On Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 4:06 AM, Deepa Mohan <[email protected]> wrote:
> Remote 3-D printing. I found this fascinating! > > Deepa. > > >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHnMj6dxj4 >> > Fascinating it is! Amazed that the tool was fully functional. Initially I thought the function of the printer was to give a 3-D model of a prospective tool which could then be the basis of manufacture. Instead this thing produces functional parts. In which case it combines the design and production elements in virtually the same machine. The only question that was not addressed in the video is the toughness of the material and therefore the kind of force that can be applied with that wrench. Clearly, the material used is one of the keys to the process, hence they haven't disclosed the nature of the material or of the binding agent. A reinforced steel wrench can twist a lot of tough nuts and straighten them out. Don't know how this one would work. Would it, for example, break if it was used as a lever for something heavy? Or would it's tip snap if the nut was jammed tight and a large amount of force was brought to bear to unwind the said nut? Either way, to see a printer generate a functional 3-D tool is indeed fascinating. Thanks for posting this.
