RE: Parts Hospital

From: Mitchell, Doug (D.B.) (dmitchel@ford.com)
Date: Thu Sep 18 2003 - 14:04:30 EEST


A little clarification. (very little) Todd Richman gave a presentation
at the recent Tech Forum held here in Dearborn (sponsored by SME/RPA).
Todd gave an update as to the status as of that time (August 18).
Since that time, there was an article in the Detroit Free Press that
covered the deployment of the MPH.

Perhaps Todd would like to comment.

The article is available here:
http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwend5_20030905.htm

Doug

--
Doug Mitchell
Ford Motor Company
dmitchel@ford.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brock [mailto:bhinzmann@sric-bi.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 9:46 PM
> To: Sachs
> Cc: rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
> Subject: Re: Parts Hospital
> 
> 
> George,
> 
> My understanding is that the participants in the project are 
> the U.S. Army's TACOM
> (Tank-automotive and Armament Command) National Automotive 
> Center (Warren,
> Michigan), the Illinois Institute of Technology Research 
> Institute (Warren,
> Michigan), Focus: HOPE (Detroit, Michigan), and CAMP 
> (Cleveland, Ohio). I don't
> know what CAMP is. In the recent article by Mike Wendland in 
> the Detroit Free
> Press, he interviewed Todd Richman, who I believe heads the 
> project for TACOM.
> Perhaps one of them has more recent info to share.
> 
> Brock
> 
> Sachs wrote:
> 
> > I think a first version of the parts hospital was actually 
> deployed to Iraq
> > a few weeks ago. I believe it is mostly focused on quickly 
> machining parts
> > using high speed CNC, but RP may also be involved in some 
> steps. Data for
> > parts is sent by satellite to the unit. Size of parts able 
> to be made is a
> > limitation for now. Focus Hope (a jobs training program) 
> here in Detroit is
> > stongly involved in making it a reality and the first parts 
> hospital will be
> > a test bed. There was a recent article about it in the 
> Detroit Free Press I
> > believe.
> >
> > George Sachs
> >
> > At 03:34 PM 9/17/2003 -0700, you wrote:
> > >Scott,
> > >
> > >I haven't looked at the details of the current Web site, 
> but my understanding
> > >is that a mobile demonstration unit, on a trailor as you 
> describe it, was the
> > >result of Phase I. It had lots of problems as a mobile 
> unit, in terms of
> > >quality of parts and the need to recalibrate after each 
> move. Phase II was
> > >supposedly based on a LENS machine, to make metal parts, 
> and a 5-axis machining
> > >system, which fit into standard-size (ISO) shipping 
> containers. Phase II
> > >lessons are being evaluated and will result in a new 
> design next year, if the
> > >funding can be maintained.
> > >
> > >Brock Hinzmann
> > >
> > >
> > >Scott Tilton wrote:
> > >
> > >> Yep . .it exists.
> > >>
> > >>  Army Mobile Parts Hospital.
> > >>
> > >> http://www.mobilepartshospital.com/welcome/docs/browser.php
> > >>
> > >> That's not the page I've seen before.
> > >>
> > >> The page I've seen before actually had the tractor 
> trailer setup with a
> > >> Sinterstation and a CNC machine it.
> > >>
> > >> Scott Tilton
> > >>
> > >>  -----Original Message-----
> > >> From:   Charles Overy [mailto:cwho@lgmmodel.com]
> > >> Sent:   Wednesday, September 17, 2003 1:27 PM
> > >> To:     rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
> > >> Subject:        RE: HP getting ito the rapid prototype 
> printer business
> > >>
> > >> Reflecting on this idea of having a RP machine at a 
> retail parts service
> > >> bureau:
> > >>
> > >> Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with what I 
> believe was being
> > >> called something like the " mobile army parts center". 
> The idea that some
> > >> sort of sintering machine was going to be deployed in a 
> trailer to produce
> > >> military replacement parts close to the point of need.  
> Also, I thought that
> > >> some of the early RP money came from DARPA grants 
> looking at putting the
> > >> same sort of technology on aircraft carriers.
> > >>
> > >> Was anything like this ever successfully implemented?
> > >>
> > >> Charles
> > >>
> > >> > -----Original Message-----
> > >> > From: owner-rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi 
> [mailto:owner-rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi]On
> > >> > Behalf Of PENQUAKR74@aol.com
> > >> > Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 1:44 AM
> > >> > To: sheba@bathsheba.com; rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
> > >> > Subject: Re: HP getting ito the rapid prototype 
> printer business
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > Bathsheba:
