https://i.materialise.com/blog/i-materialise-launches-stainless-steel-3d-printing

 

Impressive tech, but has a long way to go to before reaching the level needed for watch movement parts.

 

This only illustrates just how far away the prospect of printing proper replacement parts really is...

 

Sorry but in 1996 my cell phone looked nothing like that...maybe more like 30 years ago?

 

Okay just read 25 years and not 20...still I don't think they were that big in 1991 were they?

 

That was my first cellphone in 1990-91. Still have the phone and paperwork.

 

i think we are closer than you might imagine ....

0.015mm layer size (video is 2 yrs old) ... give it 2-3 generations more to bring it down to 0.0015mm x layer (thats 666 layers per mm!) and we are there...

 

Sorry but even then you are a long way off from being able to make parts that are made of the correct materials and that don't require substantial post processing in order to make them usable in a watch.

Believe me I want this to be true as much as anyone, but without a full understanding of what materials are needed, what mechanical and surface finish properties are required, saying "we are there" is very premature.

 

We are not there yet but are closer than some may think. I have seen watch cases printed on YouTube. I work at a research facility and here is a bottle opener key chain we printed in a metal alloy.
It is not finished anywhere near that of a watch movement component but remember this is just a tool for opening lubricants. Notice the open latticework through the thickness of the bottle opener. And yes it is strong enough to open many a beer!

 

You're right, it's not finished anywhere near what say a 0.012 mm diameter balance pivot with a fine profile on the end would need to be...one that would be burnished to its final diameter (which also work hardens it) and provides it with the very fine surface finish needed to reduce friction.

I've seen printed cases, dials, etc. also, but printing movement parts that are fully functional is a very different thing. Ultimately I think this could be useful for relatively simple parts, but complex shapes requiring high finishes, or parts that are really small sub assemblies are not something I can see happening for a very long time.

When everyone says "we are closer than you think" please tell me how close you think we are? 5 years, 10 years, 20? Again I'm all for this working, but those who seem to indicate this is just around the corner don't typically have any watchmaking experience, and likely are not that familiar with what is really required.

I'll be happy to be proven wrong, but I believe it will be a very long time before parts like this could be made for example...



Cheers, Al

 

Give it 5 years and we print nanometer sizes. Guarantee. Add another 5 and you will be able to choose wanted surface finishes. 3D printing is moving beyond imagination at the moment. Just look at what car manufacturers already print.

Also: http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/24/5342180/watch-this-3d-printer-make-pizza-fit-for-astronauts behold the pizza printer.

 

So just 15 years or so until grey goo? Good to know, I'll get my affairs in order.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo

 

Not to unrealistic. Universities offer nanorobotics courses since longer now and swarm intelligence in robotics is nothing new either.