Fwd: Re: Printing metal gets affordable
Stephen Williams
From another list:
Someone wrote: "--This just popped up; sadly it's already too late for the $1,000 discount but it still looks like a deal: "
3D Printing METAL AT HOME - FINALLY!
Scraplabs giving you METAL 3D PRINTING AT HOME. YES.https://www.scraplabs3d.com/EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTAdd 3DPNERD to the message field of your reservation to ge...
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOD02TuzLl8
Not too late until the 15th! I ignored some ads for this (for a number of reasons), but they caught my attention yesterday too.
In the video, they say early bird ends at the end of April. But in the comments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOD02TuzLl8
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
Add 3DPNERD to the message field of your reservation to get early bird discount - valid through May 14, 2026.
Can't add that code when paying for it (although I appended it to my address and name just in case). But after, they ask for a survey where you can put it in the comment.
I committed $1000 as about Top Priority buyer #107. I selected Beta, not Alpha wave. While a lot of what I'm working on is designed to be successful in plastic, there are certain parts that would be much better in metal. And it will be interesting to make metal versions of some things, like major joints, hands, etc. Some of my joint mechanisms would require a 5 axis CNC without 3D printing. There is now a somewhat reasonable 5 axis CNC being marketed, but I'm committed to the 4 axis NestWorks which I should have this month. My son, who is a CNC machinist in Ohio, says the NestWork specs are very impressive for the size & cost, while the 5 axis machine is not.
The base ScrapLabs Scrap 1 system will be about $13k assembled with the discount. They offer kits also, although that only seems worth it if you miss the early bird pricing. Their survey asks whether I would want a powder management system and a nitrogen generator. I said yes: those are probably somewhat expensive too. I am guessing $400-1000 each.
The build volume is 100mm^3, about 4". Won't solve everything, but big enough to be very interesting. Paired with CNC + 3D FDM&resin printing + CNC laser cutting, should support a wide range of fabrication.
The output seems to be solid metal, potentially an issue with laser fusing / sintering: Their specs state 99% density. But the surface has a rough fused powder. They mention using a wire brush, sanding, and polishing as finishing steps for their examples. Often, a tumbler is used, for fused nylon powder for instance. Not sure how well that would work for stainless steel, but I suspect that will be an option from them or someone. That has the advantage of being low-labor, although it might take a while for good results.
Should be able to put a part into the CNC to clean it up & finalize. Not sure how difficult that will be to set up. Theoretically, could drill & tap holes, polish, flatten surfaces, etc. without much time or wasted material.
The price per print for material seems very good. Hopefully the laser & laser windows last a long time.
For some uses, the surface doesn't matter, might be better as matte. Rather than obtaining perfectly smooth holes as a simple bearing surface, can just press fit actual bearings for best of both approaches.
I wonder if they could support fused nylon as a different mode. Unless the wavelength is just wrong for that material, seems like it should work. Just dial the power way back. That would really hit the spot.
sdw
|
Stephen D.
Williams
Founder: VolksDroid, Blue Scholar Foundation |
Dan
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Stephen Williams
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