Homebrew Rapid Prototyping Machines

[Cryptonic26]

You know what? Forget UV tanning lamps, I've found a much better (as in higher quality) alternative.

The IMAX projector box.

They use water cooled Xenon lamps, inside a perfectly fabricated parabolic chamber. The best for this application as the lighting system has already been through extensive testing. All that's required is to replace the projection lense with a larger convex, then a smaller concave to extend the focal point.

The xenon bulbs are VERY powerful, I'm estimating that they are just powerful enough to work with harder metals like copper and brass powder. Possibly even steel alloys.. but that could be just beyond the threshold.

Their about $700 per lamp at the time of this writing, which is expensive.. but try buying an equally powerful Co2 laser for that price would ya?


Now.. I just need to find a place to buy Imax parabolas... and their equiv. xenon lamps...

[AlaskaStar]

what about a high end computer repair store...they might have few peices like that laying around, and if so...can it be gotten fron a canabalized unit?

food for thought...

AlaskaStar

[biggeorge]

Wow!!!


Imagine if they could make these machines do the same thing with food.

It's all a bit Star Trekky - Replicator style.

Makes you wonder whether the people who wrote star trek know something we don't, or whether the people who invent this stuff take their ideas from science fiction.


One Racktacino coming right up.

[cliffbeaty]

Cryptonic,
I would like to place my order for a $2,000 Rapid Prototyping machine. You don't even have to paint it.

Alaska Star,
Have you ever used SolidWorks, it is a complete solid modeling program which can open as well as edit DWG files. I have never used Autocad since learning SolidWorks. It can be found on various P2P sites online.

Cliff

[AlaskaStar]

I have SolidWorks 2007, I have NOT YET used it, mainly due to the harddrive space, or lack thereof. I am soon going to buy a 750 GIGABYTE HDD, so that I will have enough room to make it happen.

I might run double duplex on the HDD, and have a total of 1.4 TeraBytes running in duplex tandem.

so four 750 gig drives, running in pairs of duplex. reduces the failure rate possibility.

AlaskaStar

[cliffbeaty]

Alaske Star,
You'll love it. If you have CosmosWorks you can perform FEA on your parts.
Sometimes your license will let you access a whole suite of tools. I've even done patent drawings with SW.
Take Care,
Cliff

[kilroyo]

I use a program called Alibre Design Xpress,, its a really good quality 3D CAD design software for the price ,, , FREE , It does have a few limitations ,, limit on parts designed for assembly project ,, like 10 or so and a few options are turned off , but for the most part its all there. It does have a few quirks about it that can get alittle annoying, but all CAD software does it seems. But if your new to CAD try this one out, and if CAD aint for you, then your not out thousands or anything for that matter