3 ms·
Coming from 3d sculpting to CAD was...eye opening. It really makes you realize how much of design constrained by the CAD tools, which are mostly constrained by
by nomel 3y ago
Coming from 3d sculpting to CAD was...eye opening. It really makes you realize how much of design constrained by the CAD tools, which are mostly constrained by manufacturability.
If true 3d printing* ever gets cheap, it'll be interesting to see how much form will be able follow function, rather than manufacturing cost.
* true 3d, as in overhang are allowed. Something like a cheap FDM is more 2.5d, since overhangs aren't allowed.
- oefnak 3y agoYou can print with supports to print any shape.
- nomel 3y agoYea, but this requires soluble supports, without joined parts/assembly.
- eternityforest 3y agoOverhangs up to 45 degrees work fine, and usually steeper. Bridges also work, most of the time, although I am having trouble with them at the moment. They're not quite unconstrained, and the layer adhesion strength makes some geometries not strong, but they're much more than 2.5D.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- rkagerer 3y agoWell, there's SLS which is tolerant of overhangs and other exotic features. Formlabs has a machine in the 5 digit price range, and I wouldn't be surprised to see competitors come out with a 4-digit one in the near future.
- eternityforest 3y agoYou could probably build a 4-axis FDM machine for less than that too, which might be better for average users(No powder mess)
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- nomel 3y agoThe axis count isn't the limiting factor. 4 axis will still require soluble supports to achieve what SLS can (captured parts).
- dmm10 3y agoWith powder bed printers overhangs and detached captured parts aren't a problem. Try making your own from an old inkjet printer.
- Halfwhit 3y agoWhere could someone interested in doing this learn more?