3d 'printers'

[NORTIVS MAXIMVS]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16503443

I’m intrigued by this technology ... how finely detailed are the outputs? ... does it have implications for companies like Warlord Games?

[Cubster]

I reckon this is the future. It's been around a while and can be as detailed as you need it to be, but the machines have been prohibitively expensive. This looks like it could go the same way as the personal home computer in the next few decades.

Imagine having a machine that can make any plastic household item you need. You could make your own fittings, toys, furniture, tools, anything you can design or buy the design for.

[herzlos]

I've seen them be used for chess sets with a decent amount of detail, and since it's computerized it should be capable of quite impressive material.

I imagine it'd be too slow and expensive for manufacturing figures, but they could be used for mould making (which is presumably done with CNC machines at the moment) or potentially scenery/buildings/vehicles, or anything particularly low volume.

[Zuckuss]

I think there are a couple of manufacturers who use them at the moment to make their masters. I'm pretty sure the first batch of Dystopian Wars were done on a 3d printer as well as some of the Wargames Factory models. At the moment they are okish, you often find that they build up the layers in 0.5mm layers so on curves you often have a stepped feel to them which can require sanding down.

I'm still waiting for the days when you can just buy the printer then companies such as the good fellows here send you the files for you to print them out yourselves. Print yourself an army in minutes! You may mock, but just remember 25 years ago the old dot matrix printers used to cost £2000 each to be able to print black and white....

[Colonel White]

It looks like something at one time you would post as an April Fool's Joke

It does look like it could have potential but I still remember back to a couple of years ago when W F used upto date technology on designing their Romans and came out like blobs of Bubble Gum Are these still on the market or have they been withdrawn by thier new owners?

[Big Al]

Shapeways do them, here's one

http://www.shapeways.com/model/271692/1 ... tml?gid=mg

They also do them in 1/600 but I have heard that they are too fragile for gaming at that scale.

[Invisible officer]

German ship modelling companies use 3D for some years for master models. But they fed in the plan and a much more expensive machine cuts them from metal.
The idea of a household plastic 3D machine sounds nice but how often does the average household buy something like a plastic opener? 50 $ for the material for 50? And 1000 + for the machine. Getting something that is not strong enough for rough use? At the local shops you get it at 1 $.
Even the castle mentioned, the material will be cheaper but the machine.......

[Constantine]

I think you guys would be surprised to see what's possible with miniatures.

Take a look over here: http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?13570-I-got-my-typhon-printed-and-now-to-paint!

Okay, it's not historic, but look at the detail and imagine the possibilities.

[Deadmanwade]

I think you guys would be surprised to see what's possible with miniatures.

Take a look over here: http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?13570-I-got-my-typhon-printed-and-now-to-paint!

Okay, it's not historic, but look at the detail and imagine the possibilities.

Wow. That is freakin' aces. I'm sure it will be a while before it becomes common place, but our kids are going to love those things.

[grant]

I actually looked into one of these machines. Very expensive, and even when I ran the numbers, I couldn't find a way to make it work on it's own. Certainly not for miniatures, terrain was what I had in mind. The idea of being able to print full colour terrain in 240000 colours was certainly tempting though. Heck I even had the Tyrant of the Home on board, if I could make the business model work. I couldn't ...