Today I saw some of the coolest new technology I've seen in a long time. It's basically an inkjet printer that "prints" powder metallurgy parts. Pretty sweet. It works by first printing a layer of binder, then spreading the powdered metal over it. It builds up in layers until the part is finished.

I saw the presentation at a meeting today at work. This was a 5-year long joint venture research project between GM, NISC, and another company.

What really made me a believer was seeing a 1/3 size replica of the 4.2L Line6 block, in perfect detail, oil galleries and all.

I'll try to get a video of it or some other information released if I can. Enjoy!

We (at work) have three of the earlier versions of this design that form a kind of plastic from the power. We even have a COLOR version that will 3D print your model in the colors that you have on your model. It's fun to see this working. Takes some time to get a large model out.

The new ones do it in METAL. Which is what I think you saw.

Plastic has been around for awhile.

The college local to me U of Louisville has one, along with 2 plastic rapid prototype machines.

I think this will change how parts are made in the future, although obviously still lots of development to make parts more than just a model.

Theyre talking about 3d printers able to use multiple materials (think inkjet with inkwells for aluminum,silver,steel,plastic.. etc etc) within 5-10 years. im thinking 5 or less if a small hungry company goes after it. 10 or more if a big company lumbers after it.

Think being able to print out a micromill (ya it would cost a bazillion but ubercool idea), or a coffee cup when you break yours.. or an eletric razor.. or someday a computer...

When this comes to its ultimate fruition its going to make the industrial revolution seem like a hiccup.Can you say "replicator". (Hey if ya cant be a scifi geek on a CNC site where can ya!)

Nano Tech all the way!

A protein based machine 100 atoms wide capable of positioning single atoms. It makes cnc precision look like the stone age:)

Cold Fusion wrote: >A protein based machine 100 atoms wide capable of positioning single atoms.<

Yeah, one variation could suck CO2 and H20 out of the air and spit out long-chain hydrocarbon molecules - gasoline!

robotic regards,

Tom
= = = = =
“The land was restored to its people, and the people restored to their land.”
- - The State of Israel formally came into existence on May 14, 1948.

question: are these parts actual powedered mettalurgical parts or are they just metal prototypes? because the plastic rapidprototypes aren't the same as an injection molded plastic part

A powder metal part needs to be sintered, no? It has to be sintered in a controlled atmosphere no less, yes? Lets talk about how to do that! What if I bled argon into my pottery kiln? The guys who do it seriously talk about hydrogen but that could be just a little problematic to begin with. Has anybody done a pilot plant with PM? (What I mean is backyard PM).

What's this about 5-10 years? 3D Systems' SinterStation Pro already does glass-reinforced nylon, A2 tool steel, pattern wax and flexible rubber on the same machine.

http://www.3dsystems.com/products/solidimaging/LaserSintering/index.asp#CastForm

Cold Fusion wrote: >A protein based machine 100 atoms wide capable of positioning single atoms.<

Yeah, one variation could suck CO2 and H20 out of the air and spit out long-chain hydrocarbon molecules - gasoline!

robotic regards,

Tom
= = = = =
“The land was restored to its people, and the people restored to their land.”
- - The State of Israel formally came into existence on May 14, 1948.

If the air is gonna get turned into gasoline we better plant more trees cause we are gonna need more air! :D


Tom your tag needs just a little more.........."this generation shall not pass away" Keep looking up!

Mike

is it me (white anglo saxon athiest)
but was that positve or not ?.
we use a lot of rapid prototype parts but .. they are no substitue for billet machined
parts (as a prototype)
point 2 . i work for a world leader in its field but machining technology and application
thereoff is about 1985 they have (imho) no conception of machining parts
this is more apparent now we move into china (hey there crap but there cheap)
all the cutting edge stuff in the world is great ..it just makes us think...how can i do that in my shed/workshop
ten years ago home cnc was a dream ...now
whats next ?

That is the most ridiculous machine I've ever seen. I thought when I saw CNC Routers and Mills and such that they were totally cool. Then I saw the Rapid Prototype Machines what use plastics to build by layers and thought that I'd absolutely have to get me one of them. But this takes the cake, actually it takes the entire kitchen. My only question is how many organs I'll have to sell on the black market to be able to get one.
The plastic rapid prototypers cost between 20 and 50K. What do you think this one cost? 100? 200? 300K? MORE?

$250,000

What's this about 5-10 years? 3D Systems' SinterStation Pro already does glass-reinforced nylon, A2 tool steel, pattern wax and flexible rubber on the same machine.

http://www.3dsystems.com/products/solidimaging/LaserSintering/index.asp#CastForm

The material isn't actually A-2 Tool Steel. It shares the same density as well as some other characteristics with Tool Steel, but is actually something else.

I talked to someone who use to use this material. He says that you can in fact pour aluminum into it, but it'll get brittle after about 30 pours. Still for casting super expensive parts out of aluminum or a white metal, it'd work just fine.

There are places that offer fractional ownership of these machines. Fractional is the same type of ownership model that many private pilots apply to planes, timeshare.
The same place will also do piece work. From what I hear, these places do not yet use the A-2 Tool Steel material.

http://www.tangibleexpress.com/