SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Makerbot

8079 views
27 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Makerbot
Posted by smeagol the vile on Thursday, June 9, 2011 2:04 AM

Ok, so im watching The Colbert Report and they have this guy who made this machine 'the Maker Bot'  You put in a blue print, or something of that nature, through an SD card, the machine, which is only about the size of a small TV builds the design you put in, in 3d in ABS plastic VERY NICELY I may add.  the kicker... he said the thing is only 1200$ bucks.  Just imagine the possibilities...

 

EDIT: Its basically a very economic 3d printer

 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Utereg
Posted by Borg R3-MC0 on Thursday, June 9, 2011 8:34 AM

3d printing will defenitly be the way of the future for modelling. Just look at a site like Shapeways, the modelling stuf is already there.

The most recent Dutch IPMS magezine featured an interview with a representative of Revell Germany. He stated that it was likely that in the future you go to the Revell website, purchase and dowload a model and then print it on your 3d printer.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, June 9, 2011 9:08 AM

I have heard of a "kit" version of a 3-D printer for around $800.  I guess it is not a complete kit- builder has to supply a few parts himself.  If it drops to half of that I think I'd be interested.  I assume these things leave  slight "steps" that needs to be sanded out, since there are not an infinite number of levels.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Thursday, June 9, 2011 10:37 AM

I've seen samples and yes, they do require some touchup, but less than some kits I've built (or more truthfully, tried to build. $1200 isn't that expensive. I bet I have more than that invested in airbrushes, spray booth, and paint alone! Of course, I don't have the $1200 anymore, either! Crying

Big Smile

So long folks!

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Thursday, June 9, 2011 1:08 PM

If I ever manage to find a job I am going to start putting money away for one of these things.

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: 41 Degrees 52.4 minutes North; 72 Degrees 7.3 minutes West
Posted by bbrowniii on Thursday, June 9, 2011 1:53 PM

I can't recall the name of the company, but at AMPSEast a couple years ago they were there with one of these printers. Basically, the deal was, you design what you want, send them the 'plans' and they'd print of your 3-d part for you. It was a little pricey, I recall, but a heck of a lot cheaper than $1200.00.

I'm not sure if I want modeling to go that way or not (although I suppose it is inevitable).

'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing' - Edmund Burke (1770 ??)

 

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Connecticut, East of the River
Posted by tlivancso on Thursday, June 9, 2011 2:05 PM

Boyd,

The company was called Print-a-Part http://www.printapart.com/.

Now I'll leave this discussion quietly..

Cheers,

Thom

IPMS Member #42958 /  AMPS Member #2091

IPMS Central Connecticut (President)

IPMS Northeast Military Modelers Association (Web Master)

Like Alice "I try to believe in three impossible things before breakfast"

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: 41 Degrees 52.4 minutes North; 72 Degrees 7.3 minutes West
Posted by bbrowniii on Thursday, June 9, 2011 2:13 PM

Yeah... Print-a-part. That's it...

'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing' - Edmund Burke (1770 ??)

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Thursday, June 9, 2011 3:35 PM

I'm just imagining the possibilities for diorama building and such for things that you can only get now through PE after market parts, or cant get in certain scales.  No idea how it works, but imagine, need a manhole cover? go outside and scan one in the street and replicate it in 1/35th or something like that.  I'm not saying that the whole hobby should go this way

 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington, DC
Posted by TomZ2 on Thursday, June 9, 2011 5:47 PM

This is one of those topics where one REALLY wants the persons involved to pay attention to what’s been written in speculative fiction. Collectively we’re on the verge of a revolution in fabrication — it’s going to happen! — but the man in the street who thinks he’s going to have a Star Trek replicator, is a jerk. (We’re parsecs from being able to tell a magic box “ham sandwich” and GETTING an acceptable ham sandwich at a reasonable price.)

But when it comes to our favorite material, plastic, it can’t be too soon.

Occasional factual, grammatical, or spelling variations are inherent to this thesis and should not be considered as defects, as they enhance the individuality and character of this document.

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Coastal Maine
Posted by dupes on Friday, June 10, 2011 6:24 AM

Much like paper printers, I'm assuming that a lot of the cost isn't in the printer itself, but in the expendable materials used. Is it resin? If so, your "resin cartridge" is going to bring costs WAY over 1200 bucks.

