I think 3D printing like this has huge potential for places like New
Mexico. Anywhere, really, but given the low threshold of entry -- both in
terms of $$$ and skills -- it's a way to bring the machine tool industry
back to North America.
Objet is the world's leading provider of advanced 3D printing and rapid
prototyping machines. We offer a flexible range of desktop, office and
advanced multi-material 3D printers along with nearly 70 different 3D
printing materials.
Hello,
3D printing is really great for prototyping and design and certainly
has potential for keeping prototype work in america. For production
parts though, its very costly compared to classic plastic injection
molding.
A couple years ago I had a face plate and bezel (3cm x 15cm x 27cm )
printed for about $400 dollars from a Stratasys 3-D printing machine,
it was an excellent print, though it had a satin finish, wherein the
spec called for gloss.
We had a production mold for the same part made in China, the 2 molds
were ~$5.5k. We had received quotes from US companies of ~$15k for the
same molds.The unit cost of production was ~$3-4 per bezel/faceplate.
In very small quantities, 3d printing makes sense. In situations where
the "fixed cost" of a mold is negligible, I doubt 3d printing will
ever be able to compete.
P.S. I will note that it was cheaper to have our metal backings made
in the US. The shipping costs for iron from the US to China was very
high (though shipping by ocean freighter was not considered).
****************************
Greg Sonnenfeld
“The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be
sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.”
On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Tom Johnson <t...@jtjohnson.com> wrote:
> I think 3D printing like this has huge potential for places like New
> Mexico. Anywhere, really, but given the low threshold of entry -- both in
> terms of $$$ and skills -- it's a way to bring the machine tool industry
> back to North America.
> Objet is the world's leading provider of advanced 3D printing and rapid
> prototyping machines. We offer a flexible range of desktop, office and
> advanced multi-material 3D printers along with nearly 70 different 3D
> printing materials.
> -tom johnson
> --
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The latest issue of The Economist has a whole section on 3D printing. There are quotes from knowledgeable people that although the current technology is such that it's used mainly for prototypes and special orders, progress is so rapid that they think it will quickly become used for regular manufacturing.
On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 11:40 AM, Greg Sonnenfeld <gsonn...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello, > 3D printing is really great for prototyping and design and certainly > has potential for keeping prototype work in america. For production > parts though, its very costly compared to classic plastic injection > molding.
> A couple years ago I had a face plate and bezel (3cm x 15cm x 27cm ) > printed for about $400 dollars from a Stratasys 3-D printing machine, > it was an excellent print, though it had a satin finish, wherein the > spec called for gloss.
> We had a production mold for the same part made in China, the 2 molds > were ~$5.5k. We had received quotes from US companies of ~$15k for the > same molds.The unit cost of production was ~$3-4 per bezel/faceplate.
> In very small quantities, 3d printing makes sense. In situations where > the "fixed cost" of a mold is negligible, I doubt 3d printing will > ever be able to compete.
> P.S. I will note that it was cheaper to have our metal backings made > in the US. The shipping costs for iron from the US to China was very > high (though shipping by ocean freighter was not considered).
> **************************** > Greg Sonnenfeld
> “The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be > sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.”
> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Tom Johnson <t...@jtjohnson.com> wrote: >> I think 3D printing like this has huge potential for places like New >> Mexico. Anywhere, really, but given the low threshold of entry -- both in >> terms of $$$ and skills -- it's a way to bring the machine tool industry >> back to North America.
>> Objet is the world's leading provider of advanced 3D printing and rapid >> prototyping machines. We offer a flexible range of desktop, office and >> advanced multi-material 3D printers along with nearly 70 different 3D >> printing materials.
>> -tom johnson
>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Santa Fe Complex >> "discuss" group. >> To post to this group, send email to disc...@sfcomplex.org >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> discuss+unsubscr...@sfcomplex.org >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/a/sfcomplex.org/group/discuss
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Santa Fe Complex "discuss" group. > To post to this group, send email to disc...@sfcomplex.org > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > discuss+unsubscr...@sfcomplex.org > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/a/sfcomplex.org/group/discuss
It makes the same point I did about economies of scale.
It looks like experts from the article predicts 80% production printing vs. 20% prototype printing by 2020. That may seem nice at first glance, but if you think about it, it means that average, for every prototype part they make, they will only be making 4 production parts in 2020. That is inline with very small quantities and no where near the ~1:1k-10k ratio you'd be expecting from a large production run.
**************************** Greg Sonnenfeld
“The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.”
<bruce.sherw...@gmail.com> wrote: > The latest issue of The Economist has a whole section on 3D printing. > There are quotes from knowledgeable people that although the current > technology is such that it's used mainly for prototypes and special > orders, progress is so rapid that they think it will quickly become > used for regular manufacturing.
> Bruce
> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 11:40 AM, Greg Sonnenfeld <gsonn...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Hello, >> 3D printing is really great for prototyping and design and certainly >> has potential for keeping prototype work in america. For production >> parts though, its very costly compared to classic plastic injection >> molding.
