open source 3D printers

[petertc]

You may have seen a bit on the bbc web site about 3D printers being used for a jaw reconstruction.

We have started looking at these at work. the professional ones now can also print metals as well like titanium but these are very expensive to buy.

But there is an open source 3d printer you can buy the kits to make them and also the software is open source ( some one from Bath Uni seems to have started the ball rolling.

You can buy the kits from about £500 upwards these will print objects to a size of 6" x 8" x 4.

Have a look at http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap

[stannn]

Peter
The implication is that one day anyone could make at home anything that one needs. Clearly,at present, limitation on the size of the product and the engineering capabilities of the feedstock make this fanciful except for producing a 'plastic' 3D prototype from a design.
Stan

[petertc]

Some one had made a large one to print concrete this was in a magazine 3d develop it is not as strong as normal concrete.
as i also said some exotic materials are being looked at. if they can perfect this they may be able to make turbine blades. the advantage is the items do not have to be solid you can in build a honey comb structure

[knighty]

I've looked at them before and often thought about building one as a fun project...

does anyone here have any experience with them ?

the RepRap looks good but I've always wondered about about the print quality... there's some videos on the net which look really good... but at the same time the printer looks a bit flimsy... I'd be worried about vibration/bending etc...

[Ted]

There are some quite low cost services available for 3d metal printing - see http://www.bathsheba.com/ for examples of what can be done.

[Baz]

Rep rap is a nice idea as long as it is understood to be strictly at a hobby level and rather a long way off being able to make you a car.
It is already fully industrialised as a concept as every CNC mill is made on.....other CNC equipment. Even back in the 18th century the first screwcutting lathes were specifically used to make better screws for the next generation lathe.
CNC mills are becoming more common amongst amateurs so it is only a case of fitting an extruder tool to one and running the inverse software (put on instead of take off). This technology is much more accessible now than eg Stereolith which I remember using over 20 years ago though we had to get it done in Canada whereas now we get sample pieces made at the drop of a hat.