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They will have to 3D print 360 (for those who pledged $50 or more). I don’t know how fast their 3D printer is but that seems like quite the task.

by ugh 16y ago

Construct 16y ago
Hopefully they'll let one of the larger rapid-prototyping companies handle that task. Typically, when I need more than a handful of 3D rapid prototypes I'll order cast urethane pieces. The rapid prototype shop will take my part, create a two-piece SLA (type of 3D printing) mold, then cast the individual pieces in this 3D-printed mold. Turn-around times are very quick. Lately, though, I've been able to get molds cut and have 20-100 first article pieces (sans final texture) in 4-6 weeks from China. If they've already settled on the design, they may want to just send the $50 contributors a first article and then ship them a final unit again later. Of course, it's not entirely the same feel as a 3D printed part, but it's probably far stronger and still gets them to the front of the line.
mcav 16y ago
I'm consistently surprised at the kind of things Kickstarter projects offer to donors. If a project becomes really successful, some projects may get into a bind. One project offered a phone call to donors, which alone would be really difficult with a lot of people. (>1000?)
- follower 16y ago
  Isn't that the reason why you can set limits at each level of how many thank you "packages" are available at that level?
jonknee 16y ago
According to The Economist the 3D printing is outsourced to Shapeways so the load shouldn't be a problem. http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/10/small-scale_production http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/10/small-scale_p... Shapeways is apparently already doing north of 10k prints a month: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/shapeways-and-its-3-d-printing-comes-to-new-york/?src=me http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/shapeways-and-its-3...
- ugh 16y ago
  That’s a great article, thanks for that! The two guys behind the project really seem to be very thoughtful.
rewind 16y ago
My understanding of the video is that the first one was 3D-printed, but they need the money so they can use injection molding, and your donation is a pre-order for the injection-molded batch they produce.
- tlrobinson 16y ago
  PLEDGE $50 OR MORE Not only will you receive a new Glif when they are ready, but we will also mail you a 3D printed Glif immediately after funding ends. 347 BACKERS
  - rewind 16y ago
    Sorry, missed that. I just went by what was said in the video, so I didn't realize there was a separate benefit to the $50 pledge other than what they said you get for the $20 pledge in the video. My bad.
marknutter 16y ago
Wait, I thought they said they were going to manufacture them using injection molding, not 3D printing. It looked to me like they use used the 3D printer to make the prototype.
- ugh 16y ago
  If you pledge $50 or more they will as quickly as possible send you a 3D printed stand, presumably because setting up the injection molding process will take some time.
replicatorblog 16y ago
For a part that size, a normal 3D Printer could print out 30-60 a go, depending on the size of the printer. The primary determinant of printing time is the Z-axis I'd estimate it would be a 4-5 hour job, so they could print these in a week. That said, Shapeways has access to much more production capability.

They will have to 3D print 360 (for those who pledged $50 or more). I don’t know how fast their 3D printer is but that seems like quite the task.

by ugh 16y ago

They will have to 3D print 360 (for those who pledged $50 or more). I don’t know how fast their 3D printer is but that seems like quite the task.

Construct 16y ago

Hopefully they'll let one of the larger rapid-prototyping companies handle that task. Typically, when I need more than a handful of 3D rapid prototypes I'll order cast urethane pieces. The rapid prototype shop will take my part, create a two-piece SLA (type of 3D printing) mold, then cast the individual pieces in this 3D-printed mold. Turn-around times are very quick. Lately, though, I've been able to get molds cut and have 20-100 first article pieces (sans final texture) in 4-6 weeks from China. If they've already settled on the design, they may want to just send the $50 contributors a first article and then ship them a final unit again later. Of course, it's not entirely the same feel as a 3D printed part, but it's probably far stronger and still gets them to the front of the line.

mcav 16y ago

I'm consistently surprised at the kind of things Kickstarter projects offer to donors. If a project becomes really successful, some projects may get into a bind. One project offered a phone call to donors, which alone would be really difficult with a lot of people. (>1000?)

follower 16y ago
Isn't that the reason why you can set limits at each level of how many thank you "packages" are available at that level?

jonknee 16y ago

According to The Economist the 3D printing is outsourced to Shapeways so the load shouldn't be a problem. http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/10/small-scale_production http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/10/small-scale_p... Shapeways is apparently already doing north of 10k prints a month: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/shapeways-and-its-3-d-printing-comes-to-new-york/?src=me http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/shapeways-and-its-3...

ugh 16y ago
That’s a great article, thanks for that! The two guys behind the project really seem to be very thoughtful.

rewind 16y ago

My understanding of the video is that the first one was 3D-printed, but they need the money so they can use injection molding, and your donation is a pre-order for the injection-molded batch they produce.

tlrobinson 16y ago
PLEDGE $50 OR MORE Not only will you receive a new Glif when they are ready, but we will also mail you a 3D printed Glif immediately after funding ends. 347 BACKERS
- rewind 16y ago
  Sorry, missed that. I just went by what was said in the video, so I didn't realize there was a separate benefit to the $50 pledge other than what they said you get for the $20 pledge in the video. My bad.

marknutter 16y ago

Wait, I thought they said they were going to manufacture them using injection molding, not 3D printing. It looked to me like they use used the 3D printer to make the prototype.

ugh 16y ago
If you pledge $50 or more they will as quickly as possible send you a 3D printed stand, presumably because setting up the injection molding process will take some time.

replicatorblog 16y ago

For a part that size, a normal 3D Printer could print out 30-60 a go, depending on the size of the printer. The primary determinant of printing time is the Z-axis I'd estimate it would be a 4-5 hour job, so they could print these in a week. That said, Shapeways has access to much more production capability.