3-D Printing and Laser Cutting.

[Chuck E]

Just a Heads Up. Has anyone tried 3-D Printing. I did see a link to items fro Migrant Models. Wondering if this is our Migrant?

Anyone else tried this?

I have been buying some laser cut items too. These look terrific.

I would be interested to know if any of our members have had any experiences.

[JamesPerrin]

We have an Ultimaker 2 at work that I have access to, but have yet had time to knock up the 3D designs that I want to print. It's quite a course finish as it not designed for fine parts but could be used. I would though think about using online services as you can get access to industry grade machines, but obviously you pay a higher costs per part

[Chuck E]

Thanks, James. I saw some lads at a model show last year with some printed designs. They were very finely finished and just needed paint.

[rob_van_riel]

Anyone else tried this?

I did. Loads of work, fairly expensive parts, but with the right printers, pretty good quality too. I'll continue to dabble in this for hard or impossible to source parts; I'm better at 3D design than sculpting Unless the parts are particularly tricky to make moulds for, my default approach would be to print a master, then cast resin copies. See here for my first dabblings: http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=91&t=15630;

[Dazzled]

I think the technology involved is only going to get cheaper as progress in development of printers and printing material is moving very rapidly indeed.

[Chuck E]

I think the technology involved is only going to get cheaper as progress in development of printers and printing material is moving very rapidly indeed.

I agree. I didn't have much time to talk to Paul, at our model meeting, do to a Demo taking up most of the night. I had been looking at a very nice 'O' Gauge steam loco, which happened to be his and was built from 3-D printed parts. One word of advice was to get the software first and practice your designs. Don't even think of getting a printer until you can manipulate the 3-D model graphics.

More later.