I could be wrong about this. But from what I heard there are shrinkage issues with 3d printed sintered metal things and getting a spot on copy of the plans is extremely hard. Either way the technology for plastic is getting really cheap. And it will be interesting to see what the future holds!

 

Would 3d printing work to make a revised/improved polymer fuel tank for FB's at a decent cost? Ive been brain farting around about maybe contacting some people locally to make are better designed, sumped, O.E. fit, plastic fuel tank

 

I read this a while back. Thought it was interesting. Jay Leno used a 3D scanner and printer to make plastic molds to cast replacement parts. Here's the story. Still a little expensive for the average car hobbyist though.

 

Titanium's metallurgy & response to thermal stresses is so different from cast iron that a titanium rotor would likely need a physical redesign - - just copying the cast & machined part may cause clearance problems.

Pilots who used to fly the Blackbird reported actually seeing the nose of the plane flex and warp in response to friction heat - - all planned into the design, but always reported as terrifying to watch for new pilots.

& aren't sintered parts porous?

 

well the size of the printer would have to be kind of big, and then it would cost a couple grand at this point...

that will change, i'm sure, but right now it would be cheaper to just have it cast in plastic

 

actually i just dl'ed an app for the phone, 123D something, apparently i can take some pictures, and then i can put it into a CAD file and send it off to whomever, and it'll come back made

 

I just downloaded it as well. Going to see if I can make a radio volume button for the premium '84 radio. Will try to take the photos this weekend.

 

if it doesn't work, i have those, new and used

 

That's good to know as I need at least one. I' not sure I can orient the **** to get adequate photos which show the inner portion of the structure.

 

Just an FYI...

3D Printing Service i.materialise | Home

 

I could be wrong, but for basically 100% of the parts on the RX-7 that are made from metal, it would be cheaper to either cut and machine and forge and machine the parts.

How do I know this? I work in a machine shop that uses plasma, waterjet, mill, and lathe cnc machines and as long as I can start with a reasonable blank (which most times is easy to either cut or forge) I can make the part for significantly cheaper than people who 3d print.

The benefits of 3d printing are not time and money but rather ability. You can create cavities within a single solid part, and channels as well, unlike the processes of today which would most likely require two parts combined to do that.

 

I agree. I'm primarily concerned with replacements for all the plastic trim inside and outside the car.

 

Those of you with iPhones could try this:

Free 123D Catch App Makes Your iPhone a 3D Scanner | Singularity Hub


Uses regular photos: Autodesk 123D - 123D Catch turn photos into 3D models


And Sculpt Autodesk 123D - 123D Sculpt free app for iPad


...and, theoretically, send the resulting CAD files to the i.materialize (see my earlier post). If I had an iPhone, I would be tempted to just try one of the plastic trim pieces, then get a quote from i.materialize. At that point, no money would have been spent or obligated. Just sayin'...