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 Post subject: No Longer NLA perhaps?
PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:08 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:41 pm
Posts: 3489
Location: Mount Vision, NY
Is this the future when we can no longer get NOS parts for our beloved triples?
When "NLA" becomes yes we have those now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw

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PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:16 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 6:36 am
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Location: Dandridge, TN, USA
I saw that on Jay Leno's Garage. He duplicated a complicated part for one of his antique autos.
Amazing!!!

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PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:34 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:41 pm
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Location: Mount Vision, NY
I saw the one Jay had on too.
This was a different twist of a similar process I guess.
Fantastic stuff for sure.

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PostPosted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:29 am 
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Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:41 pm
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This technology is called rapid prototyping. There are several companies that make machines that produce polymer parts like this. The video over simplified the process because a scanned part will still need "engineering" work on the model to specify clearances between parts, etc. It is quick and much cheaper than building an injection mold. And remember, polymer is just another word for plastic. That wrench is plastic.

Just so you know, there is also the technology to print with sintered metals. It is called Direct Metal Laser Sintering. Looky here: http://www.morristech.com/dmls.asw?asw_sess_id=94a382fd497b36094f549469a155a6d1 You can get parts made of aluminum, steel, stainless steel and high nickle alloys like hastelloy. I work at Rolls-Royce and we have prototype compressor wheels, fuel nozzles, etc made via metal rapid prototyping. You have to pay to play. This stuff is expensive. The up front cost is high. Once you have a good digital model, the copies are somewhat affordable. (Aircraft engine affordable, not motorcycle affordable :D )

The price comes down every year. The polymer rapid prototype machines capable of making parts the size of a loaf of bread used to be $100,000 and are now about $20,000. However, the engineering staff is still kind of pricey to have around.

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