Light weight parts

[skidoomt]

Was looking at 3D printer ( additive fabrication ) and was wondering how this process would work for building light weight components for snowbikes or other things. Anyone out there have any experience with this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgGQ6yZ94Tk

 

[off road rider]

YES. before and during my starting Cyclops I was a prototype toolmaker and managed the largest rapid prototyping company in the states.

Mostly we used 3d printers and SLA to make models for silicon or epoxy molds. Or we would use them as test models for engineering or sales reviews.
We serviced the aerospace, medical and tech markets.
back in the day 3d printing was crude and made very weak parts, Sterolithography provided better tolerance parts, but still rather fragile, hence the need to make a mold and then cast Urethane or epoxy parts for short run production.
Today, Both SLA and 3d printing has come a long way, production type parts are possible,and being produced, even metal parts are being made using fused deposition.
IMO it really wont benefit you much, unless your prototyping something that will eventually go into production using another manufacturing technique.

 

[skidoomt]

YES. before and during my starting Cyclops I was a prototype toolmaker and managed the largest rapid prototyping company in the states.

Mostly we used 3d printers and SLA to make models for silicon or epoxy molds. Or we would use them as test models for engineering or sales reviews.
We serviced the aerospace, medical and tech markets.
back in the day 3d printing was crude and made very weak parts, Sterolithography provided better tolerance parts, but still rather fragile, hence the need to make a mold and then cast Urethane or epoxy parts for short run production.
Today, Both SLA and 3d printing has come a long way, production type parts are possible,and being produced, even metal parts are being made using fused deposition.
IMO it really wont benefit you much, unless your prototyping something that will eventually go into production using another manufacturing technique.

Thanks for the information.

Several questions:
The stainsteel, titanium parts produced with 3d printing methods today are they close to the same strength as cast products?

3D printing alllows products to be build that can't be built by casting or cnc?

Do you think that price of creating 3D products is one of the big hurdle to overcome before this process in general could be found in your local machine shop. Allowing small business owners to create small production quality of parts for local public.

 

[off road rider]

We did make some titanium parts for the medical field, they where very strong, to be honest I'm really not sure how they compare in overall strength with a cast part.The notion that a part comes out looking finish is not reality, there are build layers and stair steeping along with support structure that requires secondary machining or additional hand work. The videos on the web are a far cry from reality.

You can purchase a relatively low priced 3d printer, however the material choices available today are very limited. I imagine that will change in the future. 3D systems owns the best technology,builds the machines and operates the service bureaus, Ill stop short of calling it a monopoly.
When I first started a sla machine was 10mill, now that same machine is 500k. so the technology is getting cheaper, the materials are getting very good. It is in use for some very exotic production parts, and I imagine we will see smaller shops taking on this specialty in the future.

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

awsome

that is badass. i could make all kinds of fun stuff with that.