First it was MIM, then came this...

[LVSteve]

3-D printing of metal?? Caught this article on a car site and thought you guys would be interested. You have to wonder if it could be used to produce unobtainable spare parts for classic guns.

How Automakers Are 3D Printing Parts for Production Cars (and Classics) | Feature | Car and Driver

 

[sar4937]

Someone would still have to write the program, while this might be cost effective for say, 5906 parts, it probably won't work for low volume guns. Much of the early stuff was hand fitted, so parts would have to be adequately oversized. It's too soon to know if printed parts are hard throughout for machining. This article was using titanium for a reason, heat treated steel may be different. Just the time involved in the article will insure I will never see it. Some of this is purely press release, GM said it would be making some seat parts.

 

[BigBill]

My sons an engineer and there doing 3-D printing on some of there parts. My son uses it the most. I been telling him I'd like to try it and what's the cost. It's great for rapid prototyping.

 

[bdGreen]

When I was at the Smith and Wesson factory I got to see their 3D printer.
It was awesome.
On display in the window of the 'printing room' was a very large revolver that had been completely done on the 3D printer.

Their printing room was somewhat of a showcase. Full windows on three sides for viewing.

It was working away while I watched it.

I would show you a picture, but, I was not allowed to remove my cell phone from my pocket. Fear for my life, no. Fear for the future of my cell phone, hell yeah. They encouraged me to be a believer.

bdGreen

 

[S&W ucla]

I'm looking forward to when we can place an existing part in the scanner and it will replicate it in steel and finish. No need for expensive programs for each part. Just a steel copier

"Hello FedX Office, I'll take 2 reg mags, 4.5" bbls, one 357 and other 44spl, in stainless, with King sights and Roper grips. Can you have those ready tomorrow?" Future's so bright, we'll have to wear shades!

 

[Huskerguy]

I formerly ran a small technical college and bought a 3D printer when they were relatively new. If it could be drawn and wasn't too big you could have it made into plastic. It was and still is pretty cool to see although it took forever to produce a product in it.

Someone asked about making parts from pictures. I don't claim to know how the technology works but my brother had some new counter tops made for his home and he was interested to see how they measured them. They take a ton of pictures of the areas and used a computer to measure within a very small amount. So I guess if they can take pictures of counters and get accurate measurements then why can't they develop a way to do this with small parts? Probably already have. I am old and slow.

 

[ben_g1]

Wish someone would make the plastic inserts for the presentation boxes

 

[carpriver]

Titian reloading does make a few 3-D printed items, they are small parts used in reloading.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Just this past week I had my two front teeth recapped with new porcelain ones made on a 3-D printer. One of the newest things in dentistry. The computer scans the area where the tooth is going, a block of porcelain is put in the machine, and within 30 minutes out comes a new crown. In and out of the office in less than 2 hours with 2 new teeth. Sure better than getting a temporary and waiting 2 weeks for the lab to make them.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"had some new counter tops made for his home and he was interested to see how they measured them. They take a ton of pictures of the areas and used a computer to measure within a very small amount. So I guess if they can take pictures of counters and get accurate measurements"

Technology moves on, now they just set up a laser connected to a laptop to get measurements for countertops. WhaBam!

 

[jcelect]

Inserts

Wish someone would make the plastic inserts for the presentation boxes

A few years back I was doing some work for a plastic injection molding company. I ask about making the bottom tray for a 3 1/2" mod 27. He quoted; $10,000-$15,000 up front for the mold(which I would own) and an initial order of 10,000 pieces, then the price per unit would go down! Multiply this number for the 3 1/2", 4", 5", 6", 6 1/2", & 8 3/8"! I went home and repaired 4 liners that night!
jcelect

 

[chaparrito]

Several years ago I was watching Jay Leno's Garage and he was having an unobtainable part for some antique car recreated by 3D printing. A mold was made from the plastic repro and the part was then cast. Only a matter of time before 3D metal printing will be possible at home. Not all tech is bad. For the foreseeable future though, you may need Jay Leno's deep pockets to get the little gizmo you need for that old pistol.

 

[GaryS]

It's nice to see that they are on the cutting edge of technology.

When I was last there, in 2012, they didn't even allow us to bring cell phones into the building. The guys at the guard shack were quite clear on that.

When I was at the Smith and Wesson factory I got to see their 3D printer.
It was awesome.
On display in the window of the 'printing room' was a very large revolver that had been completely done on the 3D printer.

Their printing room was somewhat of a showcase. Full windows on three sides for viewing.

It was working away while I watched it.

I would show you a picture, but, I was not allowed to remove my cell phone from my pocket. Fear for my life, no. Fear for the future of my cell phone, hell yeah. They encouraged me to be a believer.

bdGreen

 

[GaryS]

DPEE- All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth.wmv - YouTube

Just this past week I had my two front teeth recapped with new porcelain ones made on a 3-D printer. One of the newest things in dentistry. The computer scans the area where the tooth is going, a block of porcelain is put in the machine, and within 30 minutes out comes a new crown. In and out of the office in less than 2 hours with 2 new teeth. Sure better than getting a temporary and waiting 2 weeks for the lab to make them.

 

[S&W ucla]

Good video on 3-D dental printing. "Could I get 5 Humpback hammers with my molar please?"

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gyRmp4yC-A[/ame]

 

[Wise_A]

(1) Yes, 3D printing will improve to the point where it's a practical item, if not for everybody every day, then for nuts and craftsmen like us. I don't envision one in every home, but one in every decently-equipped print shop could be a thing.

(2) Yes, in case you were wondering, the improvement of 3D printing polymers and metals means that gun control is essentially meaningless. The Antis are currently waging a war against pagers, when cell phones are visible on the horizon.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Good video on 3-D dental printing. "Could I get 5 Humpback hammers with my molar please?"

Mine were made in the dentist's office, 1/2 hour per each crown. Perfect fit and ate corn on the cob that night for dinner.

I broke my "2 Front Teeth, my 2 Front Teeth" when I was 11 while riding my bike on my paper route.

Love the song, by the way!