XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics, sci.electronics.design
From: jfindley@cinci.nospam.rr.com
In article , jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com
says...
> Arm waving nonsense.
>
> You need multiple 3D printers if you need to print with multiple materials.
>
> Consumer 3D printers print small parts from cheap plastic and cost hundreds
> of dollars.
>
> Industrial 3D printers that print large parts with metals cost hundreds of
> thousands of dollars and the printing material costs more than raw metal
> stock.
>
> 3D printing is advantageous for parts with complex shapes that are difficult
> or impossible to make with other techniques but is disadvantageous for
> most parts that ARE manufacturable with conventional techniques as they
> can be made faster and cheaper.
>
> 3D printing makes PARTS that still need to be assembled.
>
> 3D printing an electric motor is just silly.
>
I'm generally in agreement with all of the above. That motor which was
3D printed is a toy. That toy motor is far simpler than a stepper
motor, so any thought of 3D printers printing other 3D printers is just
a fantasy at this point.
Today's "state of the art" of 3D printing does not make it a panacea for
manufacturing. Furthermore, 3D printing with locally produced (non-
earth) materials is decades away.
But progress is being made in the field. GE is working on producing a
3D printer capable of printing 1 meter x 1 meter x 1 meter parts. This
is coming from its aircraft engine division. 3D printing is a very hot
topic these days.
Jeff
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