/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>363614
>>Support material doesn't mean printing more ABS and then cutting it off with a knife later.
that's what most professional 3d printers do. Even the high resolution ones

>>363618
>>There is a material that dissolves in water and can be used in reprap
and the reprap people have been trying to source it. PLA can be dissolve in hot lye water, but there has been limited support with that

>>363519
Already is. 3d printed parts are already being used in airplanes(747, jetfighters, etc), because it's cheaper to print them than to injection mold them and have people assemble them. You can also make stuff more lightweight than if you molded or machined it, which is a HUGE benefit for airplanes.

The other thing is that machining titanium for airplane parts is a fucking bitch, much titanium is lost in the process, which is why airplane companies are looking at 3d printing to make parts. As 3d printing is an additive process much less titanium can be used. pic related.

>>363524
Now don't tell anyone this, but there's a new 3d printer out there capable of making precision ceramic molds for jet turbine blades. In other words, if you work in the business of making jet turbine blades or precision cast parts, quit now and start looking for a new job, as you will probably lose it within 2 years.

Did I mention said 3d printer was made from COTS hardware too? So you can build one too if you want...

>>363653
you are very right, 3d printing is VERY OVERHYPED right now, we are probably at peak hype now. Though what disappoints me more is the parts people produce with hobbyist 3d printers are barely taking advantage of the capabilities of their printer

>>205021
>>As a potential business this interests me.
You're too late. There are big companies called "service bureaus" that specialize in this sort of thing.

>>205371
>>simply machining them
Metal 3d printers are being used to produce aerospace parts from titanium, because as it turns out, superhard titanium alloys are really difficult to machine. Not to mention the 3d printing process is a lot less wasteful than machining, plus you can make much lighter parts than you could with machining, pic related.