Shapeways.... cheap, fast, easy.
Words first 3D Printed Pool Cue
- Thread starter AvidDavid262
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Shapeways.... cheap, fast, easy.
there are 3d metal printers too... so u can print/make anything...
I'd definitely 3D print me some cue claws. I have two friends who cheaped out and bought the junior claw
with just 2 slots, and one guy has a single "baby claw" with one slot. What the hell guys?
Are you trying to keep me from stealing your equipment? Not gonna work.
I'm gonna print one with like 10 slots.
Custom bridge heads is a good thought. Ever need to double stack bridges?
Make a custom tall bridge head.
with just 2 slots, and one guy has a single "baby claw" with one slot. What the hell guys?
Are you trying to keep me from stealing your equipment? Not gonna work.
I'm gonna print one with like 10 slots.
Custom bridge heads is a good thought. Ever need to double stack bridges?
Make a custom tall bridge head.
Because machines either grind away material, cut away material or assemble already made materials. Printing creates material and outputs it as a finished or near finished product in one process. As the resolution gets better, the output will be package-ready.
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ok got it Thank you- but im sure 'create' is the wrong word.
Its not the wrong word at all because there are 3d printer machines that work of a bi-product process. For example some experimental 3d printers have two materials that when mixed together create the printable product. Objets use the bi-product process in creating rubber like material when 3d printing. So create is actually a good term in 3d printing.
What im saying is they have to keep the machine filled with something to make these creations as opposed to "printing creates material"
Just like a normal printer needs to be filled with ink so the letters it prints appear?
Hello my names is Robert been seeing some chit chat on the forums about our cue figured I would chime in.
Our 3d printer that we use to create the 3d printed pool cue are custom machines. Hobby grade machine unfortunately are unable to achieve the strength desired to create the 3d printed cue. As well as most hobby grade printer lack the resolution as well to achieve a high quality high resolution print. We specifically designed machines some of which are not shown on our facebook page, that for the sole purpose is to create pool cues which are patent pending. The materials use in our 3d printed cues are made of a nylon derivative.
Someone made the comment about shapeways unfortunately when you try to compare shapeways or other companies like us you get the wrong idea. Shapeways does not design 3d printers they utilize commercial printers to create a product. And unfortunately have a cut off to how big they can print. We literally have a custom 3d printer that has the build area large enough to print a full statue of a person with a build area of 4ft x 4ft x 8ft.
In regards to the size of the cue tested. The first cue was designed specifically for a kid it is a youth size pool cue. Our current pool cue that is being featured in a few article write ups is a regulation size pool cue at 58".
The 3d printed pool cues were create as a joint venture with Bay Vending.
Our 3d printer that we use to create the 3d printed pool cue are custom machines. Hobby grade machine unfortunately are unable to achieve the strength desired to create the 3d printed cue. As well as most hobby grade printer lack the resolution as well to achieve a high quality high resolution print. We specifically designed machines some of which are not shown on our facebook page, that for the sole purpose is to create pool cues which are patent pending. The materials use in our 3d printed cues are made of a nylon derivative.
Someone made the comment about shapeways unfortunately when you try to compare shapeways or other companies like us you get the wrong idea. Shapeways does not design 3d printers they utilize commercial printers to create a product. And unfortunately have a cut off to how big they can print. We literally have a custom 3d printer that has the build area large enough to print a full statue of a person with a build area of 4ft x 4ft x 8ft.
In regards to the size of the cue tested. The first cue was designed specifically for a kid it is a youth size pool cue. Our current pool cue that is being featured in a few article write ups is a regulation size pool cue at 58".
The 3d printed pool cues were create as a joint venture with Bay Vending.
I guess, if you want to look at it this way, the printer does exactly what humans do... It combines different materials that it has access to, in order to "create" a new material.
This is very similar to how a human combines copper and tin to "create" bronze, and how a soda fountain combines syrup and carbonated water to "create" soda.
The machine doesn't have a mind of its own, but that doesn't mean it can't create something.
AvidDavid262
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True
But still it cant be denied that there are still some pretty cool stuff being done with 3d printers.
