The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Isnt technology amazing? have a look at what is coming. 3D printers. Color no less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz ... ata_player
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Wouldn't it be awesome if we could actually replicate the parts we need for our planes with this?

Fearless Tower wrote:Wouldn't it be awesome if we could actually replicate the parts we need for our planes with this?

It is only a matter of time till we are, at least some parts.

I actually saw something like this maybe ten years ago. Very crude compared to this. I think it used a laser shot into a gel block. The laser hardened the gel I think and the object was formed. It had lots of limitations. My cousin was involved using the technique designing medical inhalers for asthmatic children. I saw the 3D printed proto type and then the finished working proto type. Was really cool then, this is leaps and bounds above it.

Really amazing technology! If I had one of those machines I could reproduce those assist strap fittings I need and that material would probably be a lot stronger than the putter or whatever the originals were made of. Of course we don't know what that Cresent wrench cost in the video. My fittings might be $100 each

The video, in just giving an overview, leaves out a few key details. The process is not real new. 20 years ago I was having plastic prototype parts made with that method. 15 years ago, I had some prototype plastic injection mold cavities made with this method. They used bronze powder instead of plastic, and could actuelly be used in a mold press to make parts. It's great for prototype shaped parts, but if you want structural properties, it's not the way to go. Materials are very limited, although, like everything else, I'm sure it will improve.

Bruce, I think investment casting would be a better way to reproduce the assist strap hardware. That wouldn't be all that expensive to do, and the choice of materials would be better.