This 3D printing business is getting crazy

[cbaltrin]

Saw this on Spruebrothers site.  Crazy eh?

[Steve Zuleski]

Yes, crazy, but pretty cool. If I could afford a decent rig, I might go for it, but like saw dust rigs, it's a learning curve for me. Can you imagine the parts you could render in short order, impressive, so say the least!

[Green KreationZ]

Yeah it has come a long way rather quickly. I plan on eventually pulling the trigger and getting me an Elegoo Saturn

[cbaltrin]

Feb 3, 2024 20:01:54 GMT -5 Steve Zuleski said:

Yes, crazy, but pretty cool. If I could afford a decent rig, I might go for it, but like saw dust rigs, it's a learning curve for me. Can you imagine the parts you could render in short order, impressive, so say the least!

Yes, I can! Imagine just the simple details parts you could make, like bail out bottles and other small things to hang inside the fuselage of a Monogram B-17G , B-24, etc...
I actually already designed a replacement spinner assembly for the Monogram P-51D, but unfortunately, I  realized I can't run a resin printer in my small house with 4 kids and the wife running around.

[kyledehart5]

The detail they can print in is truly astonishing. So many ways to use it to elevate our hobby. I have nowhere to put a printer but I’d love t be able to tinker with one

[handiabled]

A 3d printer would be great but I would need to boost my learning curve 100% above the paygrade level I am at right now with the subject

[TJ]

Feb 4, 2024 3:59:23 GMT -5 handiabled said:

A 3d printer would be great but I would need to boost my learning curve 100% above the paygrade level I am at right now with the subject

Ditto

[Tobi]

My feelings about 3d printing are mixed. On the one hand I admire the art of scratch building, on the other hand I see the possibilities of printing. In the past, the art of painting an ultra realistic instrument panel was admired and made a cockpit and the model stand out from others, today a 3d-decal is brought on and done.

Don't get me wrong, I did use it myself before, too, but at the same time I'm concerned if it will do only good to our hobby or if a lot of arts will instead fade and be forgotten. The old dilemma of progress.

[armornutii]

Feb 7, 2024 2:08:08 GMT -5 Tobi said:

My feelings about 3d printing are mixed. On the one hand I admire the art of scratch building, on the other hand I see the possibilities of printing. In the past, the art of painting an ultra realistic instrument panel was admired and made a cockpit and the model stand out from others, today a 3d-decal is brought on and done.

Don't get me wrong, I did use it myself before, too, but at the same time I'm concerned if it will do only good to our hobby or if a lot of arts will instead fade and be forgotten. The old dilemma of progress.

   I agree...sorta. I agree that printing a highly detailed part kinda takes away from the skill of literally working raw plastic into the form one is looking for. However being able to do all the math for scale, input code, and get the darn machine to run is a skill unto its own.
     On the flip side, with all these readily, meaning prices will eventually come down, upgrade items it kind of takes the competion back to the " basics" of modeling. With no variation in quality of products it falls back on execution, fit, finish, etc.
      Not sure I'm ready to jump in on the 3D bandwagon however I tend to be an OOB builder.

[lyle]

My problem with this tech is that you need a CAD program of some sort to produce the files to print...I think. I kow you can buy the files online though.

When I want one is usually after I've lost a part that I would love to "scan" and print....duh.

[tcoat]

There are currently very good (based upon reviews) inexpensive resin printers out there. My son and I are knocking around the idea of getting one. There are also many, many free or very reasonably priced files of items that would be just impossible to scratch build.
For example here is probably everything any Aliens megafan could ever want to build!

www.gambody.com/blog/3d-print-21-iconic-alien-movie-models-and-spaceships-best-stl-file-selection/

The APC files can be scaled to whatever you want and at $23 are a steal.


When you consider that even if you can find the old Halycon kit it will cost you Between $200 and $500 and doesn't include an interior.

[brandonk]

I know that this will forever change the hobby, for the more accurate and detailed route. I have not, and do not plan on getting one for a multitude of reasons. Mainly the fumes are considered harsh and unsafe and I am not going to submit myself or my family to any long term issues we just don't know about yet from this stuff. And I can buy a hell of a lot of parts for what it would cost to get one up and running and then buying resin and alcohol, etc. I'll just stick to letting others do the work. I'm happier searching for and buying only what I need. They are super cool, just not for me.

[tcoat]

Feb 7, 2024 10:40:18 GMT -5 brandonk said:

I know that this will forever change the hobby, for the more accurate and detailed route. I have not, and do not plan on getting one for a multitude of reasons. Mainly the fumes are considered harsh and unsafe and I am not going to submit myself or my family to any long term issues we just don't know about yet from this stuff. And I can buy a hell of a lot of parts for what it would cost to get one up and running and then buying resin and alcohol, etc. I'll just stick to letting others do the work. I'm happier searching for and buying only what I need. They are super cool, just not for me.

Fumes can be dealt with with proper ventilation. The all in cost for a decent machine and all the extras needed is about $500 and the supplies are not expensive. I am more interested in it for those things you simply can not buy. I also am up against an issue here that you don't have in the U.S. since anything that may cost you $20 can easily be over $100 by the time I get it here. Being able to print my own parts even if I have to pay for files will pay for it self in very quick order. I get that it is not something that everybody would want to get into but the reality is that there could be a day (we will probably all be gone) when it is the primary source of kits. 

[keavdog]

I don't have too much desire to own a 3d printer but I am a very happy customer! So pleased with what can be done and the availability of so much - it's definitely a pivot point for our hobby.

This HEMI I recently got is amazing



I'm also very impressed with recent advances in slide molding. The Academy A-10 is a leap forward.

[lyle]

Feb 7, 2024 11:27:23 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Feb 7, 2024 10:40:18 GMT -5 brandonk said:

I know that this will forever change the hobby, for the more accurate and detailed route. I have not, and do not plan on getting one for a multitude of reasons. Mainly the fumes are considered harsh and unsafe and I am not going to submit myself or my family to any long term issues we just don't know about yet from this stuff. And I can buy a hell of a lot of parts for what it would cost to get one up and running and then buying resin and alcohol, etc. I'll just stick to letting others do the work. I'm happier searching for and buying only what I need. They are super cool, just not for me.

Fumes can be dealt with with proper ventilation. The all in cost for a decent machine and all the extras needed is about $500 and the supplies are not expensive. I am more interested in it for those things you simply can not buy. I also am up against an issue here that you don't have in the U.S. since anything that may cost you $20 can easily be over $100 by the time I get it here. Being able to print my own parts even if I have to pay for files will pay for it self in very quick order. I get that it is not something that everybody would want to get into but the reality is that there could be a day (we will probably all be gone) when it is the primary source of kits. 

We do have some advantage there. 

[Tojo72]

Some real amazing stuff coming our way.

[Tobi]

I have designed my own 3d parts in the past and printed them at Shapeways, for either repetetive parts I would need a lot of, or parts with a regularity to them that is hard to achieve by hand, like gratings.
Their versatile plastic suffers from soft details, and the crisp detail plastic is brittle as hell.
The whole affair has its pro's and con's and while it came a long way already, it still has a long way to go for modeling.

[floki]

Feb 3, 2024 20:34:36 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Yeah it has come a long way rather quickly. I plan on eventually pulling the trigger and getting me an Elegoo Saturn

I have a Elegoo Saturn would highly recommend.

As for cad software, fusion 360 is free for personal use and after a few youtube getting started videos it's a very easy program to use.