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Being a modeller for quite a few years now, I decided to explore the endless possibilities that the world (through internet) offers, and come up with a series of ways of building, modelling and painting fast (but not hastily), to create the worlds I was seeing in history books since I was little. . .If you care to join me. . . This is the place to be! And, I promise you to find the way (or ways)!!

Friday 9 December 2011

3D Printing....the future?

Good day everyone!

Since I didn't have much time to paint this week (I am trying to finish a US Rifle Platoon and one small terrain piece), while googling around the web, I found information regarding 3D Printing.
I am sure that most of you are aware of this technology, since it firstly appeared some 7-8 years ago, but, since it's not very widespread in terms of availability (due to the high costs of acquiring a 3D printer... almost USD 15.000 / printer), I wanted to share my thoughts with you and ask you whether you think that this could be the future for our hobby (everything has to do with our hobby...other opinions are banned from this blog! :-) ).



I reckon that most of the big companies of the industry might be already using this type of machinery for their products, but the question that is swirling in my mind is whether an individual could buy sth like that and create his works for his leisure (personal use or whatever) or start a new business by producing pieces for entering the market (even though the possibility of balancing costs - profits could take a little while...in human years)!!!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing

What do you think?

T.

29 comments:

  1. Hi Thanos!
    These printers are mostly used for prototyping: To see if parts fit together, to check the handling of products and so on.
    They might be just perfect for this, but I don't think that this is the right way for actual productions. They take quite some time to finish a print, which is also the problem why laser-cut-models are so expensive.
    I think the timefactor is comparable with printing many hundrets of pages with an inkjet-printer.
    The amount of pages (=layers) is increasing with the level of detail...

    In addition I believe that the raw-materials are not quite cheap.

    The idea of having one of these wonder-machines on the other hand is even more interesting than my dream of having a cnc mill :)

    Cheers,
    Mojo

    ReplyDelete
  2. What do ***you*** think ....

    http://colshofer.blogspot.com/search/label/3D%20Printing

    :)

    CS

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi! interesting question! I don't have a definitive reply: for me, it can be useful for "special and private orders" .... if you're rich!
    I saw some 3D figures projects and my opinion is that it never could have the same "life" than human sculpt!
    So wait and see.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. For architectural stuff...nothing beats it. The price is bound to come down as the printers and the programmes become cheaper. For figs...it has IMHO virtually (no pun intended) no future..as Pascal says..the figs lack any "feeling"
    Cheers
    paul

    ReplyDelete
  5. Printing is a all-important account that a lot of businesses allegation and cannot do without. This agency that a being accepting into this business has a huge bulk of accessible audience to go after.

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  6. I certainly think it has a role, some people are already trying it, seems to be especially popular with SF gamers, quite a few people seem to sell through here:

    http://www.shapeways.com/gallery?mg[search][tags_search]=wargame

    Not sure the quality is great yet, but it seems to work for certain types of jobs, anything quite angular or 'man-made' could be great for scenery pieces.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanos I am sure this is what Zvezda uses for the masters of their figures and vehicles.

    To early in the morning to think about this too much.

    Regards Paul

    ReplyDelete
  8. Price would be an issue but it's very nice...very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This looks great, but not really sure how it works...must admit I'm drifting towards conventional card buildings for larger scales myself to save time etc...it's the way ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! I have heard about these but my word what possibilities they offer to our humble little hobby.

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