Thread: 3D printed Scales or using Sugru

Originally Posted by Chevhead

My bro-in-law has one.
Said that there are ridges in the printing so it might be better to cast them.
It is a home made 3D printer so maybe a PROFESSIONAL one could do it....

A buddy who is an industrial design pro has one. It cost him $14K. I do not ask him, so far, to make scales.
There is the necessity of 3D drawings to make a CAM file from for the machine to duplicate in the material of choice.
~Richard

I will stick to my woodshop for making scales. That procedure sounds too pricey.

I have seen the Sugru used for Kamisori to cover the handle much like the old Tosuke covers... But then again I saw one done with the Liquid Rubber dip that is used for tools too

Up until recently I had access to a professional level, OBJET 3D printer (a machine that was partly owned by Weta Workshop and used by them to make models for 'The Lord of The Rings' and various other projects) - the effort required to model a part, print it and post-process it (most things still have visible ridges where the layers are deposited, even with a micron-accurate machine such as this) would make anything but the most elaborate, decorated scales not worthy of the time and money. Making a mould for casting in another material would be the best application, as already suggested.