Are our days numbered?

[dlcw]

Just might be for mass production and possibly even some custom work.

http://gigaom.com/2014/02/25/this-is-what-3d-printed-wood-looks-like/

[Burkhardt]

I would not worry. Assuming the technology is viable and cost effective you just have to buy another machine....
But with all the buzz around 3d-printers and having used them for the last 10 years on the job I have yet to see them output something other than one-off parts, expensive mini-series, prototypes, high end medical & military stuff or just art. But, who knows what is all coming in the next couple of years.

[Bob Eustace]

Scarry but at the same time exciting Don! Now the guys are looking for partners, how about a collaboration with Shopbot as it could dovetail in well with their 3D attachment that's apparently on the drawing board.

[Marion]

That question was asked by the painters when photography was invented and yet we still have painters. It was asked when by the theater and opera performers when talking movies started showing up everywhere yet most every metropolitan area still has a live performance theater. And the question was asked again when the CNC router became available but most of us are still using traditional tools and techniques in our daily work.
Technology may change and incorporated, your clients base may change but do your craft well and it will survive.
Although I guess they typesetters on the old printing press never got that memo...

[gene]

it would do away with scraps:D

[chiloquinruss]

But 3d printing with wood was last week fellows! This week it is fake wood! :D Russ

Fake Wood - a foam that looks like wood (http://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2014/3/19/three-new-amazing-3d-printing-filaments?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Fabbaloo+(Fabbaloo))

[gene]

I am always so way behind the times:mad:

[Xray]

Let her rip - Time wise and $$ wise, still far, far out of reach for all but a few.

If this thing weighs 6 pounds must have cost well over $100 in material, how many hours to print is anyone guess. Still neat, will be interesting to see how the tech evolves in the next few years.

[dauntless]

Scarry but at the same time exciting Don! Now the guys are looking for partners, how about a collaboration with Shopbot as it could dovetail in well with their 3D attachment that's apparently on the drawing board.

Any news on this? A customer visiting my shop today asked if I had a 3d printing attachment for my Shopbot. Sadly, I had to say no... :o

[JohnCoker]

it would do away with scraps:D

Yep, sounds like it uses the scraps:

"4 AXYZ’s printing method involves adapting an existing German woodworking machine to operate in 3D. It works by combining small, uniformly cut pieces of wood. Shah actually prefers to put the manufacturing technique under the broader term of “additive manufacturing,” as there is at no point any liquid “ink” involved, as is generally the case in 3D printing."

Actual 3D printing is an interesting technique, which will eventually be very important for manufacturing. The current range of materials is limited and the process is very slow and expensive. However, we know how that story unfolds.

I will add a 3D printer when they get more mature, but for now I've used Shapeways to produce one-off parts that can't be made on a 3D router.

[gene]

are our days numbered ?

YES

Everything has a life cycle
No matter what it is ...

[wespor]

I'm a bit late posting on this thread but I thought I'd touch base on wood filament. It's not all that impressive in real life. I picked up a 2.2k 3D printer last month and have had a ball printing out of ABS and PLA plastics, thought I'd give wood a try and bought the highest rated brand.

The printer I chose (TAZ 4) is tailored toward exotic filaments but it was still a battle to print, once printed it just looked and felt like brown plastic. I'll post some pictures soon, there are some neat things about it, altering the temperature it's extruded at changes the color (it's essentially burning the wood particles suspended within the plastic) and it does sand fairly well but I don't think woodworkers will have anything to worry about for a while yet.

[harryball]

We are heading toward replicators like from Star Trek, which is expected and makes sense. One day, we will be able to just click a button, listen to some whirring sounds and out comes a table or chair or a new vase etc...

Eventually with nanotechnology, being able to manipulate things at the molecular level, we'll be able to "print" glass, wood, steel, rubber etc... all in the same job and make whatever is needed. I doubt I'll ever get to see the tech... but I would love too!

I think in future new markets will open up. For example, instead of buying a bat house from a guy like me, people will buy a "one print bat house plan" for the bargain price of $86,000 (allowing for inflation, in today's dollars that'd be about $10) and out pops the bat house they want. There will also be a huge market for the raw "replicator gel" these things run on.


/RB