Integrating 3-D Manufacturing with Turning
3-D (Additive) manufacturing is transforming the materials manufacturing world. Recent advancements in materials and additive manufacturing equipment costs are making 3-D manufacturing capabilities available to a much broader audience. Wood-based materials and 3-D machines in the $200 range (Creality Ender 3) make it possible to develop new elements of wood turning that can dramatically enhance the creative possibilities for existing and new woodturners. The Maker community is embracing new technologies such as 3-D manufacturing and is creating a ground swell of creative development and fabrication skills among the younger generation. Should this technology (3-D manufacturing) be evaluated and integrated into woodturning to provide additional creative opportunities for existing woodturners and to attract future generations of woodturners?
You may have seen a few of my early attempts at integrating 3-D manufacturing with woodturning (Venus box, Vase with 3-D printed ring). I purchased one of the Creality Ender 3 additive manufacturing machines a few months ago and have found it to be a fascinating but challenging new capability. The software to generate and print new designs is all available for free online, so the entry cost is just the cost of materials (about $30 for a 1kg roll of filament that lasts quite a while). 3-D printing can be finicky and slow, but it could have a very important role in stimulating new approaches in the woodturing community. I have found it also provides a quick means to create measuring and marking tools for some of my turning processes.
Let me know what you think.
P.S. Here's a youtube link to my 'Venus Box in Wood', a turned walnut box with an articulated eyeball-like opening and closing 3-D printed interior.
View: https://youtu.be/D6AnM1ubNdM
Brian Horais
3-D (Additive) manufacturing is transforming the materials manufacturing world. Recent advancements in materials and additive manufacturing equipment costs are making 3-D manufacturing capabilities available to a much broader audience. Wood-based materials and 3-D machines in the $200 range (Creality Ender 3) make it possible to develop new elements of wood turning that can dramatically enhance the creative possibilities for existing and new woodturners. The Maker community is embracing new technologies such as 3-D manufacturing and is creating a ground swell of creative development and fabrication skills among the younger generation. Should this technology (3-D manufacturing) be evaluated and integrated into woodturning to provide additional creative opportunities for existing woodturners and to attract future generations of woodturners?
You may have seen a few of my early attempts at integrating 3-D manufacturing with woodturning (Venus box, Vase with 3-D printed ring). I purchased one of the Creality Ender 3 additive manufacturing machines a few months ago and have found it to be a fascinating but challenging new capability. The software to generate and print new designs is all available for free online, so the entry cost is just the cost of materials (about $30 for a 1kg roll of filament that lasts quite a while). 3-D printing can be finicky and slow, but it could have a very important role in stimulating new approaches in the woodturing community. I have found it also provides a quick means to create measuring and marking tools for some of my turning processes.
Let me know what you think.
P.S. Here's a youtube link to my 'Venus Box in Wood', a turned walnut box with an articulated eyeball-like opening and closing 3-D printed interior.
Brian Horais