Lego CNC?

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pX1cO2XhMrg#action=share

CNC for carpenters

As some of you know, my father had a couple of careers. Depending on the current economic cycle, he was either a carpenter or a gifted fabricator of aircraft skins. The transition came several times in my life, usually on a Friday afternoon when he would get laid off. During his carpenter life he was a framer and swung a 16 oz. hammer for a living. I wish he could have lived to see this. How small can CNC get::

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1320575205/handibottm-a-smart-digital-power-tool?ref=category

Printing metal at room temperature

Here's another 3D innovation, sent by Greg Rockwood:

   http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/wms-dickey-liquid-structures/

video of liquid metal printing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql3pXn8-sHA

Windows 8.1 and 3D Printing

Greg Rockwood sent this to me yesterday. Looks like Microsoft wants to be involved in 3D printing too:

http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/why-3d-printing-matters-microsofts-windows-81-strategy

So, here's something else to ponder if you're in the machining business (or its support like we all are). This was brought to Jeff's attention by Fanuc this week. The machine seems to be made up with two hexapods (dodecapod?) I would like to think that we can still find work in the decades to come, even if the traditional 1" end mill or ceramic lathe insert isn't involved. After all, a lathe has two axes, a machining center 3, and this machine has 12:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/9/4506510/fords-f3t-prototype-technology-print-car

VW Phaeton Factory in Dresden

Anyone who has spent a career in manufacturing facilities has to LOVE this one:

http://www.flixxy.com/high-tech-car-factory.htm

The Phaeton was not well received in the U.S.A., but is coming back in 2015. Nevertheless, what a facility.

I've had several discussions with people regarding the 3D printed titanium fighter jet part in my last post. We all agree that there are tooling marks on the part and that this seems too good to be true. Anyway, I was looking around for other users of 3D printed titanium parts. Here's a bike company in England that makes frame parts:

http://www.webpronews.com/this-company-3d-prints-bicycles-in-titanium-2013-05

It's all about strength and size. What do you all think?