We sell the 3D printers, but there only good really for stuff like plastic, wax shapes etc as the medium has to flow through the print heads, then it just builds up layers as the heads pass over it in a cross section. Beinag able to pass liquid metal type media will be when it comes into some real uses.
So use a powder based system and a laser (EOS) or electron beam (ARCAM) rather than jet technology. We use powder bed technology to make some amazing parts for our Industry. Need to use the right tool for the job.
The interesting thing i seen talk about lately is the food machine, it has the core powdered "materials" by basic elements. and when dispensed in the right order/quanity etc should be able to make up a stack of differant items. They are currenlty working on it being able to " print out" a pizza.
They have already made a machine that will 3D print chocolate! It looks good, but tastes awful as the elevated temperature of the chocolate causes all the nice flavours to be lost.
Additive Manufacture (A-M) is not the answers to our prayers, it is another tool that will help make things that were previously unmakable. If you need a 510 cylinder head, you need a foundry / machine shop. If you need a replacement plastic door handle for your caravan, go to the OEM and buy one for £3. If you need a gear change meachanism that is 75% lighter than the original part, is half the size, made of one part not 6 and also serves 5 other functions then you may want to consider additive manufacture. Some of the shapes that can be made cant be produced via conventional means. The structures are organic as if nature designed them that way. People tell us they look like parts out if the Alien Movie.
Typically manufacturing evolves as tweaks are made to processed. A-M is a revolution that will change the way we look at the world. It wont mean that end to existing processes, but will allow us to design and manufacture things that were previously unmakeable.
It will always struggle to compete with existing processes. So if you need a cylinder head, go to the cyclinder head maker. Where it will always win is with complex, multifunctional, light weight shapes.
As the technology evolves it is inevitable that costs will come down and build volumes (the size of part you can make) will increase (e.g there is a 500mm
3 on the cards now)
I think there are verty exciting times ahead.
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At the other end of the scale, cheap printers are getting cheaper and to be fair better. There will come a time when hoem PCs will come with one. I suspect it will be a freebee that uses very expensive cartridges!!!!
I am not sure about a pizza machine. Call me old fashioned, but I would prefer it made the traditional way!