>> A couple years ago I had a face plate and bezel (3cm x 15cm x 27cm ) >> printed for about $400 dollars from a Stratasys 3-D printing machine, >> it was an excellent print, though it had a satin finish, wherein the >> spec called for gloss.
>> We had a production mold for the same part made in China, the 2 molds >> were ~$5.5k. We had received quotes from US companies of ~$15k for the >> same molds.The unit cost of production was ~$3-4 per bezel/faceplate.
>> In very small quantities, 3d printing makes sense. In situations where >> the "fixed cost" of a mold is negligible, I doubt 3d printing will >> ever be able to compete.
>> P.S. I will note that it was cheaper to have our metal backings made >> in the US. The shipping costs for iron from the US to China was very >> high (though shipping by ocean freighter was not considered).
>> “The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be >> sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.”
>> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Tom Johnson <t...@jtjohnson.com> wrote: >>> I think 3D printing like this has huge potential for places like New >>> Mexico. Anywhere, really, but given the low threshold of entry -- both in >>> terms of $$$ and skills -- it's a way to bring the machine tool industry >>> back to North America.
>>> Objet is the world's leading provider of advanced 3D printing and rapid >>> prototyping machines. We offer a flexible range of desktop, office and >>> advanced multi-material 3D printers along with nearly 70 different 3D >>> printing materials.
>>> -tom johnson
>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Santa Fe Complex >>> "discuss" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to disc...@sfcomplex.org >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> discuss+unsubscr...@sfcomplex.org >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/a/sfcomplex.org/group/discuss
>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Santa Fe Complex "discuss" group. >> To post to this group, send email to disc...@sfcomplex.org >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> discuss+unsubscr...@sfcomplex.org >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/a/sfcomplex.org/group/discuss
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> It makes the same point I did about economies of scale.
> It looks like experts from the article predicts 80% production
> printing vs. 20% prototype printing by 2020. That may seem nice at
> first glance, but if you think about it, it means that average, for
> every prototype part they make, they will only be making 4 production
> parts in 2020. That is inline with very small quantities and no where
> near the ~1:1k-10k ratio you'd be expecting from a large production
> run.
> ****************************
> Greg Sonnenfeld
> “The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be
> sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.”
> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 11:54 AM, Bruce Sherwood
> <bruce.sherw...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> The latest issue of The Economist has a whole section on 3D printing.
>> There are quotes from knowledgeable people that although the current
>> technology is such that it's used mainly for prototypes and special
>> orders, progress is so rapid that they think it will quickly become
>> used for regular manufacturing.
>> Bruce
>> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 11:40 AM, Greg Sonnenfeld <gsonn...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>> 3D printing is really great for prototyping and design and certainly
>>> has potential for keeping prototype work in america. For production
>>> parts though, its very costly compared to classic plastic injection
>>> molding.
>>> A couple years ago I had a face plate and bezel (3cm x 15cm x 27cm )
>>> printed for about $400 dollars from a Stratasys 3-D printing machine,
>>> it was an excellent print, though it had a satin finish, wherein the
>>> spec called for gloss.
>>> We had a production mold for the same part made in China, the 2 molds
>>> were ~$5.5k. We had received quotes from US companies of ~$15k for the
>>> same molds.The unit cost of production was ~$3-4 per bezel/faceplate.
>>> In very small quantities, 3d printing makes sense. In situations where
>>> the "fixed cost" of a mold is negligible, I doubt 3d printing will
>>> ever be able to compete.
>>> P.S. I will note that it was cheaper to have our metal backings made
>>> in the US. The shipping costs for iron from the US to China was very
>>> high (though shipping by ocean freighter was not considered).
>>> “The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be
>>> sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.”
>>> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Tom Johnson <t...@jtjohnson.com> wrote:
>>>> I think 3D printing like this has huge potential for places like New
>>>> Mexico. Anywhere, really, but given the low threshold of entry -- both in
>>>> terms of $$$ and skills -- it's a way to bring the machine tool industry
>>>> back to North America.
>>>> Objet is the world's leading provider of advanced 3D printing and rapid
>>>> prototyping machines. We offer a flexible range of desktop, office and
>>>> advanced multi-material 3D printers along with nearly 70 different 3D
>>>> printing materials.
>>>> -tom johnson
>>>> --
>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Santa Fe Complex
>>>> "discuss" group.
>>>> To post to this group, send email to disc...@sfcomplex.org
>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
>>>> discuss+unsubscr...@sfcomplex.org
>>>> For more options, visit this group at
>>>> http://groups.google.com/a/sfcomplex.org/group/discuss
>>> --
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It seems that building our own parts will be in the future for Ambient projects and SimTable.
Greg: Given your experience, would it be best for us to use 3D printing for prototypes, then move to injection molding?
I remember, at Sun Micro, our lab guru just drew up boards and had them fab'ed in the us with amazing 3-4 day turnaround. Maybe we're approaching this for quality molding? I assume the CAD standards are up to supporting this.
We're looking at stunts to wrap around phones to build coordinated projectors/cameras. My guess it would be reasonable to have 3D printers while we're fussing around with details, then when finalized go to pro plastic fabs in the US, right?
