hkestes41 Posted January 28, 2009 Report Posted January 28, 2009 Amazing new technology. http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=944641 Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted January 28, 2009 Report Posted January 28, 2009 Man....now that's a handy gadget! Quote
John Mulders Posted January 28, 2009 Report Posted January 28, 2009 That is great, they could setup a database with parts scanned by others so if you wouldn't have the original (as it broke completely) you could get it anyway. John Quote
Jim Saraceno Posted January 28, 2009 Report Posted January 28, 2009 How easy or difficult do you think it would be to cast or machine a real part from the plastic part? If you already have the old piece and it's whole, you already have the model to make the new part from. Quote
busycoupe Posted January 28, 2009 Report Posted January 28, 2009 I don't think that they use the plastic model to make parts. It is simply used to check the scanned dimensions. The part would be machined directly from the digitized file. One thing they didn't show was how the digitized file could be corrected. The digital file of Jay's valve showed the crack in the original. I believe that flaws like that, and distortions from wear, could be fixed in the digital file with software similar to photoshop, or a cad program. The corrected file would then used to manufacture new parts. Quote
hkestes41 Posted January 28, 2009 Author Report Posted January 28, 2009 Some of the guys over on the HAMB where I found this work with this technology on their jobs. They said that the scanner is about $3K and the small printer is about $14K. Where the big cost comes in is the plastic that the printer uses. One said it would be about $2K to do an intake manifold. They said one way that the plastic parts are used is to verify fit, then they are covered with a ceramic material and the plastic melted out leaving a mold to pour the metal to cast a part. Others said this technology also exists for "printing" with sand to make molds and cores for casting metal parts. There is also the capability to print layers of metal powders that are melted as they are being printed forming small metal parts. Not real stong yet but I imagine as time goes by the process will evolve. What I found amazing was that they can print usable moving parts fully assembled which require no secondary operations. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 28, 2009 Report Posted January 28, 2009 At those prices, I don't see where that system would be cost effective for someone, unless they are going to do it as a business. You could buy a nice running car for that kind of money. Quote
RobertKB Posted January 29, 2009 Report Posted January 29, 2009 That is amazing technology. I can see its use in a variety of uses. When it comes to antique cars, it would be great for some of the true classics where parts are nearly impossible to find. Great for a business or a car nut like Jay Leno with lots of money. Quote
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