Originally Posted by Hairydalek

This is kind of an interest of mine - not because I have any of the gear, but because it’s a fascinating subject. The latest machines use a plastic to “print” a 3D model held in a computer.

For those who don’t know how it works, the process is very much like a plotter (the kind where a pen is moved on an x/y plane). However, instead of ink, a plastic layer is laid down. The platform is then dropped by a very small amount, and a new layer is printed, and this continues until you have a 3D object.

This interview on the BBC news Web Site (which MAY be locked to only UK viewers) talks to a company rep whose 3D printer can handle stainless steel. That means that these guys can print metal, which means we could theoretically start to make spare engine components.

This would rule out the need for a CNC machine.