While these photos are from a large scale forum, I thought some would be equally interested in this example of what 3D printing represents in the future of O scale...pretty interesting
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3D printing is growing in leaps and bounds. M3D just raised $2M in 3 days through Kickstarter and is offering its printer for a pre-order price of $299.00
It's more than a promise...check the middle of this thread on laser cut pieces, they began discussing 3D printing and one member posted some of the items he is creating, including an engine boiler.
Hmm -
I spent $2,800 on my Makerbot 2x - the advantage of that is that you are not limited to a 5x5x5 inch print area
With this kind of precision you are not limited to the cube size print area because you can assemble a larger object from smaller ones.
The dual print head will be replaced with a multicolor ink injection process that colors the plastic as heated. (not yet being done.)
didn't Lee Willis post a while back he got a 3d printer and his son was going to learn how to operate it?
what happen?
will we be seeing things from Lee soon?
3D printing is well established in the model field.
The plastic kit company I work with does first round prototypes via 3D printer before any metal molds are cut. Saves lots of time and money.
There are a number of plastic kit companies selling parts and complete kits that are 3D printed.
It's now a part of many hobbies and will only grow in many ways....from prototyping to limited runs of models and parts.
My nephew is playing with 3D printing. This is a 1/2" scale Baldwin electric car truck he recently printed. He is a computer animator for a major west coast studio, so he is comfortable with the required drawing.
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It would be needed to make a long train of Ore Cars that are based exactly on the real rib-sided ore cars that were used by the Chicago & North Western and the Soo Line. No manufacturer would invest in solid-steel injection molds to make a few production runs of 50 to 100 unusual ore cars.
Andrew
A way around designing files in Cad could be to scan an existing model in and scaling it up or down. If something were made in a different scale like say the Con Cor New Haven Comet, you could scale it up from HO to O scale.
Take a look in the Ross booth at York on Thursday for 3D printed Milwaukee Road style trestle bents.