> > >> >
> > >> > If you consider the advancements in the RP technology and the
> > >> > progression of
> > >> > how the products have been delivered to the public, 
> then you will
> > >> > see that in
> > >> > 1987 the first machines were large and required, and still do,
> > >> > very expensive
> > >> > lasers.  Because of the cost of these machines, just as
> > >> > mainframes were costly
> > >> > and required sharing (anyone recall GE's timesharing 
> business?), service
> > >> > bureaus were the best means for small and medium sized 
> businesses
> > >> > and for large
> > >> > businesses with the occasional need for models, to 
> have access to these
> > >> > expensive machines.  RP machines cost approached the $100,000
> > >> > mark and less, and
> > >> > Z-corp's 50-60K machine forced many to respond to the market
> > >> > which is heavily
> > >> > driven by form and fit.  But as Z-Corps processes became more
> > >> > useful through
> > >> > postprocessing developments, such as metallization and other
> > >> > infiltration techniques
> > >> > created by its users enabling molding and casting, it began to
> > >> > compete for
> > >> > more of the business normally reserved for the larger SLAs.
> > >> > Stratasys has beco
> > >> > me a force because it has developed lower and lower cost
> > >> > machines, selling into
> > >> > markets where service bureaus were the main option for 
> designers and
> > >> > manufacturing engineers.  The materials developed have become
> > >> > well-known and their
> > >> > shrinkage properties tabulated to enable dimensional 
> and quality
> > >> > control beyond
> > >> > what was possible a mere 5 years ago.  From the equivalent of a
> > >> > mainframe to a
> > >> > desktop RP machine capable being shared over a network has
> > >> > occurred in less 15
> > >> > years (1987-2002).  The drop in 3D market value is not 
> a surprise
> > >> > given its
> > >> > entrenchment for so long in the large machine market.  
> Companies
> > >> > like Z-Corp
> > >> > and Stratasys now dominate the desktop market, with maybe Objet
> > >> > and potentially
> > >> > Envision Technologies which also uses DMD technology in its
> > >
> > >> > machines, getting
> > >> > ready to make a big splash.  So, while you may have a 
> certain insight or
> > >> > perspective as a user, the trends are easily seen that
> > >> > paraphrasing Andy Grove's
> > >> > observation, Grove's Law, as it's popularly known: RP 
> Technology
> > >> > will double
> > >> > it's capability to produce products less expensively every 18
> > >> > months.  Along with
> > >> > that is the fact that materials technology, the "ink" if you
> > >> > will, will also
> > >> > advance to match the machines technical progression.  
> Step back, create a
> > >> > timeline and you will see this clearly.  The only thing holding
> > >> > these advancements
> > >> > back has been the endless lawsuits and bickering in 
> the courts over
> > >> > infringing patent rights.  3D's solution was to acquire its
> > >> > competitors which stretched
> > >> > it too thin and got it involved in too many battles, 
> decreasing the
> > >> > investment it should have been making in smaller 
> footprint, user
> > >> > friendly machines.  As
> > >> > for a cleaner part and a smoother part or introduction 
> of color,
> > >> > those are
> > >> > simple problems to solve based on variable layering, 
> faster curing, and
> > >> > in-machine post processing.  Remember the first xerographic
> > >> > processes were extremely
> > >> > dirty and it took almost 15 years for Xerox's 
> predecessor, Haloid
> > >> > Corp, to
> > >> > clean it up in the 50's.
> > >> >
> > >> > Finally, in rebuttal to the durability and aesthetic look of a
> > >> > replacement
> > >> > part for a consumer product, the parts that were made by SRI's
> > >> > process were
> > >> > silicon nitride ceramic that were tested by Allied 
> Signal at high
> > >> > temperatures,
> > >> > approximately 1000 C.  That is durable.  And it could 
> be done in
> > >> > plastic also.
> > >> > If one wanted to have all the knobs match on a stove 
> range, make
> > >> > a new set.
> > >> > But, in my opinion, just having a replacement knob 
> that slightly
> > >> > different,
> > >> > instead of pliers, is far better than having none at all.  It
> > >> > won't be too long
> > >> > before you will find a machine for the consumer market.  The
> > >> > first ones will be
> > >> > at Kinko's.
> > >> >
> > >> > Scott Taper
> > >> > Technology Commercialization Consulting
> > >> > TCC has joined with Andreé Driskell Associates
> > >> > (www.andreedriskellassociates.com) to add proposal and business
