So I've been coming across this '3d printing' stuff recently. http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/06/health/3d-printed-heart-simulated-organs/ Apparently you can make all kinds of stuff with it. You basically get a special printer, upload any design and it will literally physically manifest the product. Like a digital genie or something Does anyone here have experience with this (Is this like an internet hoax or something)? This place seems to carry files that actually help you make proper video game parts: https://pinshape.com/items/21188-3d-printed-mini-snes-raspberry-pi-23-case I would love to get my hands on one of these machines (If they are availble to the public) and go HAM on making some vintage Sega Genesis accessories, etc.
yes, they are a real thing and available to the public, prices vary from not great ones at around £500 to better at under £1000 of course these all print plastic if you want a specialist one to do metal, food or yes, organs then you'll be looking at a whole lot more, size is also an issue. try thingverse.com or pinshape.com for files to download and print or https://all3dp.com/best-sites-free-stl-files-3d-printing/ for a list of the top sites with files for 3d printers
Thx! @billysastard Thanks for the info. This is really something. Now I know what I'll be doing next weekend. Researching the bejesus out of this technology - Cheers!
There been a couple of Kickstarter projects to design affordable consumer 3D Printers. One of them is ok, the other turned into big fraud. -- So best now to wait until one is completed and starts shipping before supporting it, as early KS backers end up getting screwed, even with the one that worked out, you can purchase their 3D printer direct now, but early backers are still waiting for their unit. Search 3D Printer on Kickstarter to see all the past and current projects, some good ideas on there, but again I suggest waiting until they are real. They just did some 3D Printing this week in space onboard the ISS, that was big leap forward as now it might be possible to build spare parts or other items on the spot in space, instead of blasting them up on there on costly rockets, etc. As for using them to recreate SEGA accesssories, that is good idea, people have used 3D Printing to recreate alot of weapons and other objects from video games to use a real-life props, and even that clever fake of Nintendo's new controller was 3D Printed. Good Luck and love to see your progress once you get some equipment, and remember like Billy pointed out there is third-party printing places out there, you submit a design, they ship you the finished product.
i have a friend in spain who uses his mostly to create cart shells for flashcards to sell on ebay, the latest he's working on is for the new sd card based flashrom99 card (he jumped the queue buy buying it as a kit, i'm having to wait my turn for a built one (as i am for the lynx sd flashcard and the vic 20 penultimate from tynesoft / futurewas8bit (switchable ram, roms and full sd2iec compatibility, you can buy now uncased but a cased version is coming)).