3D printer to make model of frame

canopy · January 10, 2013, 07:30:10 AM

With the advent of 3d printers and the fact we use 3d software to make our frames the next step seems we can simply hit the print button to produce a scale model of all the frame members and put it together. Check this video and imagine the possibilities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aghzpO_UZE

Anyone doing this?

Stagerig · January 10, 2013, 05:35:04 PM

I just did exactly that. I converted my 3D Sketchup file into a printable file and printed out one of my trusses on my 3D printer. I plan on printing out my entire frame as time allows. With the somewhat clear plastic you can actually see the pegs and joinery. I think this would be an excellent tool for timber framers.

jander3 · January 10, 2013, 06:18:31 PM

What? You gotta be kidding. I still can't operate that radio-phone-thingy. Or the 4 remotes that are clearly critical to the operation of my television set.

I guess I am more a "story stick" sort of builder and my engineering is from the school of "No worries...She will be alright!"

However, I did figure out that Sketchup was a huge time saver to pen and graph paper for designing a frame. So, maybe, the tech advances are not all bad.

PS

I did send a text message once... a three letter word. I wasn't overly impressed with myself. It took 10 minutes and I'm not exactly sure where it got sent to.

Builder-Bob · January 10, 2013, 09:54:47 PM

Quote from: jander3 on January 10, 2013, 06:18:31 PM
What? You gotta be kidding. I still can't operate that radio-phone-thingy. Or the 4 remotes that are clearly critical to the operation of my television set.

I guess I am more a "story stick" sort of builder and my engineering is from the school of "No worries...She will be alright!"

However, I did figure out that Sketchup was a huge time saver to pen and graph paper for designing a frame. So, maybe, the tech advances are not all bad.

PS

I did send a text message once... a three letter word. I wasn't overly impressed with myself. It took 10 minutes and I'm not exactly sure where it got sent to.

I understand exactly what you said!!!!!!!!!!!

canopy · January 11, 2013, 01:00:24 AM

That's impressive Stagerig to see you are already going this direction.

Right now typically people reference a printout on a piece of paper when processing a timber. It's kind of the dark ages if you ask me. Imagine if instead you printed the piece you were going to make in 3D whether it be a brace or a post. And the 2 reference sides were a highlighted color. And all the dimensions were illustrated on the model piece. The intuitiveness, speed of comprehension, and elimination of error would be fantastic. And when you are done you'd have a perfect model of the frame you could put on a coffee table or be a sort of lego set for kids.

SwampDonkey · January 11, 2013, 04:39:30 AM

60 Minutes had an interview with a guy (forgot his name) this week, who along with his daughter was designing a 3D printer. This guy did a lot of designing and conceptualizing for Steve Jobs' Apple products. He also had cancer and in remission now. Breathing too much burned plastic maybe? ;)