But still it cant be denied that there are still some pretty cool stuff being done with 3d printers.
AvidDavid262
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Also the company with the cue stick posted up more pics of another pool cue they made with the 3d printer.
Im curiouse as to the feel of the hit with a 3d printed cue.
Im curiouse as to the feel of the hit with a 3d printed cue.
Let alone my original post, I will elaborate on it.
There are many pros and cons of 3d printing.
Pros:
-Ability to quickly create/recreate parts/pieces of an assembly or an entire assembly at once.
-Cost effective compared to the traditional approaches of making prototypes.
Cons:
-Not a cost effective means of creating mass production parts/pieces or assemblies.
-Materials used are not up to par with materials used in traditional manufacturing of parts/pieces.
With that being said, one day I hope that these pros/cons change and parts can be quickly generated at a cheaper cost with high grade materials being used. However, I highly doubt that will be anytime soon.
Now regarding the issues at hand with creating a cue; Many here will agree in at least three aspects a cue must have: Weight, Feel/Hit, & Balance. As far as I am aware, no 3d printer can mimic the weight and feel of wood. There is a reason many of us stray away from the fiberglass and titanium branded cues.
Take what you will from this. As a designer in a field full of new creations, I am all for the use of technology in our sport, albeit some things should never change.
There are many pros and cons of 3d printing.
Pros:
-Ability to quickly create/recreate parts/pieces of an assembly or an entire assembly at once.
-Cost effective compared to the traditional approaches of making prototypes.
Cons:
-Not a cost effective means of creating mass production parts/pieces or assemblies.
-Materials used are not up to par with materials used in traditional manufacturing of parts/pieces.
With that being said, one day I hope that these pros/cons change and parts can be quickly generated at a cheaper cost with high grade materials being used. However, I highly doubt that will be anytime soon.
Now regarding the issues at hand with creating a cue; Many here will agree in at least three aspects a cue must have: Weight, Feel/Hit, & Balance. As far as I am aware, no 3d printer can mimic the weight and feel of wood. There is a reason many of us stray away from the fiberglass and titanium branded cues.
Take what you will from this. As a designer in a field full of new creations, I am all for the use of technology in our sport, albeit some things should never change.
Weight and balance is not an issue, cause unlike traditional methods weight and balance can be adjusted in the 3d print to a customers specifications.
As far as wood is concerned there are many 3d printers capable of printing with wood not to say it would be the most durable but just throwing that out there.
And in regards to 3d printers mimicking the weight of wood. That can easily be mimicked.
In regards to durability we have printed a pool cue in the nylon based material we use and it has taken being slammed against a table, thrown and bent under stress.
Durability of materials is here now and is advancing more and more daily with research and development.
In regards to the feel of a wooden pool cue on the shot. I can say that when people have shot with our 3d printed cues it is a real solid shot and unique feel to each shot.
Feberglass cues or aluminum cues are different. You can not adjust the weigh, infill and balance like we can with a 3d printer. We have a precision in each 3d printer down to 2 microns.
When you say prints with wood do you mean wood particles and glue? How would a 3d printer work with wood? Generally wood is subtractive not additive.
Now I have to go look. - Sure enough http://www.wired.com/design/2012/11/3d-printer-wood-filament/
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Instant availability, instant customization. You're talking 3 hours or so to make the cue and if the design is done then maybe an extra hour at most to do any custom stuff.
I did laser engraving for a month in Vegas. It took me a day or so to figure out how to set up the templates but once I was done I could set up any job in minutes, to include doing teeny tiny signatures inside of veneers.
To that end I suggested to CueSight that they bring in white, light wood, and black cues for custom decoration. So they can now do a very wide variety of decoration on a blank cue and they do a lot of them. So when someone wants something like this on their cue it's a job of a few hours to a few days and the cue ships out quickly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBwtkC_ZYKg&feature=youtu.be
The 3d printers that can print with wood is filament based system with a glue like material built in. Which is extruded. But there have also been experimentations with wood pulp powder and a binding agent in powder based 3d printing.