Comments on: Manufacturing on Demand: The Future Is Now http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/ Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:26:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Robert http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-110610 Robert Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:02:17 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-110610 Gunner said: <i>interesting, but this presupposes an understanding of the technology of the widget you’re trying to replicate, as ken points out. even a relatively “simple” machine, like a semi automatic pistol, requires understanding the forces acting in and on the mechanism in its operation. heat, pressure, mechanical friction, cyclic timing, mechanical linkages, etc. then you get into the wonderful world of writing a programme the computer can run to acually build your widget. not unsolvable problems but still many process steps between idea and product. thinking will still be required before pushing the magic button. “gunner”</i> My Reply: Unfortunately, the strange multi-click system on PJM erased my original reply. I will reply again. Your concerns are only relevant if you're designing a brand new pistol design from scratch, then printing it out of the fablab. They are not relevant to pistol designs that have existed for decades since those concerns have already been addressed. Gunner said:
interesting, but this presupposes an understanding of the technology of the widget you’re trying to replicate, as ken points out. even a relatively “simple” machine, like a semi automatic pistol, requires understanding the forces acting in and on the mechanism in its operation. heat, pressure, mechanical friction, cyclic timing, mechanical linkages, etc. then you get into the wonderful world of writing a programme the computer can run to acually build your widget. not unsolvable problems but still many process steps between idea and product. thinking will still be required before pushing the magic button.
“gunner”

My Reply:
Unfortunately, the strange multi-click system on PJM erased my original reply.
I will reply again.
Your concerns are only relevant if you’re designing a brand new pistol design from scratch, then printing it out of the fablab. They are not relevant to pistol designs that have existed for decades since those concerns have already been addressed.

]]> By: Robert http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-110608 Robert Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:56:58 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-110608 <i>interesting, but this presupposes an understanding of the technology of the widget you’re trying to replicate, as ken points out. even a relatively “simple” machine, like a semi automatic pistol, requires understanding the forces acting in and on the mechanism in its operation. heat, pressure, mechanical friction, cyclic timing, mechanical linkages, etc. then you get into the wonderful world of writing a programme the computer can run to acually build your widget. not unsolvable problems but still many process steps between idea and product. thinking will still be required before pushing the magic button. “gunner”</i> If you're designing a <b>new</b> pistol design to print out of your fablab then your statement would be relevant. If you're printing out a well tested pistol design that has existed for decades then your statement would be irrelevant. The mechanical stresses would have been already accounted for. interesting, but this presupposes an understanding of the technology of the widget you’re trying to replicate, as ken points out. even a relatively “simple” machine, like a semi automatic pistol, requires understanding the forces acting in and on the mechanism in its operation. heat, pressure, mechanical friction, cyclic timing, mechanical linkages, etc. then you get into the wonderful world of writing a programme the computer can run to acually build your widget. not unsolvable problems but still many process steps between idea and product. thinking will still be required before pushing the magic button.
“gunner”

If you’re designing a new pistol design to print out of your fablab then your statement would be relevant. If you’re printing out a well tested pistol design that has existed for decades then your statement would be irrelevant. The mechanical stresses would have been already accounted for.

]]> By: Warrl http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-109763 Warrl Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:25:45 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-109763 Analog Science Fiction has in their November issue a science-fact article, "The 3D Train Wreck" (might eventually be available online at http://www.analogsf.com/ but right now you gotta go get the atoms to read it) about this very subject. You can download the plans and parts list for a 3D printer from reprap.org and the parts should cost less than $1000. I'm afraid it looks rather tinker-toy-ish. You can download the plans (including software) for a better one - which can handle multiple materials - at fabathome.org ; in this case the parts for the basic version will cost about $2400 or you can buy the basic version, assembled and ready to go, for about $4000. This is not a commercial-grade device by any means, but one adventurous owner has set up his printer to deal with multiple materials simultaneously - and printed a working electric battery. Also, while 3D printing is strictly additive, some of the people involved in this this project are imagining subtractive approaches such as using a Dremel roto-tool as a "print"head. That could open up some serious improvements in surface quality. There'a also a guy at USC working on printing buildings. NASA's looking at one of his prototypes and imagining printing buildings on the moon. Analog Science Fiction has in their November issue a science-fact article, “The 3D Train Wreck” (might eventually be available online at http://www.analogsf.com/ but right now you gotta go get the atoms to read it) about this very subject.

You can download the plans and parts list for a 3D printer from reprap.org and the parts should cost less than $1000. I’m afraid it looks rather tinker-toy-ish.

You can download the plans (including software) for a better one – which can handle multiple materials – at fabathome.org ; in this case the parts for the basic version will cost about $2400 or you can buy the basic version, assembled and ready to go, for about $4000. This is not a commercial-grade device by any means, but one adventurous owner has set up his printer to deal with multiple materials simultaneously – and printed a working electric battery. Also, while 3D printing is strictly additive, some of the people involved in this this project are imagining subtractive approaches such as using a Dremel roto-tool as a “print”head. That could open up some serious improvements in surface quality.

There’a also a guy at USC working on printing buildings. NASA’s looking at one of his prototypes and imagining printing buildings on the moon.

]]> By: Tightwad Technica » Where Image Meets Physicality http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108747 Tightwad Technica » Where Image Meets Physicality Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:58:29 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108747 [...] Linky. [...] [...] Linky. [...]

]]> By: Charlie (Colorado) http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108707 Charlie (Colorado) Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:19:44 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108707 Good point, Ellen. Isn't there a tax advantage too? Good point, Ellen. Isn’t there a tax advantage too?

]]> By: Jack http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108531 Jack Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:44:55 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108531 That's okay, 'cause Toad only needs one round. That’s okay, ’cause Toad only needs one round.

]]> By: Ellen http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108496 Ellen Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:23:27 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108496 A word on another cost reduced w/print on demand (not the focus of the article, but it's my field) - insurance costs. Not having to insure a warehouse full of books reduces costs mightily for a publisher. A word on another cost reduced w/print on demand (not the focus of the article, but it’s my field) – insurance costs. Not having to insure a warehouse full of books reduces costs mightily for a publisher.

]]> By: Charlie (Colorado) http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108486 Charlie (Colorado) Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:05:05 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108486 SHB, it's worth remembering that there are a lot of things that you only buy one at a time. This has the promise of being rather like the change in the record business: big sellers will make big money, but small specialized designers will be able to get into the market easily. Allston, the mention of Heinlein is absolutely right: remember his Universal Pantograph? SHB, it’s worth remembering that there are a lot of things that you only buy one at a time. This has the promise of being rather like the change in the record business: big sellers will make big money, but small specialized designers will be able to get into the market easily.

Allston, the mention of Heinlein is absolutely right: remember his Universal Pantograph?

]]> By: Manufacturing on Demand: the Future is Now | Explorations http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108377 Manufacturing on Demand: the Future is Now | Explorations Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:55:19 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108377 [...] new article on Pajamas [...] [...] new article on Pajamas [...]

]]> By: Allston http://pjmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108345 Allston Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:47:02 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/manufacturing-on-demand-the-future-is-now/#comment-108345 It's great to see inventions predicted by the Science Fiction greats, such as Clarke or Heinlein, becoming a reality. It's a *good* time to be alive... It’s great to see inventions predicted by the Science Fiction greats, such as Clarke or Heinlein, becoming a reality.

It’s a *good* time to be alive…

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