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> Are there any 3D printers that integrate a milling machine?

No, and there likely never will be. Why would you wait for hours to then still have to mill down your final product when all the advantages of 3D printing are then lost and all the advantages of milling are lost?

The advantages of 3D printing are that as an additive process it will work in many environments where a subtractive process would not, the advantages of milling are that - as a substractive process - it can make a final result that is substantially stronger than most of the things you could do with a 3D printer and that it most likely is much faster.

Re-working or finishing like that is typically reserved for casting and other cheap mass production processes.




Actually, there is: http://us.dmgmori.com/products/lasertec/lasertec-additiveman...

"By combining both, additive manufacturing via powder nozzle and the traditional cutting method in one machine, totally new applications and geometries are possible."


Wow. Thank you for proving me wrong and finding that.

> totally new applications and geometries are possible

It'd be nice to have some concrete examples of those.


I was thinking of smooth curves.

Judging from the photos, even the expensive print has a voxelized appearance. I've certainly seen that in the one 3D print I've handled too.

So my idea was to print slightly oversize, then mill and polish for perfect curves.


Don't people often just use acetone or another solvent to smooth the surface of chunky prints (outdoors, I hope)? How effective that would be would vary depending on the plastic, but it seems easier than milling (if not especially precise).


Sandpaper? File?


That would have to be a pretty fancy mill then. Any kind of overhang and you won't be able to re-work it without a 5 axis job.

And yes, you've caught on to one of the big issues with low cost 3d printers: surface finish.


There may be places a milling arm can't reach, but if you can do it by hand with a Dremel, you can automate it with a gantry and motors and stuff :)

Seems within the realms of hobbyist attainment. Some kind of rig that works in unison with a 3D printer...


Your hands have an incredible number of degrees of freedom.


Wow... I have never thought of the process in the linguistic terms "additive" and "subtractive". That actually changes the mental model for me. I have always thought, in less abstract terms, about removing shapes (carving out) and optionally sticking external parts (bolting on) to get the desired product. The specific add and subtract "language" presents it in familiar, abstract, and, more importantly, composable model.


See 'constructive solid geometry'.


Not exactyly at the same time, but def in the same machine: http://stepcraft.us




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