DIY lab equipment, courtesy of 3D printing(arstechnica.com)
arstechnica.com
DIY lab equipment, courtesy of 3D printing
http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/09/diy-lab-equipment-courtesy-of-3d-printing/
4 comments
I can see 3D printing really taking foot in areas where making your own assorted odds and ends is already commonplace. Plenty of universities have glassworking shops that chemistry departments make extensive use of (for example: http://www.chem.vt.edu/facilities/glass-shop-index.html ). 3D printing shops could find similar usefulness.
I want my own RepRap at Home!!! Awesome stuff are coming...
Fun idea, but I can't see any real journal ever accepting a paper where the methods would be so roughshod and unreliable.
A Lot of lab gear is very specialized when I worked at RnD organization lab they had 2 wood shops a metal shop and an electronics shop to build one off experimental kit. And we employed Very good guys some of the wood pieces they turned out where stunningly beautiful.
I could see 3d printing working for some labs but this would be the very high end ones that have decent resolution and accuracy and can work with a wider range of materials. Big question is would it be that much cheaper than cnc machining or sintering - given that labs have machine tools and technicians to run them.