Give it another year or two, they'll be $599 on sale.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by PritMar on Friday, June 10, 2011 6:57 AM

I read an article that said in 10 years, we will be able to print out a pair of shoes or a gourmet meal. I might wear the shoes, but I am not sure about eating the meal.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 10, 2011 7:29 AM

Fermis and Wingnut have been testing the prototypes...how do you thik they crank 'em out so fast?

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: NYC, USA
Posted by waikong on Friday, June 10, 2011 7:51 AM

The maker bot is actually from this company...

http://www.makerbot.com/

They also have a 'cupcake' model - smaller version for $699. I saw these at the Maker's Faire in NYC this summer, sponsored by Make magazine. Quite a collection of people to likes to make their own stuff mostly from recycled material.  They also had more expensive machines that 'printed' really impressive items.

Here's a video of what it can do

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/makerbot-cupcake-cnc-dodecahedron/f913754168cc3863b209f913754168cc3863b209-980731889002?q=cupcake+cnc&FROM=LKVR5&GT1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Friday, June 10, 2011 12:01 PM

dupes

Much like paper printers, I'm assuming that a lot of the cost isn't in the printer itself, but in the expendable materials used. Is it resin? If so, your "resin cartridge" is going to bring costs WAY over 1200 bucks.

Give it another year or two, they'll be $599 on sale.

On the interview with Stephen Colbert he said that the material they used was ABS plastic, the same stuff that lego is made out of, not resin.  I imagine that would be alot cheaper then resin...

 

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Cave City, KY
Posted by Watchmann on Friday, June 10, 2011 3:46 PM

dupes.  The material is on a spool that reminds me of my weed eater string, and it is cheap compared to resin.  The spool sits over the printer head which heats it up before ejecting it to make parts.  It comes out not as a liquid, but as a string.  The head moves around and layers the spaghetti string as it goes.

Some people have been posted pictures of their parts on the makerbot site.  Some look pretty good, but none of what I have seen is "good enough" for what we would need. :(  Everything has a kind of ribbed look.

I think it's a great idea!  I keep checking back to see if they improve the makerbot, so we could use thinner material.  If it were thin enough to where a light sanding would knock off the ribs, I'd buy one.

m@

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Friday, June 10, 2011 9:31 PM

Watchmann

dupes.  The material is on a spool that reminds me of my weed eater string, and it is cheap compared to resin.  The spool sits over the printer head which heats it up before ejecting it to make parts.  It comes out not as a liquid, but as a string.  The head moves around and layers the spaghetti string as it goes.

Some people have been posted pictures of their parts on the makerbot site.  Some look pretty good, but none of what I have seen is "good enough" for what we would need. :(  Everything has a kind of ribbed look.

I think it's a great idea!  I keep checking back to see if they improve the makerbot, so we could use thinner material.  If it were thin enough to where a light sanding would knock off the ribs, I'd buy one.

m@

When I saw the developer on The Colbert Report he had a few examples and there were no ribs or anything like that, they were very nice.

 

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Cave City, KY
Posted by Watchmann on Friday, June 10, 2011 9:44 PM

That's great!  I wish I had seen that episode.

I looked over the website again, and I just can't find any pictures that look as good as you described. :(

m@

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Cave City, KY
Posted by Watchmann on Friday, June 10, 2011 10:05 PM

Found the clip on the net, cool.

Colbert Report

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Saturday, June 11, 2011 12:29 AM

great, I was looking for a link but couldn't find it.

 

I mean, they are not as detailed as professional stuff, but for making small things, especially things we scratch build, it would be great.

 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Utereg
Posted by Borg R3-MC0 on Saturday, June 11, 2011 2:20 AM

The Shapeway printer looks likes it gives a good result, here is a link to a Tucano kit:

http://www.shapeways.com/model/185401/003b_super_tucano.html?gid=sg33816

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Saturday, June 11, 2011 1:54 PM

You know what I see this thing being a GREAT use for, and that picture made me realise it, making shapes that would be either hard or time consuming to cut out of styrene.  Things like multi sided shapes that had to be even, like octagons or something of that sort, or perfect circles, those kinds of things are hard as heck to do.

 

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Monday, June 13, 2011 7:05 PM

Manstein's revenge

Fermis and Wingnut have been testing the prototypes...how do you thik they crank 'em out so fast?

 

Wha? Huh? Did someone call meStick out tongue  Yup, I got one of those on my "Lottery List" with flying lessons and a Ford GT.

Marc  

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Monday, June 13, 2011 7:10 PM

Now Marc, that would be a cool thing to have for your IPMS group.  Use Dues or have people chip in or whatnot and use it at the meetings and whatnot and let everyone get a crack at the thing.  Yay Communism!

