First 3D Print article in ME

Can anyone work out which issue of ME was the first to carry an article on 3D printing? I'm curious to see how far and how fast things have progressed.

I can't find the article in the Index so it doesn't have '3D, RepRap or Printer in the title!

My recollection is that the example printed was tiny model battleship that didn't print too well - it was very 'blobby'.

Neil

I don't know about your battleship, but try vol 211 issue 4470 page 778, article titled "Pattern Making ; The Modern Approach ?" by Steve Eaton.

This may be the first "proper" article. It says "to be continued" but I can't find a continuation, although the title may have been changed - this sometimes happened, to the confusion of the readership.

I was recently sorting through my old stock of ME & I think there was an article called "Rapid prototyping", or something similar I can't check at the moment but it might be worth looking for that sort of title.

Brian

The 'follow up' was to be some time later, I did speak to Steve about it a good while ago and he said things were 'promising' so he needs to be chased

Neil

Hello Brian, it was your namesake Brian Hutchins in Jan 2004, ME4212. Things have moved on in 13 years, from £500,000 to £300!

4455 has the Rapid prototyping article

Can you not search the digital archive for this stuff??

4095 may have one of the earliest references to 3D modelling, (not printing)

M ES Northern Ireland is noted
for the number of high quality mod­
els made by its members, many of
which are seen in other parts of the
British Isles during the summer as
their owners visit various rallies and
open days. In the not-too-far-distant
future we may encounter models
made by so-called Rapid
Prototyping for in February mem­
bers enjoyed a talk and demonstra­
tion by Robert Seaman of Queen's
University on making 3D prototype
models using resin and applying a
computer for their construction.
Using the machine in conjunction
with a laser he produced a model
skull in 3D and in double quick time.
Could the idea be adapted to produc­
ing, say the body for a non-steam
locomotive, or perhaps rolling
stock? Who knows, but it is certain­
ly something on which to speculate.
To generate a little cash and addi­
tional interest at meetings,

The archive isn't directly searchable, I have scoured Dias Costa's index.

Turns out I'm remembering Bob Reeve's 'Another look at Rerap' in 2013 on a Mk.1 Prusa. Some of his test pieces are bit flaky, but his 'Thunderchild' has printed OK, if a bit thick layers.

Neil

Had another look but found 'nowt. Surprising what you will do on a rainy morning!

But it appears the process used to be called "Fused Deposition Modelling"

Long time since I read War Of The Worlds but mention of HMS Thunder Child reminded me. Couldn't resist having a go with the printer, found on Thingiverse and my effort shown below:-

Printed at .15mm layer with a low infill, the turrets rotate but the guns and masts are just bits of filament, most difficult bit was trying to get the filament straight.

John

I have to do one now!

I'll try 0.08mm just to show off

Edit I've enlarged it by 1.2 times as well to make the guns and masts a bit thinner.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 13/09/2017 12:31:15

I'll look forward to seeing that, this is all experimentation on the way up the learning curve for me...

John

Very nice. The fleet will soon be on the way to sort out those pesky Martians! Just as soon as the latest addition is fitted out

John

Printing a martian for it to battle against: