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Monday, December 15. 2008Shapeways: metal 3D printing in Titanium contestShapeways will be holding a metal 3D printing contest from today until the 15th of January. The winning entry will win his(or her) own model printed out in Titanium. 
To start off: Wow! Can we really 3D print metal just like we do with White Strong and Flexible now? Well, yes and no. 3D printing in metal (or direct metal printing) is not as accessible a technology as the regular 3D printing technologies that we use at Shapeways at the moment. The material that is used is also more expensive, because it is a Titanium alloy. The machines and the process itself are much more expensive also. Just how expensive? To give you an indication: we estimate that the contest winners prize(which can be 10 cubic centimeters)will cost us around $1000 to $2000 depending on its size! To top it all off there are design rules that you will have to follow when designing for 3D metal printing. Check out the half scale Light Poem in Titanium to the right. We are not offering metal as a material right now; however this is a unique opportunity: your unique object 3D printed in titanium. As far as we know you will be amongst the first people ever to be able to have your own personal design made and then 3D printed in titanium. There are some companies out there using the technology, but even their usage is rather limited and direct access to these machines? Unheard of!
As you've probably heard by now this contest will not be a walk in the park. It is by far our most challenging contest so far but then again it is not every day you get to win something that no one has ever won before. Good luck! |
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I uploaded a sword. What better thing than a metal sword ?
(yup, a 1 meter metal sword would be a killer, but let's stay reasonable... this one is 30 cm long...)
http://www.shapeways.com/model/11358/holy_negotiator.html
43$ in WFS... °° cheap eh?
The maximum dimensions of your model can be up to 50x50x50mm.
You model dimensions are 1.9 cmH x 5.9 cmW x 30.9 cmD. Your model is too large in two of three dimensions and therefore a non-valid entry. Think smaller, like a sword pendant.
5cmx5cmx5cm is more appropriated for jewelry and small things indeed...
What angle are we speaking of? Could you show some practical example of thing we can and things we can't do?
Sorry if I appear a bit slow but I think it might interest other people.
http://www.shapeways.com/about/metal-3d-printing
If you look at the picture here:
http://www.shapeways.com/topics/udesign/about/metal-3d-printing/3dmetalprintingdesignrules.jpg
Does it make sense now? Or were you confused about this?
What does it represent and how does it relate to the nice designs in the contest page?
I'm sorry its confusing.
If you make a 3D design and want to get it printed out in Titanium:
Right angles and other steep angles will tend to look good. Low angles set at less than 35 degrees will tend to look uneven and not as attractive. If you make an overhanging angle as the "table" picture shows, the bottom of it will look ugly.
So if you want to make the prettiest possible design to win the Titanium contest you will have to take these things into account.
Joris
"""As you've probably heard by now this contest will not be a walk in the park."""
it is really strong!
regards,
Peter
I do appreciate your enthusiasm. But some of your assertions are a bit overstated. DMLS has been on the scene for some time and there are a number of private companies who can offer this process to a knowledgeable designer/artist. I applaud your desire to raise the awareness of this process. You may want to include a bit more information about how this process works so your designers can maximize it's potential and approach their work in a iconoclastic manner. This could result in an out come that justifies the process, and not vice-versa.
http://www.eos.info/en/products/metal-laser-sintering.html
http://www.morristech.com/rapid_manufacturing.asw
What information do you think we should add to the contest page in order to improve the contest? If you have any insight or previous experience we'd love to hear from you!
Joris
Are you really going to try hinges straight away?!
Will try and get you the info, but I assume if you are a few tenths of a mm apart it should be ok.
regards,
Peter
Would it be cheaper with magnesium (macbook hulls) or plain steel or aluminium?
...
What about gold :p ? (I can imagine the people out there getting paranoïd and vacuuming the place everyday to spare any speckle of gold dust...)
...
Even shorter : "Why titanium? Why no other metals (yet)?"
The process we use: DMLS can work with several other materials(such as steel or bronze alloys). We opted for Titanium because we liked the results and the look of the finished products better in Titanium.
This contest is an initial exploration of 3D metal printing. If you guys are enthusiastic enough and want to order models made with 3D printing in metal we will see how we can offer this for you.
At that time, depending on what you guys want, we will decide which metals to offer.
Thanks much.
T.
this would not break the rules. Actually sounds like a cool design.
Can't wait to see it.
kind regards,
Peter
It would also be a great way to make special replicas or replacement parts for small machines that use metal gears, sprockets, screws, etc.
Do you have more details on the material which will compose the printed model? I was curious in particular about temperature ranges (need something more concrete than 'low' or 'high') but I thought in general people might be interested in this information when designing their entries. Thanks!
Sincerely,
eMansipater
sincerely,
eMansipater
Garenc please read: http://www.shapeways.com/about/metal-3d-printing
This includes everything you need to know how to participate.
kind regards,
Peter
What resolution will be used, how fine will the layers be?
Cheers, Ann Marie