp.com/functionaltools/

[47]

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/how-3d-printers-work.htm

[miket]

Btw, despite reports, you cannot print out a real functioning firearm with it. The parts are plastic. You can print out pieces that look like gun parts and put them together to look and generally function like a gun if manually manipulated.

[41Chevy]

Btw, despite reports, you cannot print out a real functioning firearm with it. The parts are plastic. You can print out pieces that look like gun parts and put them together to look and generally function like a gun if manually manipulated.

Not entirelly true.

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/first-3-d-printed-gun-fired-its-digital-blueprints-make-6C9790795

[Samson]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/06/wiki-weapons-fires-first-100-3d-printed-handgun/

Sure looks like a functioning gun to me. And they do have printers that can print metal parts, they are just really really expensive.

[mikemorvan]

Btw, despite reports, you cannot print out a real functioning firearm with it. The parts are plastic. You can print out pieces that look like gun parts and put them together to look and generally function like a gun if manually manipulated.

That's what got my attention. In the link i posted, there is a video of a guy shooting a pistol that was supposedly 3D 'Printed". I couldn't / can't figure out how it functions. It does appear to be made of plastic. I guess the parts were printed, it was assembled, and made ready to function? Is that the basic idea?

[Man]

They are getting cheap...soon most all households will have them and when you need a replacement part for something you just download the file and print the part out.

[systemnt]

That's what got my attention. In the link i posted, there is a video of a guy shooting a pistol that was supposedly 3D 'Printed". I couldn't / can't figure out how it functions. It does appear to be made of plastic. I guess the parts were printed, it was assembled, and made ready to function? Is that the basic idea?

Bingo... everything but the firing pin was 3D printed..and put together.

[miket]

Bingo... everything but the firing pin was 3D printed..and put together.

You believe a guy that describes himself as a "free market anarchist"?

[miket]

You can print springs?

[systemnt]

You believe a guy that describes himself as a "free market anarchist"?

Whoops...sorry.. didn't see the 'tinfoil hats only' sign on the OP... my bad..carry on..

[systemnt]

You can print springs?

Did you even read the article... ?
it has pictures. ...and yes...yes you can.

[bowhuntntxn]

That's what got my attention. In the link i posted, there is a video of a guy shooting a pistol that was supposedly 3D 'Printed". I couldn't / can't figure out how it functions. It does appear to be made of plastic. I guess the parts were printed, it was assembled, and made ready to function? Is that the basic idea?

All the parts are printed in a fluid medium with a quick setting resin usually activated or cured using ultraviolet light. The finished product is usually thinner and more brittle than an injection molded piece, because of the material used for the printing. All of the parts can be assembled together and it can become a functioning piece of equipment.

Super expensive, and this technology will not be readily available IMO because of the costs involved. It is great for prototyping new designs for tool making before mass production. It is not now, nor has it even been intended for a production type environment.

This guy also printed AR parts a while back that lasted 14 shots before they self destructed. And the printed mags have a tendency to break or split, and the spring in them has to be metal. It is a novel idea, but probably won't go anywhere soon.