Midland
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,875
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Post by Midland on Jul 2, 2013 10:22:10 GMT
Hi All
Sometime ago the people at Cutwel were very helpful getting me started into milling (still a bit of a mystery) and as a result I am on their mailing list for all sorts of flyers. I have got one this morning showing a 3D printer with a working area of about 5 inches on all three dimensions. A snap at £1,500 odd. I expect one of the enterprising people in our hobby will get one and pretty soon it will be easy to have them make castings of some of the rarer or exotic items on our shopping lists! Cheers David
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2013 11:06:23 GMT
Of course you could always go to Maplins..http://www.maplin.co.uk/3d-printer-velleman-k8200-783902 On a serious note though in the past I haven't been a great fan of the 3D printers, of course this could be down to how it effects my job in film/TV. However I have to admit to them getting a lot better, a friend of mine has just built his own that he showed me over the weekend, he had printed a hollow bolt with nut threaded onto it that was very good indeed, most importantly the resolution was high enough to nearly solve the stepping ridges normally associated with 3D printers. Pretty good for DIY.. Pete
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springbok
Statesman
Building a Thompson Class B1 in 5"g Plus restoring a 3" Fowler steam road Engine "The Wanderer".
Posts: 570
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Post by springbok on Jul 3, 2013 3:30:26 GMT
I am interested in one of these but have decided to wait untill the technology improves, and the prices drop. Bob
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abby
Statesman
Posts: 927
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Post by abby on Jul 3, 2013 19:38:41 GMT
I also received the Cutwell tools flyer this morning and was quite surprised to see the 3D printers. However owning the printer is the least obstacle to getting "the rarer or exotic items " First you need to get 3D cad software and learn how to use it. Once you have mastered the software you can upload your file to one of the many 3D print agencies online and receive your pattern through the post. This service has been readily available for several years at far less than the cost of a personal 3D printer and is used regularly by a large and ever growing number of model engineers. The quality of the prints are superior to those produced by the present range of home printers , and just like your inkjet the real money is in the cost of the printing media. A service that already offers lost wax castings produced by this route has been available to readers of this forum for several years here. www.unionsteammodels.co.uk
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springbok
Statesman
Building a Thompson Class B1 in 5"g Plus restoring a 3" Fowler steam road Engine "The Wanderer".
Posts: 570
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Post by springbok on Jul 3, 2013 21:18:34 GMT
Abby Very interesting thsnkyou. A lot of food for thought. I have known of this company for a number of years but it is the prototyping. could you start a thread on this subject Bob
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abby
Statesman
Posts: 927
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Post by abby on Jul 3, 2013 22:36:20 GMT
Bob , this is my company and website , I have been producing castings for over 30 years but don't work so hard now I have my pension. It is difficult to know what information one could put in a thread. As already stated the most important factor is knowing what you want , then having the ability to produce or get produced a suitable 3D file of the part. Once you have the 3D file (I use .STL) it can be uploaded to Shapeways.com (for example) where you can choose which material the pattern should be made from , you have a choice of surface quality at a variable price. When you have made your choice you will get an online price including all taxes and postage , payment is through Paypal and delivery is usually 7 - 10 days. You will have included a shrinkage allowance on your pattern and machining allowance where required. Now you send the pattern to a foundry (such as me) where a rubber mould is taken if the castings are to be made by the lost wax process. Simple patterns could be used for sand casting. The process is not cheap if you only require one casting for your own use , but , where parts are unobtainable elsewhere , the cost can be brought down by having several castings made and selling the surplus. I did B1 crosshead castings in steel for a customer and he sold all his surplus on Ebay at an overall profit. If you are not familiar with 3D cad there are tutorials accessible to members of my forum and advice on which software might be suitable for your needs . Hope this helps.
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springbok
Statesman
Building a Thompson Class B1 in 5"g Plus restoring a 3" Fowler steam road Engine "The Wanderer".
Posts: 570
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Post by springbok on Jul 4, 2013 4:59:07 GMT
So it is you that I have been pointing people to for a number of years now. thankyou for advice. and enjoy your retirement Bob
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Midland
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,875
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Post by Midland on Jul 4, 2013 8:42:31 GMT
My original post was a bit of a throwaway remark but it has certainly taught me a thing or two. Glad to know of yoiur service Bob. Enjoy retirement! David
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springbok
Statesman
Building a Thompson Class B1 in 5"g Plus restoring a 3" Fowler steam road Engine "The Wanderer".
Posts: 570
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Post by springbok on Jul 6, 2013 2:54:04 GMT
David Would you be interested in giving a talk to the BSMEE Bob
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abby
Statesman
Posts: 927
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Post by abby on Sept 5, 2013 19:21:27 GMT
I think this casting for Mike's 5" gauge 3MT demonstrates well what can be accomplished using 3D cad , 3D printing and lost wax casting. Unfortunately you cannot see the internal passageways but they are complex . Not impossible but this casting would be quite difficult and expensive to produce by traditional greensand moulding techniques.
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Post by peterseager on Sept 7, 2013 19:45:18 GMT
Abby
I am wondering how you made the wax paterns from the 3D printed patern for the above exhaust manifold. Can you print a 3D wax patern directly? For this casting it would be useful if you can.
Peter
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abby
Statesman
Posts: 927
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Post by abby on Sept 7, 2013 20:07:29 GMT
Hi Peter , the waxes for this casting were made in 2 halves from silicone rubber moulds. The upper and lower sections were welded together using a micro soldering iron and the join finished smooth with repair wax This is by far the cheapest way to produce such an item , wax can be printed but the wax print alone would cost more than the combined price of the 3D plastic pattern , silicone rubber mould and casting. The wax printers are expensive and a job this large would require several hours to print . An item of similar size to a gents wedding ring currently costs around £30 which rules out model engineering applications for most enthusiasts. I am sure this will become cheaper eventually , but when I would not like to predict. Dan.
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Post by peterseager on Sept 8, 2013 22:51:40 GMT
Thanks for that Dan. Very interesting.
Peter
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SteveW
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,425
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Post by SteveW on Sept 23, 2013 20:40:48 GMT
Guys, Anyone seen this from Maplin
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2013 20:48:37 GMT
yep... I did give a link above.. Pete
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bhk
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 458
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Post by bhk on Sept 23, 2013 21:00:07 GMT
I have seen something similar work at a model show, it would take a lot of filler to get these up to pattern type quality. After seeing the quality mike is getting from the company he uses I would use them with out question, the detail is incomprehensible
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SteveW
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,425
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Post by SteveW on Sept 23, 2013 21:08:48 GMT
yep... I did give a link above.. Pete Oops! Sorry. I did look through the thread but I missed one. Maplin have two printers, the Velleman put it together yourself kit and another ready made unit a snip at 1619 quid.
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SteveW
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,425
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Post by SteveW on Oct 25, 2013 23:35:03 GMT
Just found this from the BBC site.. I guess you now need to be very sure what files you are printing. Maybe the next question being.. "How did they know to go get a warrant?".
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 14:24:15 GMT
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Post by ejparrott on Oct 27, 2013 15:29:32 GMT
They've been 3D printing sand moulds in foundries for a while...
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