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Print your own Geo Metro!
Topic Started: Mar 22 2013, 02:42 AM (4,277 Views)
Scoobs
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:D

Bjetmech
Mar 22 2013, 11:11 AM
We have a few of these printers at work, their pretty cool. Making some of our airplane parts that we use during testing.
3d print vert latches....
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BillHoo
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OK. Are the CAD designs available for all the Geo Metro parts and in public domain? Or does someone have to sit down and digitize them from scratch?
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BillHoo
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texan821
Mar 22 2013, 12:30 PM
I was about to go balls deep into 3d printing, but backed out because the technology is not quite there yet. Injection molding still blows 3d printing away when it comes to producing at a large scale...so unless you're the kind of dude who mocks up prototypes for mass production in a forging or injection mold set up, there's not a lot of money to be made with them.

The printing itself is pretty easy...load up your machine wth resins (or whatever material you're using), load up your image file...and wait. And then wait some more. And just when you think you're done waiting, make a pot of coffee, sit down and watch Inception twice and then go back and take a look.

That's my take, but if this is an industry you're interested in, the best way I've found to get your foot in the door is as a graphic designer making 3d models. Lots of stability in that niche.
I remember back in 1987 they were taking old Okidata inkjet printers and re-outfitting them to a moveable table to print simple objects layer, by layer. They just replace the ink with quick hardening plastic resin.

So, a rudimentary printer can be made in someone's garage - cause that's how it was orginally done.

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Wobblybob


Geo D, Believe it or not, someone is making houses with 3D printers! It deposits globs of reinforced concrete instead of plastic.

I can't remember where I saw it (I think it was on TV) but they're actually doing it, not just dreaming of it.

Edit: I was wrong. Looks like they have the capability but they're still planning, not doing. Pretty clever though. They will set up two rails on the ground and an upside down "U" shaped frame rides on the rails.the printer head travels cross ways on this frame and also raises and lowers as required.
Edited by Wobblybob, Mar 22 2013, 01:28 PM.
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Weswhat
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formerly Rdazzle

Coche Blanco
Mar 22 2013, 08:02 AM
3D printers are already semi affordable...a good bit are <2,000. There are already file sharing sites for this technology.

And I don't see ammo being able to be made, lowers/magazines yes, but anything that had to hold in/back the boom will have to be something much stronger than the plastics they're using now.
In my opinion the cheapest 3D printer worth getting is the Formlabs model which is $3,300. The cheaper ones are just too small to really create anything impressive at the moment. (Unless there are cheaper decent sized 3D printers I have yet to discover)

Also here's a list of materials they can use for the 3D printers in case anyone is interested:
- ABS plastic, PLA, polyamide (nylon), glass filled polyamide, stereolithography materials (epoxy resins), silver, titanium, steel, wax, photopolymers and polycarbonate.
I think they can create decent bullets, if not then probably in a few years. Not sure if it's been tried out yet but I know there's a company making 3D printed hand guns and semi-auto rifles at the moment.
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Weswhat
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formerly Rdazzle

Wobblybob
Mar 22 2013, 01:12 PM
Geo D, Believe it or not, someone is making houses with 3D printers! It deposits globs of reinforced concrete instead of plastic.

I can't remember where I saw it (I think it was on TV) but they're actually doing it, not just dreaming of it.
This is true! A man in the Netherlands is currently doing this as well.

My off topic 'future' rant:
In the future we'll be able to make our own fireproof houses with these things. I really think these are going to revolutionize the way the economy plays into factor. People won't be buying products in the future, but instead just printing them at home. People will no longer hire people to build homes or any other building for that matter. Just print one out.
Just like the music industry, companies are going to have to find a way to sell 3D models that people can buy online. And of course there will be tons of 'pirated' 3D models that people will be sharing. And of course people can easily just make their own 3D models if they know how to scan and edit files with computers. I believe the whole work force is going to become unemployed! That's TONS of jobs gone. I really wonder what is going to happen as this technology advances. The public won't be able to blame politics on this one...
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Wobblybob


Here's a car they're planning to build.

http://www.dezeen.com/2013/03/07/road-ready-3d-printed-car-on-the-way/

Now all we have to do is digitize a Metro. And feed the data into their "printer". Right?
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Murf 59
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There is a company is Europe that is planning on making a space station on the moon. Using moon dust as the medium. There was a scifi book about this a few decades back. I don't recall who wrote it. But basically they used up the material from the moon to make things. In their far future, the moon was gone.
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DesmondGhostRider
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I would love to have one of these. Theyve been out for a long time but for a while it was with softer materials.
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Mythstae
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rjsdotorg
Mar 22 2013, 10:43 AM
Mythstae
Mar 22 2013, 03:43 AM
Geo D
Mar 22 2013, 03:30 AM
Someone needs to make an interactive website making files accessible where people can share them......
I've seen one.
Can't remember the URL... :smackface
There are a few
http://www.thingiverse.com/
is the biggest.
We have 3D printed a headset for medical tests http://janmedical.com/
Thingiverse! ^o) That was it.
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98chevymetro
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BillHoo
Mar 22 2013, 11:44 AM
Coche Blanco
Mar 22 2013, 08:02 AM
3D printers are already semi affordable...a good bit are <2,000. There are already file sharing sites for this technology.

And I don't see ammo being able to be made, lowers/magazines yes, but anything that had to hold in/back the boom will have to be something much stronger than the plastics they're using now.
Yeah, I remember when my Commodore 64 cost $3K, Then I got my Mac SE30 for $5K Then my first laptop was $7K.

After that I no longer bought computers because my jobs would buy them for me and when we upgraded, I just took the machines home.

The PC industy has been at a standstill for the past 5 years. No new technology except for tablets.

Give it a few years as the software ancd demand increase, the hardware will get cheaper.

Str-Trek Replicators and Smell-O-Vision are the future!
No new technology? Quad core, six core, 8 core cpus? Finally large capacity ssd hard drives, better video cards, etc etc. Let's not forget better 1080p monitors in larger more affordable sizes.
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rjsdotorg
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R E Member

I want to chop the top and quarters off a Metro, pull the hood and fenders, and print a .1Cd aero body to fit on.
You'd only need to "digitize" the attachment points in 3-space.
Reuse the glass, just re-positioned.
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98chevymetro
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I agree. My metro is too tall. I've got like 5 inches of room above my head. And I'm 6ft tall. I'd be worried about safety though. You start messing with the structure of the car and you don't have a clue how it will do in a rollover or collision.
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PTA2PTB
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I'm totally awesome! I swear.

rjsdotorg
Mar 22 2013, 04:03 PM
I want to chop the top and quarters off a Metro, pull the hood and fenders,...
Well I have a pretty good idea what it would look like.... :P



Posted Image
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PTA2PTB
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I'm totally awesome! I swear.

98chevymetro
Mar 22 2013, 04:09 PM
I agree. My metro is too tall. I've got like 5 inches of room above my head. And I'm 6ft tall. I'd be worried about safety though. You start messing with the structure of the car and you don't have a clue how it will do in a rollover or collision.
Then print a 'vert, and slouch down in it, Silly!
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