Listen, I’m a nerd, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that I’m really excited about the video at the bottom of this blog item which shows an “affordable” 3D printer that claims to be able to print carbon fiber as well as fiberglass and nylon.
Sure, the affordable part is a bit of a joke as the printer is expected to retail for $5,000 at launch later this year and it can only print objects that are 12” by 6” by 6” at most, but I envision that this is the first step from “Oh look, I can download and print out small plastic statues and other ‘toys’ ” to “I just downloaded and printed out a new lightweight fender for my Camaro”.
Actually, yes, yes I would.
I’m not saying that this is going to be a reality in the next year or so as the cost, size, and quality of the printer and finished parts don’t yet make 3D printers feasible for everyday home use, and from what I’ve read the “carbon fiber” parts themselves don’t have the strength of traditionally formed carbon fiber, but much like the first portable computers that weighed in at twenty-plus pounds and seemingly had the equivalent computing power of today’s inexpensive digital wristwatches, it’s a start and can only improve from here.
Maybe it’s because I came of age during the heyday of Napster and Internet piracy and landed my first real job around the time when it became normal to buy goods online rather than at a brick-and-mortar store, but the concept of downloading and printing out car parts is one that I wholeheartedly embrace. Just think about it: It’s a Friday afternoon, you’re bored at work and decide to go shopping for a new lightweight hood for your 2019 Ford Mustang, so you hop online to Summit Racing and pay for the file for a carbon fiber piece, maybe the one with a bunch of heat extractors and whatnot. After downloading the file, you send it to the local 3D print shop and get back an estimate for materials; Saturday afternoon your hood is done and you pick it up from the print shop, ready to bolt on. Heck, if you’re really creative you can create your own designs or download an “open source” one for free.
Keep in mind that I’ve just touched on body parts; depending on how the printers and materials advance I could also see composite intake manifolds, seats, and other parts being printed as well. Really neat idea, and it could radically change the hobby once the tech evolves to become less expensive and more robust.
So, what do you guys think? Cool future tech, or pure science fiction?
If you’re interested in reading more about the printer itself, check out the company’s webpage HERE.
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THE TEASER VIDEO FOR THE MARK ONE 3D PRINTER FROM MARKFORGED
I would be making some interior pieces. I need new arm rests for the Firebird.
I hope the technology gets better- I have heard of printed houses (real houses) and printed metal parts, but my experience with plastic printed parts was not good. The parts were brittle and lacked definition. We ended up machining them because the plastic printing did not live up to its billing.
Sonny Leonard has 3D printed intake manifolds on his Chevy Hemi mega inch motors. The day of one off “just for you” intakes is here. Among other things. I’m not going to mention to watch Formula One for advancements that lead the industry or that GE has entire departments making aircraft engine components with 3D printing.
The aircraft parts that GE is using employ a sintered metal process.
We have a high end FDM printer at work and the parts that it can produce
are pretty amazing. I have been printing plastic parts and using them
with good success. Just like metals there are different types of plastic,
and some are quite strong.
I was at ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility a couple months ago. They were working on adding carbon fiber to the ABS filament to make a strong carbon reinforced ABS. They were just using $800 Solidoodles. I have one on my desk at work. It works way better than the $40,000 when new powder printing one I have at home. I bought it used but it was still a waste of money. Of course ORNL also had a 8 foot by 8 foot by 8 foot plastic printer and ones that laser sintered and ones that electron beam sintered titanium. It won’t be long before you stop buying some products and instead just buy the STL of it. I’m curious what the Mark One is using for binder.
Kevin