Laser sintering 3D printing is definitely a current process! Bronze, stainless, and others.
Dave Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 5, 2014, at 5:30 AM, Tony Moss <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi all, > I mentioned the possibility of making elaborate pierced gnomons > using 3D printing in a very recent article in BSS Bulletin but I never > expected the real possibility to be so near at hand. Using plastic printed > 'patterns' from which to cast e.g. bronze gnomons would probably result in a > non-rigid result as cast metal is usually quite soft. I wonder if we will > ever be able to print particulate metals in 3D which could then be > 'sintered'. This process is rather like baking a cake but using metal > ingredients to make rigid components. > > No doubt I will probably now find that facts have overtaken this thought > already. :-( > > Tony Moss > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Simon \[illustratingshadows via sundial <[email protected]> > To: John Pickard <[email protected]>; Sundial List > <[email protected]> > Sent: Fri, 5 Dec 2014 1:54 > > Attached Message > From: Simon [illustratingshadows <[email protected]> > To: John Pickard <[email protected]>; Sundial List > <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: 3D printers - PS an ooops > Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2014 01:53:26 +0000 (UTC) > ooops ~ the pictures I attached were for the dial without longitude > correction, sorry. Not relevant to the issue at hand, namely the key point > was the use of the .STL file type and suffix. US printer prices are similar > to those in Australia I think, I imagine other printer vendors may use a file > type other than .STL however their software should spell out what their > printer needs. > > Simon > > > > Simon Wheaton-Smith > www.illustratingshadows.com > Phoenix, Arizona, W112.1 N33.5 > > From: John Pickard <[email protected]> > To: Sundial List <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2014 6:11 PM > Subject: 3D printers > > Good morning, > > There was some discussion on the list a few months ago about 3D printers. > > One of the leading electronics stores in Australia is now selling DIY kits > for a small 3D printer (Velleman K8200) for $AUD1300. It's a desk-top unit > that purely by chance I saw in operation at the local library a day or so > ago. > > http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=TL4020 > > More info on the kit: www.k8200.eu > > The max dimensions of printed objects is 200 x 200 x 200 mm, which would be > too small for most outdoor dials, but could be ideal for prototyping > portable dials (e.g. armillary spheres, ring dials, etc.) The printed > resolution is: X and Y (wall thickness): 0.5 mm; Z: (layer thickness) 0.20 - > 0.25 mm. Still not comparable to engraving, but an obvious harbinger of > things to come. If we think about how digital cameras and smart phones now > have amazing resolution, then most likely the resolution of these 3D > printers will be much better in a couple of years. > > Software is Repetier: www.repetier.com > > I have no idea how you enter specifications for an object. I found no > mention of CAD in my quick reading of material on the Repetier, so I guess > that they have some other way of doing it. > > I have no doubt that similar printers are offered in most countries, and one > would be a Christmas present! > > > Cheers, John > > John Pickard > [email protected] > > --------------------------------------------------- > https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial > > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial > > --------------------------------------------------- > https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial >
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