[Harp-L] Re: 3D printing Harmonicas

[diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I'll add to what Tom said. 


3D printing in manufacturing has been around for a number of years now. The media is just catching onto to it 
because smaller home versions within reach of the consumers have become available. Just like everything else there are industrial grade and consumer grade products. Right now the home version is a bit cheesy. The one we lease where I work is the size of 2 large refrigerators. The end product is then cast into metal since it is too soft for dental use. 


What the reports don't tell you are the glitches involved in using them. 
About once every 2 weeks we lose a days worth of scanning and design because the printer printed out a glob of useless plastic rather then the product. We were told that is part of the curve in production. We are looking into purchasing a newer unit where some of those bugs have been worked out. Still a big investment. For the price of a consumer grade unit I'm sure the bugs are still in there and you'll have to pay more to end up with a more reliable product. 


With CNC milling you have more options for the types of materials you can use and is still the best choice even over 
mould injecting harp parts. There is non of the cooling shrinkage problem inherent in that process. 


Message: 7 
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 11:59:22 -0400 
From: "Tom Halchak" <thalchak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Subject: [Harp-L] 3D printing: harmonicas 
To: <philharpn@xxxxxxx> 
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Message-ID: <005401ce8498$efface90$cff06bb0$@tampabay.rr.com> 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" 

As one who is deeply involved in manufacturing harmonica parts I have looked 
into 3D Printing. Bottom line is that at this point it is little more than 
a novelty. First you have to create a 3D CAD design before you can make any 
part - whether via 3D Printing or CNC milling. If you have the 
software/programming skills - great. If not, you'll have to pay someone to 
create the plan -which is what I do. That is the biggest expense in having 
a prototype make - unless you decide to add insult to injury by having your 
prototype 3D Printed. Generally speaking when you have a new part designed 
at a CNC machine shop the price will include the production of a prototype. 
Ultimately when you go into production mode - which is sorta the point isn't 
it - to get the thing actually made in quantity - CNC milling is a vastly 
superior process. It is faster. It is less expensive. It is more precise. 
You can choose from a wider variety of materials. And the finished product 
is superior. It is, as they say, a no-brainer. 3D Printing is cool and if 
what you want is a novelty item - have at it. But if you want to produce a 
real product at a cost that enables you to attract buyers and actually make 
a profit, we're a long ways off from using 3D Printing - at least I am. 

Just my 3 cents. 
Tom Halchak 
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com 




Mike 
www.harmonicarepair.com