3D Scanning custom pipes using free online services.

[cadcoke5]

I had recently started playing with designs for an e-pipe, and had planned on creating it by using one of the 3D printer services. Fir inspiration, I was looking at all the marvelous analog pipes that I can't possibly afford, I realized that they may be accessible if I can make a digital copy.

Perhaps someone on this forum has a pipe collection, or access to a collection, that they would be willing to try the scanning process. The technology works this way; A series of photos are taken around an object. This means about 12 around the perimeter. And then also some around a higher or lower elevation, so that all areas are well covered. Then the software compares the image details, and does some triangulation to measure the location of each "voxel" (i.e. a Volume Pixel).

Note that I am only asking to do this for pipes that are not under copyright by the original sculptor. And while an omission of the copyright statement might allow me to make a copy, I still want to honor their effort, and not make a copy without permission. So, nothing that is obviously a recent creation please.

Below are two web sites that offer this as a service. But, Autodesk's 123D site is definitely more user friendly. The my3dscanner site requires that you do some post-processing using a 3rd party mesh editor, like blender.

About My3DScanner
Autodesk 123D - 123D Catch turn photos into 3D models

-Joe Dunfee

 

[ScottP]

What kinds of materials can they use to make the model? If they can do stainless steel and/or glass, I can see this opening the door to all kinds of custom mods, tanks, RBAs etc.

 

[cadcoke5]

Ceramics can be used. I don't know if the metals can be made water tight, since some of them are basically a mix of metal powders and plastic. But, there are also technologies that laser fuse a pure metal powder. But, that is definitely more expensive. This is a very rapidly changing technology, and it is hard to keep up.

If you want to see what is commonly available at the consumer level, These three sites below are very user friendly, and is a great place to check out, since they are both very user friendly, have many materials, and you can get quotes immediately after uploading or choosing your model (they have many models on line). The 1st two have online modeling software you can use to create original models.

Shapeways - Make, buy, and sell products with 3D Printing
Sculpteo | Your 3D design turns into reality with 3D printing
3D Printing Service i.materialise | Home

-Joe Dunfee

 

[asdaq]

That is all good, but if you have a some disposable income, a Kinect and some good sunglasses, you can print in titanium Elon Musk style:

 

[cadcoke5]

I just did a little online searching, and came across a few images of interesting pipes. These, would seem to be a good layout for a pipe. The battery could be in the "bowl" and then the atomizer in the stem.


It might be made comparable in its orientation to a Great Lakes Vape GLV-2.


Another idea of similar general shape is a pot belly stove. I found a Sketch-up model;


Below is a better looking, real-life, pot belly stove.


The pot-belly stove should, of course, have a red LED in the fire window.
This stuff is just ripe to be 3-D printed.

-Joe Dunfee

 

[bting135]

I like the endless possibilities... but how much does it cost 'ballpark" for 3d printing?

 

[cadcoke5]

Shapeways.com is a good place to go to get a price on a particular model, since it will instantly give you the quote on all the various materials. For an example, this pipe shape is about $7 in plastic, and $17 in ceramic, and $43 in Stainless steel.
3D Pipe by partapart on Shapeways

This one is larger, and has more parts. It cannot be done in ceramics. $30 in plastic, and is $163 in stainless steel.
Steam Pipe with Hole by Darcwander on Shapeways

-Joe Dunfee