[TheForge] 3D printers

[terry l. ridder]

hello

I happened to be browsing amazon.com and came upon 3D printers.
various DIY kits to serious money commerical units.

I was wondering if anyone is using 3D printers to prototype projects.
these units are different than what I have used in the past.

The units I have used, used corn starch to lay down the various layers.
where the object to be printed receiving a "wax" to set the corn starch.
you had to dig through the corn starch to find your object. The
advantage of the corn starch is that it provides support to the object
being printed.

I printed many a ball bearing with balls that roll in the race.
strictly demos.

Adafruit has DIY kits which look interesting.

I went on to read the work of a bunch of hobbyists. working on using
metal powders and lasers to 3D print using metal. Lasers in the wrong
hands can cause eye damage so I am leary of using lasers.

there is one DIY kit which basically starts out small and you print the
parts needed to enlargen the unit. bootstrap 3D printing.

I am surprised that Vince Gingery does not have a book out on building a
3D printer.

Do 3D printers have a place in blacksmithing and metalworking?


-- 
terry l. ridder ><>