Computer cut model parts v the Makers hand

[Guest]

What do you modellers out there think about traditional model making methods versus use of state of the art machinery to laser cut or mill parts?

What with 3D printing, and even Multicolour 3D printing equipment becoming cheaper all the time, china making cheaper more affordable computer controlled equipment this will all eventually become more widely used. With kids at school able to draw items on a computer and press "plot" to cut the parts out - are skills being lost or are we seeing better quality results?

If I could have it my way I'd be able to press a button and a finished batch of parts would be waiting for me in a sort of star trek style replicator! For me it's the actual process of assembling nicely fitted quality parts and the resulting model rather than the actual whittling and fettling to get bits to fit? I still get enjoyment from making the parts, even if my input has been the setting up of the machine and the drawing of the parts themselves rather than the physical making of them. I'd still prodce the parts myself and not have to resort to buying off the shelf bits from a shop.

What do you guys think?

[Guest]

I think that maybe this will be the last generation that will actually be able to make anything the 'old' way.

Kids aren't interested any more unless it costs a grand or kills 500 baddies a minute.

How many small machine shops are still about, where you could take a bit in and say 'can you fix it', and you would be told, come back in a couple of hours and it will be ready. Nowadays you get on the internet and order a brand new part (but at a cost).

I design and make my own steam engines, but what I do can't be done with CNC because I make as I go along, modifying on the run and ending up with a totally unique engine. Here are a few of pics of my last one, they were based on a set of plans, but the engine is nothing like the original, almost every piece was changed in some way, and I even got it to operate in reverse by modifying all the eccentric layout.

I think a few of the bits on here would mean rather challenging CNC programming.

If you want to see it running try here

John

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[Guest]

I think it is an interesting point and only goes to show how things come around.

When I was a youngster my Father used to complain that these new fangled plastic things weren't really modelling because you just stuck the bits together. In his day you had to carve everything from a lump of wood!! This is only of course a natural progression of the same thing.

I agree we are going to very quickly loose the ability of make things and that is going to affect our whole way of life. Our manufacturing base is already fast diminishing and we are becoming a new world of instant gratification and materialism. I think modelling is there for anyone to get something out of and it is up to the individual to take it to the level they want. You can stick a plastic U-boat together in an afternoon if you want or you could take a few weeks over fine detail and painting work as much as you can buy a kit of a boat and stick it together out of the box in a couple of weeks or take a few years over many modifications and enhancements.

Every type and standard of modelling can be taken to the level you want to to get what you want out of it but I have to agree at the end of the day the modern accessories are allowing us to take levels of detail to unheard of heights and at the same time giving us less and less requirements for the more traditional arts. I actually consider myself to be very lucky in so far as I had a grounding in the more basic skills of very early plastic kits and now I can utilise the latest technology to take those skills even further.

The trouble is nowadays youngsters are not getting the chance to develop the more basic skills and so are relying more and more on technology to make the model and the danger there of course is that there is less and less input from the modeller.

As for the engine John, beautiful, as always. I must admit the pillars are probably not to my personal taste, which I expect is quite a personal thing, but that doesn't stop me enjoying looking at it. Skills such as yours are fast on thier way out and the ability to adapt on the fly is only possible with your extensive experience. Nowadays people are going to be restricted to following a drawing rather than making it up as you go along.

I guess any form of modelling has to be seen as good and actively encouraged as at least it is getting people to use thier hands in some way. I do think though that loosing those basic foundation skills is going to be a sad loss and irreplaceable.

When you think it all started with a caveman knocking up a wheel from a piece of stone and we have now developed into a world of not knowing how to use very basic hand tools!!

[Guest]

What an interesting question

I dont think its how you produce the models you make it still needs the imagination and the time to put into the projects as; Its not the destination but the journey that makes it memorable

Im'e sure when super glue made its apperance people said "Taint propper this new stuff"

And theres always somebody to improve things and change makes us what we are so I do not think its all bad news

Also with new technology there is the chance of people being able to take part where as before they where as unable to do so