MogulTx
07-29-2013, 10:13 PM
Guys (and Gals)
We all need to be looking into this. A Canadian group is designing an airplane.
http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/29/open-source-airplane-could-cost-just-15000/?hpt=hp_t2
The airplane is going to be primarily made of composites and some things are intended to be made from 3D printed materials ( light duty items like knobs). My experience is that for something to last robustly enough, it probably can not be made from a material that would become un-firm in the interior of a cockpit sitting on a tarmac in the summer ( think of the heat of the interior of your car! And that is how 3D printed products get made)
But think about this: There will be a BUNCH of wing spars that need to have molds if they do this out of composites. Our machines could do this mold making work CHEAP!
Or, if they do it out of aluminum, our machines could cut components for these folks!
What REALLY struck me is THIS: they say they want to do an "open source" design- meaning they will give away the design so that people can build the product inexpensively. If they do that, and if SHopBot takes a copy of the design and breaks it down and makes a standard set of cutting plans for molds for the composites, then offers them up at NO CHARGE, then they will probably wind up selling a LOT of new machines to people who want to make molds for these very light aircraft. It is a great marketing tool for ShopBot. No really. The maker thing is really hitting a nice stride and I THINK it is going to go much farther and companies like SHopBot are poised in an incredible position to take advantage of that. And we, as owners, could potentially get a lot of fun projects out of it!
And the knobs they want to print with 3D printers? Shopbots can cut them from various plastics that are NOT prone to becoming soft in a hot airplane in the sun! And Door panels, and instrument panels. And mold pieces for composite seats. And all sorts of things! I have done a lot of work in flight simulation and I will tell you that the CNC router is a critical animal in creating a precise part that is also repeatable. There will be a lot of people who will want to come to a CNC Router owner (Think about 100K Garages) to have them cut a set of templates- a section at a time, as they work through their project.
FLying machines will never be 1 to a family, but I think they will be surging in a couple years and if we can get ShopBot on board with this, I think there is great promise in it for a small amount of design labor ( from the provided plans)...
Look at it and see if this is not a prime opportunity.
We all need to be looking into this. A Canadian group is designing an airplane.
http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/29/open-source-airplane-could-cost-just-15000/?hpt=hp_t2
The airplane is going to be primarily made of composites and some things are intended to be made from 3D printed materials ( light duty items like knobs). My experience is that for something to last robustly enough, it probably can not be made from a material that would become un-firm in the interior of a cockpit sitting on a tarmac in the summer ( think of the heat of the interior of your car! And that is how 3D printed products get made)
But think about this: There will be a BUNCH of wing spars that need to have molds if they do this out of composites. Our machines could do this mold making work CHEAP!
Or, if they do it out of aluminum, our machines could cut components for these folks!
What REALLY struck me is THIS: they say they want to do an "open source" design- meaning they will give away the design so that people can build the product inexpensively. If they do that, and if SHopBot takes a copy of the design and breaks it down and makes a standard set of cutting plans for molds for the composites, then offers them up at NO CHARGE, then they will probably wind up selling a LOT of new machines to people who want to make molds for these very light aircraft. It is a great marketing tool for ShopBot. No really. The maker thing is really hitting a nice stride and I THINK it is going to go much farther and companies like SHopBot are poised in an incredible position to take advantage of that. And we, as owners, could potentially get a lot of fun projects out of it!
And the knobs they want to print with 3D printers? Shopbots can cut them from various plastics that are NOT prone to becoming soft in a hot airplane in the sun! And Door panels, and instrument panels. And mold pieces for composite seats. And all sorts of things! I have done a lot of work in flight simulation and I will tell you that the CNC router is a critical animal in creating a precise part that is also repeatable. There will be a lot of people who will want to come to a CNC Router owner (Think about 100K Garages) to have them cut a set of templates- a section at a time, as they work through their project.
FLying machines will never be 1 to a family, but I think they will be surging in a couple years and if we can get ShopBot on board with this, I think there is great promise in it for a small amount of design labor ( from the provided plans)...
Look at it and see if this is not a prime opportunity.