 

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 6:46 AM

but for making small things, especially things we scratch build, it would be great. ...*snip...Things like multi sided shapes that had to be even, like octagons or something of that sort, or perfect circles, those kinds of things are hard as heck to do.*snip*...

Oh. man... That's what compasses and rulers are for...

Bad enough that some gotta have pre-cut masks, pre-painted photo-etch and kits that fit so tight you don't need filler or sand-paper...  Plus, there's kits that're pre-painted, and others that have instruction sheets with more information on the aircraft than the Pilot's Operating Handbook...

Now they wanna take the "build" out of building a model and let a machine do all the work, from idea to finish...  Then soon, the afore-mentioned "Star Trek" replicator will appear, and while it may not make a ham sandwich, SOMEbody's gonna make work with the command, "Mustang, P-51D, US Army Air Force, 8th Air Force, 55th Fighter Group, 343rd Fighter Squadron, Serial Number 44-18673, 1/48th scale."...  Fade paint 20%, with gunsmoke and exhaust stains.

Then they'll post a picture of it in here and everyone will reply, Wow! Good work.. What commands did you use?"

Cripes, I hate the 21st Century...

Going back in my cave now to paint some "great roaring birds" on the walls...

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: NYC, USA
Posted by waikong on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 8:08 AM

Hans, I have to respectfully disagree on this one. The computer is just another tool, they make certain things easier and faster, but at the end of the day, it's still the human creativieness that puts out the art and the invention.  We may use photoshop or CAD to design something instead of rulers and graph paper - but it still the human inventiveness that makes it the final product greater the sum of its parts.  There are no commands to give a computer to just make something, someone has to make that process. The animation form Pixar is no less creative than those that were hand drawn by Disney artists from the 60's and 70's.   The Boeing 787 was designed completely on a computer, without creating prototype mockups - but I wouldn't give any less credit to those engineers than the ones that designed the 747.

Granted, if all you do is download a part and pass it onto a 3d printer, then you aren't really modeling. But I guesss that's no different than people who collect diecasts - whatever floats your boat. Thanks for listening.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 1:02 PM

Exactly.  Hans, it is just a tool.  A compass, ruler, and exacto is fine for a thin piece of styrene but if you need anything that is thick you may as well as schedule yourself for surgery before you start cutting.

Also, just becasue you can create the hunk of plastic... that means nothing.

Hans, you tell me, when was the last time you constructed a kit and put it on a table to be judged without painting, detailing, decal-ing, etc etc etc the kit?  Ill answer it NEVER, I know you would never do such a stupid thing.  Just because we can replicate parts and kit pieces does not mean someone doesn't have to design them, or for that matter, build it afterward.

two final points, for those of us that like the old and rare kits, thing of this.  You have a very old, rare kit that is made of vinyl, lets say.  You dont want to damage it because of how old it is (and how hard vinyl is to work work)  The kit has been out of print since the 70s, so you scan it into this thing, and print it out in ABS plastic.  You get the joy of working with that old sculpt without damaging the original at a fraction of the cost of the resin (over time if you use the maker bot often)

Second, you have someone who is an amateur sculptor or who wants to start their own model making business.  They cant afford a massive slide molding machine in their garage so they can buy one of these and use it to start producing their kits to sell at their local IPMS, word gets out, money comes in, suddenly we have a new manufacturer on our hands.

 

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 12:50 PM

First of all, I don't build models to display them, I build them to tell stories...

Some of the stories are about  what the model's full-size counterpart did or what was happenng in the world when the model's protoytpe was new.  Others are about the building itself...

Another thing is in the making of the parts themselves, which is why some guys build boats without power tools, the building itself is the real hobby, not the end result...

I don't care about the age of a kit either, I don't collect them... If they can't be built because of some perceived value unbuilt, then I don't want 'em...

Free free to ooh and ahh over a new technology if ya want to, that's none of my business.. Just don't expect everyone to come on board with it, nor find reasons to like it... That whole "slide-molding" thing has done nothing for me except add to the cost of kits, kits I'd like to build but won't pay that kind of money for...

I like old things, and will continue to build old school... Heck, I never even owned a car with a catalytic converter until 1988...  And that's only because I couldn't find a front clip for my 1970 XL (that's a 2-door Ford LTD with a fastback in case you wondered)Wink And my computer's 12 years old...

I reckon I'll stay a caveman...

 

 SOMEbody's gotta do it, after all...

 

 

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.