Call it crazy, zany, anything else you want to call it. But it appears it is possible. After all, if this technology can be taken into space “…to replace a lost wrench…”, I suspect it can also be used down here on earth to quickly make prototype woodworking tools. Take a look a this video. Is it black magic? Or is it a farce? OK, I’ll bite. I need a new guide for the FMT, to make small mortise and tenon joints; Oh – I also need a tiny router bit to go with the new FMT guide.
The Z Corporation, of Burlington, Massachussets, USA, has the answers. This is a cool video, found on YouTube.
— Al Navas
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About Al Navas
It’s amazing to think of how far we have come technologically in such a short period of time. This type of advancement is what eases my mind as we head into the future. In my line of work I’m very much aware of our energy crisis, but because we tend to find solutions when we need them most, I’m confident those technologies will be realized in my lifetime. The solution must be cheap, reliable and, I believe, will also take us away from a “grid” mentality.
Vic,
Like you, this technology just blows me away. My wish is that the brains in this country that will keep the wonderful developments coming, to make things better for my daughter, and for our grandchildren, if not for me. The leading edge moves toward the center so quickly!
Al,
Neat!!
Put me in for a 30″ planer with spiral head please.
3D printers are indeed real … very neat / kewl … and several companies produce them.
The first one I saw was about 12-14 years ago, a research prototype. I had the great pleasure of spending the last 15 years of my tech career at IBM Research. There were a lot of very neat things there and this is one of them. As with a lot of serious research, a great many ideas get into actual products as piece parts, a few ideas develop into complete products but usually get heavily modified on the way to market. And many, like 3D printing, don’t go to market by the parent company but by someone else … in this case, Z Corporation.
I’m guessing (haven’t actually checked) that IBM gets a little bit of patent revenue from Z Corporation.
Joe here from Z Corp again…
That must have been really cool to be see this technology 14 years ago as it was just getting started. It has come so far since then in terms of capabilities, but the baic idea of a machine that can ‘make anything’ has been there since the beginning.
The technology (and corresponding intellectual property) that was developed by IBM was actually purchased by another company in our industry. The technology that Z Corporation uses was actually developed at the same time in the labs of MIT. Same idea, but a different process…
So in our case, MIT gets that little bit of patent revenue…
Cool, although the model and it’s copy look like two different wrenches to me (and I am not talking about a micron but about major surface differences) . And if they cheated about the scanner, where else?
Damien,
We also noted this. As a result, I wrote a note to Z Corporation a few minutes ago, requesting they reply to your Comment. I followed up with a phone call, but got no answer. I will try again later, as they may open at 9AM DST.
My thanks Al Navas for your commitment to your blog and its content.
Personally the cool part is the 3D surface scanner, I did build one in 1985, using 512kB of RAM, that’s something like working on 8′ by 4′ boards in a 10′ by 7′ chop and I am happy those days are over. it’s nice to see that this technology is now much more usable.
It’s funny how shiny, or metallic, things look different when reproduced in plastic. That’s a good part of the difference. The other is the absence of the original maker’s raised lettering / trademark. I think they intentionally edited that part of the image to avoid infringement.
Hi Al –
This is Joe Titlow from Z Corp (the guy in the video you referenced). Thanks a lot for your interest in our products and sharing the video from the National Geographic Series.
We got your note about the inconsistency in the video that Damien pointed out and he is absolutely correct. We were not trying to pull a fast one on anyone, but we did print a slightly different wrench than the one we scanned. The truth is that because we had to complete all the filming for that piece in just a few hours, we printed the finished wrench ahead of time (cooking show style) from a file we had already available. We scanned the wrench they brought to us, but it would have taken a couple hours to complete the scan and ‘clean up’ the model in software for the features that were partially obscured by the assembled wrench (like the ends of the worm screw). Rather than keep the TV production crew sitting around for a few hours, we just used the one we had.
We thought it okay to show the inconsistent wrenches because it is also common for someone to edit the digital design between scanning and printing. Making changes like replacing the hole in the end with a D-ring – or any other design improvements they might think of. We talked about this when David was here, but apparently that part of our conversation got left on the editing room floor.
Rest assured, our products today can do everything that was depicted in that video. There are some other examples of showing the technology in action available on our website: http://www.zcorp.com (check under the ‘Press Room’ link)
Joe,
Thanks for your time on the phone, and for setting the record straight! Now it is all clear.
My thanks to Damien in Belgium for highlighting the “inconsistencies” in the video. I will make sure to check the rest of the videos, and encourage my readers to do the same.
You guys at Z Corporation rock in the Support area! Julie Reece, Director of Marketing, replied to my inquiry via direct e-mail; you and I chatted on the phone (before I was aware of Julie’s e-mail), and you kindly agreed to set the record straight here on the web site. Many thanks!
Sure thing Al. Thanks again for highlighting our technology.
As an amateur woodworker myself, I’m happy to have a new blog to add to my reading list. I’m currently undertaking a home renovation that includes a new workshop for myself so I’m looking for all kinds of ideas…
Joe
I love it, Joe! I have several web sites that you might be interested in. They appear in the Links page.
I followed up on your comment about renovating the old house you live in. I searched, and found an article – to all my readers, this will be pretty cool!!! Joe Silva, of “This Old House”, will be renovating Joe’s house in Bedford, Mass. It is the Nathaniel Page homestead. I won’t miss this one! This is the link to the article, which appeared in the GateHouse News Service (Bedford, Mass) on May 19, 2011.
I will be tuning in to WGBH in the Fall 2011!
THANKS for the answers Joe! Keep havin’ fun with this great technology.