How does a 3D printer work? Could one be home built

[garrick]

I was looking at the printers on the Z Corp website. I still do not completely understand how they are able to get the layers built up.

Can someone explain how these 3D printers work?

It appears you can buy one for $19K. What technology is needed to build one yourself?

[MrZack]

Take a look at this place --> http://reprap.org/
Thay are trying to build one that is GPL!
Maybe the CNCZone can speed thing up...

[Geof]

Originally Posted by garrick I was looking at the printers on the Z Corp website. I still do not completely understand how they are able to get the layers built up. Can someone explain how these 3D printers work? It appears you can buy one for $19K. What technology is needed to build one yourself?

Do a Google search on 'stereo lithography' and you will be buried in information.

Building one yourself is probably quite feasible.

[sydspoetry]

depending on what u got and what u want

first is the medium
what do u want to get out as the prototype?

Choices are:
woodlike
plasterlike
plastic
metal

Woodlike one operates using butcher paper (plastic lined paper)
the machine continually pulls out a sheet over the object being formed, and then uses a laser to heat the areas that are to be bonded; increase the power and it becomes a cutter for negative hole removal. Object comes out like a piece of wood, with similar machining characteristics.

#2 is plasterlike - this uses a fine dust of plaster or whatever, and a nozzle dispensing micro amounts of glue - think of it like an inkjet on steroids; there is a z axis for raising/lowering the object, and a tub for the material being bonded - the arm sweeps across and brushes the loose powder across the top of the object and then the head comes in and sprays it with the glue. then the excess (loose powder) is brushed/blown off and the object is lowered and the next clean layer of loose powder is swept on

#3 is laser based; there is a polymer that reacts to laser light (UV); the object is supported in a liquid bath of the stuff, and lowered; each layer is drawn on by the laser forcing the liquid polymer to become solid

#4 is metal sintering - same idea as #2 but you use a metal powder and a much higher power laser - gives u a metallic object which is very porous

thats the # of the systems I know about

[diarmaid]

Originally Posted by MrZack Take a look at this place --> http://reprap.org/

I said it before and I'll say it again....a machine that can replicate itself should not be allowed. It will only be a matter of time until some 'genius' writes a nasty program for it telling it to exterminate the humans!!

Originally Posted by sydspoetry what do u want to get out as the prototype? Choices are: woodlike plasterlike plastic metal

...and flesh like!

Take a look at this:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3292
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/sto...1603783&page=1

[Switcher]

I said it before and I'll say it again....a machine that can replicate itself should not be allowed. It will only be a matter of time until some 'genius' writes a nasty program for it telling it to exterminate the humans!!

It's already been done, the machine would be us humans, the program would be war !!




.

[Halfnutz]

Could I take parts of ex-wife #1, and ex-wife #2,...oh-my-god this is scary...

[garrick]

You guys are a riot. And just for the record I don't want any part of ex-wife #1.

[sydspoetry]

Originally Posted by diarmaid I said it before and I'll say it again....a machine that can replicate itself should not be allowed. It will only be a matter of time until some 'genius' writes a nasty program for it telling it to exterminate the humans!! ...and flesh like! Take a look at this: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3292 http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/sto...1603783&page=1

I excluded two variants because they focus on different venues.

Theres work being done on cellular printing, and electronics-circuit printing.
Cellular uses inkjet-like heads (actually proto work uses actual inkjet heads) to deposit solutions of cells on a scaffolding paper. Printable Electronics uses something akin to laser printer deposition/fusing of toner on a flexible electronics sheet Somehow I doubted the thread poster wanted to know about these

[garrick]

Originally Posted by MrZack Take a look at this place --> http://reprap.org/ Thay are trying to build one that is GPL! Maybe the CNCZone can speed thing up...

This is surprisingly doable.

[diarmaid]

Originally Posted by sydspoetry I excluded two variants because they focus on different venues......Somehow I doubted the thread poster wanted to know about these

Maybe he wants to 'Print' a machinist for his shop who he can pay minimum wage and work like a dog......or pay no wage.....argg...shhhh.....dont tell anyone I said that....

[garrick]

Originally Posted by diarmaid Maybe he wants to 'Print' a machinist for his shop who he can pay minimum wage and work like a dog......or pay no wage.....argg...shhhh.....dont tell anyone I said that....

Machinists? Weren't they all replaced by CNC?