Are you ready for 3D printing?

That is interesting. I have several elevation drawings that would be nice candidates for this. They're kinda big, but could be done in parts if the technology matures enough.

I am ready!!!  This technology is fascinating and has all kinds of applications.  How much is a current 3-D printer?

 

Alan

this has been talked about for a long time here;

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/5230909873013872

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/9173459962687949

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/11144471781907595

 

 

 

here is an article on costs;

 

http://venturebeat.com/2012/11...portabee-3d-printer/

 

3D printing is fascinating...a Japanese photo studio is doing figurine of yourself..the smallest they do is 10cm (about 4 inches), but one day able to populate an O scale layout with figure of yourself, family, friends..etc is not far away..cost will also come down...they do charge about $240.- for 1 figurine.

 

 

I have already made mounting brackets for side frames with shapeways for my Milw Rd SDL39 and A GP30 I am working on

 

 

There are already 3-D printed model trains...just not in O scale. Look up Shapeways' website and search for trains...you'll see a bunch of N and Z scale models of mostly European protoypes, many designed by hobbyists, and all ready to print and ship on demand. (nothing keeping more US prototypes from appearing--just a lack of people stateside making the 3D models)

 

---PCJ 

The current 3D printing and printhead technology is still in its infancy as far as where it can go. As more and more plastics are developed the sky will be the limit. 3D printing is currently the rage in machined parts prototyping. Soon a design engineer and his team will be able to design, make prototype parts, test fit all assembly all with out leaving their work areas. Time and cost from concept to production will decrease significantly. This has already taken hold in the manufacturing industry. Imagine no more "soft" tooling for injection molded parts!

Have seen a local model railroader with one of the expensive machines in his front room. He contracts out for custom 3D print jobs of all sizes, once the job is loaded he makes sure the computers keep running as the machine chugs along carving out very fine details from a block of plastic, as the detail and size go up the length of time increases.

 

At the time we visited he was building a detailed HO railway bridge for himself (advantage of off time when you have a machine like this in your front room)

This takes hours.

 

 

Here in New York City. Makerbot 3D printers has a storefront near Houston St. You can have your files printed there as well as get your head scanned and printed. I am planning on getting my sons head scanned and made into a 12 inch old style GI Joe head.
Last time I was there they had printed up O Scale Sears houses from the Dover reprints of the 20's catalogs. Really nice with interiors. The price kept me back $200 per. They even printed the interiors and the roofs were removable