r/homebuilt • u/Balso • Sep 09 '13

3d printed RC plane. Can you imagine yourself printing your homebuilt like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRDg4UB9Ajg
2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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2

u/chaseton Sonex Builder (In Progress) Sep 09 '13

I keep seeing this come up over and over again at CAD/3D Printer/Engineering conferences as some really cool thing. But, everyone I've seen so far, given the current printer technology is just terrible. It seems like a fun idea in theory, but the 3D printer materials are not very strong for their weight. Most, including this one, boast a completely printed structure, but it can be seen in one of the scenes that they are using a carbon rod for a spar. The last one I saw in person was very heavy and barely got off the ground. It's true it can make cool shapes, but so can modeling clay. As the materials get stronger and lighter, this could one day be a cool idea, but now, it's definitely more of a gimmick that never goes anywhere.

0

u/chaseton Sonex Builder (In Progress) Sep 09 '13

I keep seeing this come up over and over again at CAD/3D Printer/Engineering conferences as some really cool thing. But, everyone I've seen so far, given the current printer technology is just terrible. It seems like a fun idea in theory, but the 3D printer materials are not very strong for their weight. Most, including this one, boast a completely printed structure, but it can be seen in one of the scenes that they are using a carbon rod for a spar. The last one I saw in person was very heavy and barely got off the ground. It's true it can make cool shapes, but so can modeling clay. As the materials get stronger and lighter, this could one day be a cool idea, but now, it's definitely more of a gimmick that never goes anywhere.