Thanks Ken.
I just ordered my 3D LCD resin printer. I was thinking this morning, during my creative just-waking-up process, about what I'd use it for. Then it hits me. The engine house alone has opportunities for a high-res printer. I want to put HVAC units on the roof. These don't exist in the aftermarket in our scale. I have drawings of them. If I can draw them, I can print them. I have a machine shop on the building, but no machines. Western Scale Models sold a line of white metal machine tools for a narrow gauge. Again, I can find drawings on the SketchUp of machine tools and can draw them. If I can draw them, I can print them. This is just one building that could almost pay for the 3D printer. I'm now stepping firmly into the 21st Century!
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of making a soldering demonstration and clinic at the monthly Military Modelers Club of Louisville's plenary session. One of the members is the administrator of the University of Louisville's Advanced Manufacturing Lab (one of the most comprehensive in the country), and he has 3 of the small, low cost resin printers like the one I'm looking at. He says they're terrific. They're not particularly fast, but they have great resolution, can use any resin that cures at 405 nm wavelength and he would highly recommend it. He also offered to print things for me. That's cool too, but I'd like to have one next to my elbow. Not bad for a guy in his mid-70s.
