[R-390] New 3D scanner - printer recreates obsolete parts

[Barry Williams]

I think this was called 'rapid prototyping'. It is very sophisticated 
now. Dentists are using this technology to make crowns in the office 
while you wait.



Barry


>> Hi all,
>> Saw this article on an interesting 3D  scanner that recreates obsolete
>> parts.
>> Jay Leno is using one to make copies  of impossible-to-find car parts.
>> The machine scans the part, then will make  an exact copy in plastic
>> that can be cast in metal or the scans can be CNC  machined. It can make 
>> an
>> actual
>> working copy of an adjustable crescent  wrench in one piece, with the
>> moving
>> threaded wheel on the inside.
>>
>> A  machine like this could possibly be used to make an exact copy of an
>> R-389  PTO or the workings of one from a disassembled unit that could be
>> reassembled into a working unit. Not sure how one could reproduce the
>> ferrite or iron powder tuning core slug but one could conceivably 
>> reproduce
>> any
>> or all of the working mechanical parts of an R-389 PTO using this 
>> machine.
>>
>> http://tiny.cc/ehgZI
>>
>> Your imagination (and wallet) could  be the limit in what kind of obsolete
>> mechanical radio
>> parts could be made  with a machine like this. Knobs, brackets, tuning
>> mechanisms?
>>
>> 73 Todd  WD4NGG
>>     
>
> When I worked with CAD/CAM/CIM, we could take our 3-D designs, run them 
> through a few post-processing steps, and feed the output to a machine that 
> used lasers to solidify the special liquid that was held in a chamber. 
> Anywhere the two lasers crossed created a hot-spot that caused the liquid to 
> solidify.  It was slow (that was nearly 20 years ago), but you could create 
> prototype parts that were very difficult to machine.  They weren't pracitcal 
> for production, but very cool for prototyping.
>
> Barry - N4BUQ 
>
>