A Question of Scale?

This is just something I have found myself musing over recently since starting my second project and it being of a larger scale. I guess there are likely others out there who like me find larger scale more impressive and attractive to work with - along with the end result. I should say that (at least for the moment) I’m not interested in 3D printing for myself but what does interest me greatly is the possibility of being able to order castings in larger scales. With the ever improving technology of 3D printing which I assume can be used to print pattens for casting moulds very easily in whatever scale - is this going to on the cards any time soon do you think. I wonder if the ME suppliers / foundry’s are gearing up or at least starting to think about this, it seems it would be pretty straightforward to ‘ease’ into maybe? I’m leaving aside obvious considerations such as material cost and weight for the moment but this would open up some very exciting possibilities in moving midway perhaps between modeling and ‘mini full size as it were’. My Stuart Victoria is a fair sized model but it would be so much more impressive 2x size..

Lots of other considerations I can imagine coming, one obvious being legal - what is to stop Joe Bloggs with his 3D Printer printing his own slightly modified pattens and getting agreements with a foundry and setting up business selling etc. I wonder if the ME Industry is thinking and preparing for and to counter this - the computer industry was certainly not prepared for all the software ‘copying’ problems in the early days...

It’s the possibility of maybe in the future being able to order models in different scales though that does interest me, a lot - or am I missing something and well off the mark? I plan to upgrade my equipment considerably after my current project...

Does anyone else think / wonder if our future 'ordering' options are likely to increase thanks to the advent of 3D Printing....

Cheers.

Allan.

Already available, someone like Abbey castings will take your CAD drawing print out the part and either cast from that if its a one off or if multiples use the printed part to make a mould for waxes so batches can be done. There are a few others doing similar.

As you get larger the 3D printed parts become quite expensive so it can be more economical to use CNC to cut the pattern either from foam that can be melted out for a one off or one of several meduims if you are going to use it as a pattern for sand casting.

I've made a few models larger than the original 1.5 and 2 times size but went down the fabricated route. I do have another engine on teh computer this is being done at 1/4 scale rather than 1/6th and will have about 4 parts cast as they are quite large and its more economical to cast than cut from soilid. eg the flywheel would need a billet of 12" dia cast iron, the casting will be about half the cost.

J

The world is determined to leave me behind! No sooner had I posted this than I noticed GaryM's thread about 4D Printing - first I've seen of that.

Jason, maybe by the time I've finished my No.1 the likes of Stuart Models and Pollymodelengineering for example may be offering x2 size etc - now that would just be great!

Cheers.

Allan.

Why wait for them to offer it. Jo's kit of the Easton & Anderson Beam from Polly on the right and my doubled up one to its left

That photo says it all Jason - and wouldn't it be great to be able to order x3 x4 !

Cheers.

Allan.

Your lathe would need to be x3 and x4 too!

Hi Steve

Yes, but definitely have some bigger plans for the Lathe - after the No.1 is done that is. Someday!

My little Lathe is great but I wish now I had started with something larger...

Cheers.

Allan.