Digital Copyright Protection now being extended to "Printable Objects"

[John Hubertz]

Here's an interesting topic.  Nowadays, if you need a new badge or emblem or inner door actuator thingy and the part is NLA or needs to be customized, you don't have to go to the expense of paying for a traditional machine shop or modelmaker to craft a mold so you can cast a replacement.

Apparently, that worries the corporate heavyweights that run the world.  After all, why buy a $850 grill for your Ford if you can just stay late at work, and print one out on a top-quality 3d printer. 

These printers are getting so capable, even hi-stress parts are possible.  For example, it is now possible to PRINT a pistol... that actually fires.

Thus, the following article is of importance to us  in the old-car hobby:

http://torrentfreak.com/3d-printer-drm-patent-to-stop-people-downloading-a-car-121012/

Kind of a new spin on the old song....  (listen and be amazed!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2riRAGzNzvQ

For our upside-down members, the name is Cash.....Johnny Cash   

[Big_Richard]

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[John Hubertz]

I believe the big issue now is that they print in resin that is similar to the resin used to mold parts for high-stress applications like the frame and internal working parts of the Glock pistol.

The resin is so durable, so able to mimic the original design diagram, that I've seen detailed working models of truck rear axle assemblies in perfect 1/8 scale.  Very nice, intricately detailed, fully functioning as far as the mechanical function of the part.

Here is another fully functioning printed device, in this case a bicycle:




Really the 3d printer is not that revolutionary - it just lowers the cost of admission by about $250,000.  Anyone who has worked with sophisticated cad/cam machinery can digitally "create" just about any object....  But that is not a low-cost solution.

In the past 12 months, the price of an entry-level resin printer has fallen from around $5000 to $549 (USD).

How's THAT for "power to the people"?

[JasonP]

Hephaestus is not pleased.

[ZCarFan]

The continued march toward individual production is certainly fascinating.  Naturally, such transitions cause all sorts of hand-wringing with people running around trying to protect their current income model against reality, but eventually they'll have to get over it and adapt.  I expect some real fights coming soon over this.

The strength of the 3D printed parts is a bit... overstated by some.  If you are comfortable with 20 - 30,000 psi restrained by printed plastic less than an inch from your hand, then I suppose the "working" printed pistol is possible.  you are going to need steel somewhere, period.  Further to that point, a working ring and pinion requires a lot more than simply making a part with the correct shape.  The detail that goes into the metallurgy is intense, even a slight error in heat treatment will lead to chunks of differential floating around in the center section.  I will admit the opportunities for prototyping and parts manufacture are intriguing.

One should remember that Mercedes is quite active on the I.P. front.  They don't allow much use of any of their "art" outside of their own control.  Try to market replacement hood stars and see how quickly you receive a cease-and-desist,