> > >> > plan preparation services for responses to
> > >> > commercial and Government RFPs and other funding opportunities.
> > >> > TCC accepts
> > >> > selected innovations for technical and market 
> assessment and licensing.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > In a message dated 9/16/2003 9:50:34 PM, 
> sheba@bathsheba.com writes:
> > >> >
> > >> > << On Tue, 16 Sep 2003 PENQUAKR74@aol.com wrote:
> > >> > > But this could have been a ceramic knic knac, 
> jewelry model, a
> > >> > toy, an iron
> > >> > > temperature dial, some other personal item or discontinued
> > >> > replacement part.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > RP machines will follow the same market progression that
> > >> > personal computers
> > >> > > and computer printers have followed with apparently 
> greater speed of new
> > >> > > product development.  From 1955 to 1980, computing 
> systems moved from
> > >> > mainframe to
> > >> > > mini to micro, a period of 25 years to go from 
> millions of dollars to
> > >> > > thousands.  It took a mere additional 10 years to 
> get to under 1,000
> > >> > dollars.  If the
> > >> > > analogy continues to hold up, we can expect a 1,000 dollar
> > >> > machine in 2005,
> > >> > > about half the time it took to get to the same point for
> > >> > personal computers
> > >> > > because the prior advancements in computing power 
> translates to the RP
> > >> > market.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > I welcome any comments on the foregoing.
> > >> >
> > >> > I guess I'm pessimistic about that analogy.  Going from a $20k
> > >> > computer to a $1k computer was mostly a matter of incremental
> > >> > improvements to existing technology, and making the 
> marketing decision
> > >> > to put it in a cute plastic box.  But for RP the 
> technology doesn't
> > >> > exist: no machine is near, in ease of operation or 
> usefulness of
> > >> > output, to the level that would open a consumer 
> market.  Cute plastic
> > >> > boxes abound, but most people aren't fooled.
> > >> >
> > >> > I tend to think the biggest hurdle is the material 
> science.  Your
> > >> > stove knob is an excellent example: it's not useful 
> unless it's as
> > >> > tough as my old injection-molded knob (preferably 
> tougher, since the
> > >> > old one broke!), a good color match to my other knobs, 
> including fine
> > >> > detail for the calibrations, and without visible 
> layering.  It also
> > >> > must not require any postprocessing.
> > >> >
> > >> > No process I'm aware of comes near these requirements. 
>  Only Sanders
> > >> > has fine enough layers, almost.  Only SLA has enough material
> > >> > strength, maybe.  Only ZCorp has color, if you like 
> pastels.  Fill in
> > >> > your favorite here.  All are wildly deficient in those 
> areas where
> > >> > they don't excel, and all require cumbersome postprocessing.
> > >> >
> > >> > So my bet is that big breakthroughs are needed before 
> that consumer
> > >> > machine is foreseeable.  Of course it's possible that 
> they've already
> > >> > been made, under a bushel somewhere...I feel like it 
> would be an awful
> > >> > lot of progress to be hiding.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > OTOH, I wouldn't be surprised if a sub-$5000 concept 
> modeler, based on
> > >> > a combination of existing technologies, did appear in 
> the next several
> > >> > years.  Probably looking more like SLA than anything 
> else.  There's
> > >> > nothing about what these machines do that is 
> inherently expensive,
> > >> > they just haven't been exposed to economies of scale.  HP, or a
> > >> > handful of other companies, could do it.
> > >> >
> > >> > But I don't expect a household appliance that would 
> appeal to Joe
> > >> > Sixpack, even though he has a digital camera these 
> days.  My crystal
> > >> > ball is showing a tool for well-heeled 3D shops, with 
> a price point
> > >> > and market similar to the Microscribe arm.
> > >> >
> > >> > It would still be a giant step forward -- if it can 
> build the model at
> > >> > the top of this page, 
> http://www.bathsheba.com/misc/preview.html, I'm
> > >> > standing in line to write that check.  Knock wood....
> > >> >
> > >> > -Sheba
> > >> > --
> > >> > Bathsheba Grossman                 phone 
> (831)429-8224, fax (831)460-1242
> > >> > Sculpting geometry                                     
>      bathsheba.com
> > >> > Solidscape prototyping                                 
>     protoshape.com
> > >> > Protein crystals                                       
> crystalprotein.com
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> 
> 


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