For those little fiddly bits perhaps

[Paul BoscottParticipant @paulboscott25817]

Could be fun

http://wiki.makerbot.com/thingomatic

 

 

[Paul BoscottParticipant @paulboscott25817]

[James fortinParticipant @jamesfortin46829]

if you like that kind of stuff instructables has lots of offbeat and intriguing projects

 

james 

 

incase the link dosent work

 

http://www.instructables.com/tag/type-id/category-technology/ 

Edited By James fortin on 11/01/2011 14:00:54

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

I certainly would be interested once they could do rapid-prototyping in metal’

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

See also http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page

[Dinosaur EngineerParticipant @dinosaurengineer]

This technology has been around for at least 15 years for industrial rapid protyping.

Obviously the equipment has reduced in price dramatically. It is quite facinating to see as the layers build up.I would imagine that the layer thickness resolution is now much better than it was when it was first introduced.

Edited By Dinosaur Engineer on 11/01/2011 16:09:32

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by The Merry Miller on 11/01/2011 14:11:24:
I certainly would be interested once they could do rapid-prototyping in metal’

 

 You just need to put a shrinkage allowance into your CAD file and out pops a pattern ready for lost wax/foam casting, so not too far off.

 

J

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

I think the layer thickness is down to about 0.5 mm now.

 

Ten years ago when I was using the process it it was about 1.5/2.0 mm

[Author]

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