3D Printing

RE: 3D Printing

Workshopshed — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:01:55 GMT

I did notice in the last flier from CPC that there are "standard" knobs you can buy as replacements for cookers. I doubt washing machines have standard front panels.

RE: 3D Printing

D_Hersey — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 22:48:29 GMT

I am looking forward to experimenting with lost-wax casting using RTV molds in coming months. I'll post pictures of my experiments.

RE: 3D Printing

DAB — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 19:05:37 GMT

You could also make a mold out of clay and use a plastic resin to cast a new part.

Much less expensive than a 3D printer and once you have a mold, you can make as many as you need.

DAB

RE: 3D Printing

michaelkellett — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 09:29:11 GMT

The problem is that the replacement knob that a low cost 3D printer can make is no substitute for the real thing - which will have been injection molded in a engineering type plastic to quite high precision, and then silk screened or otherwise embellished. It will have smooth or even tactile finish. The very best 3D printers (which don't use extrusion) can come quite close but you still need the design.

Then there is all the messing about, dealing with chemicals, reels of filament or boxes of dust.

In just the same way as people don't print newspapers or books I don't expect them to print replacement parts for their washing machines.

It's just possible that the spare parts suppliers might.