"Make Metal Parts or Scale Production with Casting" Topic

3D printing is optimal for objects where customization is required, but multiple copies of the same design are often better produced using a conventional casting technology. In this tutorial, you'll learn about three of the main casting processes which will both expand your material capabilities to a variety of metals and plastics, and allow you to create large quantities of the same object….

link

I can help you create the 3D model and print used for casting. 3DPrintsbyStacy.com

HA HA HA! This is hilarious!

Or you can just get off your bum and sculpt a master like they have done for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

All this fancy modern technology and now they are showing you how its better to just mold and cast like always! Hold the front page, breaking news!

Its also a lot easier to compare a master your working on to other minis or components when its actually in your hand already.

Gosh! I'm not sure what else say, what a giggle!

Clearly 'H Man' is at a place in the production side of the hobby for himself whereby he is comfortable – and perhaps productive. But I disagree with his overall negativity. The Editor in his opening remark is pointing to a gap between 3D model/figure generation and mass production of the same. Sure, taking an item and putting or changing it into a mass production format/material is centuries old stuff. But not necessarily when referring to fragile, well animated 3D creations mostly made of materials not conducive to mass production.
Along with his term 'customization' the Editor might just as well have added the term 'ability'. 3D generated prints now gives the person who cannot sculpt or who cannot afford multiple sculpts generated by the old fashioned way a means of entering the hobby in the production side of the market, if they so desire.
Another facet of 3D generated pieces and masters even teaches some of us old dogs a few more new tricks and new abilities. With the help of Stacy (see her comments above on this very thread) and a few other entities in on this cutting edge technology my own new 1/1200 ACW naval range could not have been produced to the quality of detail rendered in the final castings. In other words, even my own skills and abilities were insufficient to capture the degree of detail for the masters in this very small scale.
In reading the article mentioned in the link the idea of creating 3D molds was a new and possibly an exciting 'ding' moment for this old dog.
3D modeling and printing is here to stay and taking over more and more the creation and mass production side of the hobby. Not all just yet, so H Man is correct. But it is clearly where everything is heading.
Toby Barrett
Thoroughbred Figures

Some while ago the 3D print folk had a rule of thumb of 5000 parts. Up to 5000 off it was probably cheaper to 3D print the items. Above that figure casting is probably better. Casting machines are not cheap and are really for commercial use. 3D printers are moving into the hobby range. Casting takes skill and effort to master and most of the new generation probably sculpt by 3D modelling anyway.
Plus a casting machine needs a workshop a printer just the same room as a microwave in the house.

I freely admit I could not sculpt the old fashioned way by 3D modeling is within my grasp.

In my own mind metal is on the way out. I much prefer 3D prints, sparable, customisable, more damage tolerant, less weight to carry and look better as there are no poorly fitted parts and no runners and risers in the critical areas.

The surface Finnish issue seems to be in the eye of the 3D print haters. never seen it a a problem myself.

The comedy continues.

First and for most, mastering a computer and the associated programming takes far more initial skill/knowledge/what have you requirement than playing with clay like any 4 year old is (at a basic level) capable of.

Not to mention money. You would have to be talking at minimum $500 USD+ for even a decent second hand computer, plus the printer, plus the required programs, so on.

My centrifuge is made from an old milk separator. And apparently a chap with a terrain company that advertises on this very site made one from an old washing machine. Mine does not take up more room than a microwave. Only a burner for heating the metal is otherwise needed, still no more space required than for a computer and printer, plus I use gas, so can spin in a blackout. You can use almost anything to spin metal. The cost can be, as with mine, basically free. Lets say under $200 USD if you had to buy the bits. Its not that complicated, unlike dealing with windows and the like.

Having had painted 3d prints for clients, the difference must be in the eye of the painters also. Sintered models soak up paint if not properly prepared. Extrusion lines on more common prints, so on.

I don't see the 3d printers taking over. No more than resin did, or plastic in general. There are still metal casters and always will be. Even the like of games workshop seem to be heading back to the alloy with their tails between their legs (though in a limited fashion at the moment) .

The future is bright, because its shiny metal!

OK as a kid I NEVER mastered the art of scupture. was a big LEGO and Mechanno enthusisat. 3D modeling is a piece of cake in comparison to sculpture and art for me.

Burning smelly hot metal UGHH give me a quiet clean printer in a nice warm room while I draw on computer, heaven!

Shows it takes all sorts ;-).

@The H Man:
I understand you react the way you do out of fear of becoming obsolete, but if you tone it down a smidgen people may start to take you seriously. Right now you come off as "Ha ha, a hammer you say? What a joke, give me a good old rock any day".

I have no fear of becoming obsolete. Or metal casting and other traditional techniques. (Heck, I was just watching a show about people building a real castle)

It it 3d print enthusiasts who should worry. With modern technology it is here today, gone tomorrow. Someone will invent something better. Already there are better printers than they had to start with. Metal casting has changed very little in many years and is still the only logical way to produce many items, even outside of miniatures. Many metal construction/mechanical products, for example.

Actually as a hammer is typically hard steel, a softer rock has many advantages, depending upon requirements. Also the article at top is suggesting you use a rock instead of a hammer, and you seem to support it happily enough.

UshCha: Yes, melting plastic has wonderful fumes in comparison. Its not heaven, you are experiencing, its a high!

Also if you like lego and the like, pass sculpting with putty and try building mechs and vehicles out of wood, plasti card, brass rod and the like. They can still be molded and cast and are just as needed as organic sculptures.

I get the point on toning it down, but I only give back what I receive. And the original article link was laugh. Thanks to the editor for brightening my day with it.