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3D printing and it's potential affect on collecting...

3d printing 3d printed reproduction conterfitting bootleg custom figures parts repo custom vintage toys

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#1 Foxman

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Posted 18 July 2014 - 02:22 PM

I realize that his topic has been touched on here and there but I figure an entire thread should be dedicated to this... since it can and will affect the entire toy market at some point in the future.

 

I know very little about 3D printing. I do know however, that you can produce darn near anything with them and it's estimated that 10 years down the road, they will be a household fixture (just like inkjet printers are now). And with anything, they hold a huge amount of potential for good (creating the rest of the M.U.S.C.L.E. line, making replacement parts & accessories for things like Transformers, Lego & He-Man) to Evil (outright, counterfeiting).

 

Myself as well as others, have a lot of questions and misconceptions about 3D printing and where the technology it is, as of today in July 2014.

 

Here's a few questions to start it off:

 

  • Can you 3D print rubber, PVC, ABS etc. and if not, do you see it happening soon?

 

  • I read about how soon, they plan on 3D printing cosmetics to match every shade on the color wheel... so I assume you can print plastics in every shade as well?

 

  • How close are the textures of 3D printing? Is everything rough at this point or is it possible to create all of the smooth, finely polished details that can be viewed under a magnifying glass?

 

  • It seems not only plausible, but inevitable that a few years down the road, you will be able to download all of the plans to 3D print the entire line of say, Transformers. The file will probably include all of the exact plans to print to blister pack too!

 

And finally, do you see this having an effect on you and your collections?

 

NOTE* PLEASE keep this thread on topic and stay civil. I really want to know more about this and think that maybe we can separate some of the facts from fiction on this one.


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#2 Ericnilla

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Posted 18 July 2014 - 03:35 PM

Im not expert, but ive had a few things printed up to recast in rubber. My latest Spiral Zone Rimfire and Blaster Master Sophia were 3d printed.

 

- I have never seen rubber as an option for printing, but Ive seen different types of plastics, and metals.

 

-There are a wide variety of colors available, but I don't think for all types of material.

 

-Texture and detail comes from how advanced the machine is. Home based machines are a lower quality then larger companies. The quality and amount of detail plays a big part in the price. You can have a model printed out cheaply for $20-$30, or go the professional high-res and pay $200. depends on what you want and what its for.

 

The items i have printed out are from Shapeways.com, and I use their Hi-detail frosted. they both cost just under $100. They werent perfect though. ther were printing lines or fuzziness that I had to sand down smooth. then priming with paint finishes it up to get a nice surface.

 

-Many 3rd party companies make their own transformers by printing them out. But none of these are on the public market. Maybe in the future you can buy an transformer and have it printed at home. but i doubt it will be anything vintage, unless its done by a fan.

 

3d printing still has a ways to go. Its good for custom making. but the items printed would be held more as an art piece than a toy right now. They have no effect on my collecting at its base level, people that are using it to remold and cast in rubber is something I love and look forward to. Although it doesnt make for a cheap toy.


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#3 plasticfiend

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Posted 18 July 2014 - 08:20 PM

I think there will always be the allure having the actual toy that you played with as a child.  At the end of day you could get a replica, but somehow I suspect that it won't strike that same emotional cord.  Now if it's something super obscure... and you just want to own a replica/ bootleg to complete a set, that's different.  But I don't see anything happening on a large scale like that.  Part of nostalgia (which is a large part of why folks collect toys) is having the original.

 

THAT being said - where I think it will make a difference is in new and ORIGINAL pieces like what Eric was just talking about.  His Rimfire and Sophia pieces are amazing and they look like they were created with such precision that I'm assuming being able to work in CAD and make a 3d model before casting can really help.  I think it will take original stuff to the next level, personally.  But too be honest, my knowledge it pretty limited on such things... until I joined the board I wasn't even aware of folks doing custom and or micro runs of original toys.

 

SO that's my two cents!

 

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