When 3D printers are perfected...

MrEureka

Will a printed coin ring properly?

ms70

Will a printed telephone ring properly?

LOL... That's one to think about. IF a coin can be printed in the same materials, it's not compressed but rather "constructed" for lack of a better word. Probably not.

jessewvu

<< <i>Will a printed telephone ring properly? >>



Now that's a clever response!

ms70

Ok, now you have me thinking. What about printing a coin right in a TPG holder?

Sonorandesertrat

<< <i>Will a printed coin ring properly? >>



No, for the same reason that cast coins do not ring properly. BTW, there are some advanced 3-D printers that use metal alloys. The problem with coins as printed objects is resolution and lack of flow lines. No experienced coin collector would be fooled, especially if he/she used a loupe to look at a printed coin.

MsMorrisine

What resolution would be required to duplicate cartwheel luster?

Sonorandesertrat

Probably sub-micron. Good-quality 3-D printers have ca. 0.1mm resolution, a factor of more than 100 too coarse.

coindeuce

Maybe a Franklin half will, if it has.full.bell.lines.

1960NYGiants

We have a 3d metal printer where I work. So far we have constructed only 17-4 steel parts. They look and sound like castings - more of a thunk rather than a ring.

dcarr

<< <i>No, for the same reason that cast coins do not ring properly. BTW, there are some advanced 3-D printers that use metal alloys. The problem with coins as printed objects is resolution and lack of flow lines. No experienced coin collector would be fooled, especially if he/she used a loupe to look at a printed coin. >>



I've worked with 3-D printers, and I've minted my own coins using the traditional die-strike (cold formed) process.
Based on that experience, I agree with the above reply.

edix2001

What you need is a 3-D printer that can make a coin press.

BlindedByEgo

<< <i>What you need is a 3-D printer that can make a coin press. >>



Press what?

291fifth

Rings are for wearing.

This is good deal.

You buy, yes?

TommyType

I have a feeling 3D printers are the CB radios of the future. There may be good reasons for them in very specific circumstances, (remote locations, or one-off specialized designs), but most of the world really won't find any lasting need for them. Even the techno-geeks will eventually get tired of them...

The cheaper, higher quality, and more efficient products still come the 'old fashioned' mass production way, or by way of the skilled craftsman.


(Yep....many people have looked foolish by attempting to predict the future. I'm just taking my turn at it. )

ms70

<< <i>What you need is a 3-D printer that can make a coin press. >>

19Lyds

<< <i>Will a printed coin ring properly? >>


No since the metals molecules will not be aligned the same as if the coin
Had been minted under 100 tons of pressure!

LochNESS

There exists 3d printers today which can use titanium alloy and other metals besides steel. And in some applications - mostly robotic parts - they are cheaper and more efficient than traditional methods including CNC machining. I seriously doubt these will be mere CB Radios. More like the difference between (audio) vacuum tubes and transistors. The latter is lighter weight, cheaper, and easier in every regard. But the tubes are better quality. Eventually 3d printers will become such high quality that people will stop using CNC altogether.

As for printing the coin inside a slab, doubtful as today's printers only use one material at a time (to my knowledge). They don't mix metal and plastic that'd be two separate printing sessions.

DeliaBug

<< <i>

<< <i>Will a printed coin ring properly? >>


No since the metals molecules will not be aligned the same as if the coin
Had been minted under 100 tons of pressure! >>



Now there is the $$$$ question. Will the MNT printers a few years out, that in theory, print atom by atom for an exact molecular level duplicate be able to produce coins that are identical to mint produced issues?

LochNESS

By the time that happens, inflation will rise so that coins are no longer being used. I'd be more concerned about printing currency with watermarks and magnetic strips inside the cottony fiber blend. And since we'll never know the full extent of the BEP's anti-counterfeiting countermeasures, you'd have better luck printing foreign money and visiting an exchange kiosk.

Sonorandesertrat

"Will the MNT printers a few years out, that in theory, print atom by atom for an exact molecular level duplicate be able to produce coins that are identical to mint produced issues?"

Well... printing a large cent would take a while, since it would require about 1 x 10^23 atoms. At a deposition rate of 1 atom/second, come back in 3 x 10^15 years to pick your coin up.

LochNESS

While I love that answer, because it's smart and humorous, can we assume that the print speed will increase as technology advances?

You can keep the printers just give me a replicator

19Lyds

<< <i>There exists 3d printers today which can use titanium alloy and other metals besides steel. And in some applications - mostly robotic parts - they are cheaper and more efficient than traditional methods including CNC machining. I seriously doubt these will be mere CB Radios. More like the difference between (audio) vacuum tubes and transistors. The latter is lighter weight, cheaper, and easier in every regard. But the tubes are better quality. Eventually 3d printers will become such high quality that people will stop using CNC altogether.

As for printing the coin inside a slab, doubtful as today's printers only use one material at a time (to my knowledge). They don't mix metal and plastic that'd be two separate printing sessions. >>

I can see it now, instead of "ordering a part" online, users pay a fee which then feeds 3-D Printer Data to the home users printer to actually fabricate the part. Multi-step processes involving different materials would even be possible. (Remember when "Color" Printers were uncommon?)

The only drawback would be in the tinsel strength or shear strength of the part. Springs might be difficult.

As for coins, as pointed out, there is a definite difference between something that is "molded" vs something that is forged and while coins are not necessarily "forged", they are kind of forged in that high tonnage presses are used to stamp them out.

The correct alignment of molecules is what causes the ringing affect in silver coins. All the molecules work together.
On "clad" pieces, there is no unity and as such, the coins just clunk. The same would be true with a 3-D Coin.

19Lyds

<< <i>While I love that answer, because it's smart and humorous, can we assume that the print speed will increase as technology advances?

You can keep the printers just give me a replicator

>>

I think I'd want to replicate Jennifer Lawrence.............

LochNESS

The robots built today are comprised of individually printed servos which are later assembled and wired by hand. I'm seeing the same future as you except complex items will say "some assembly required" whereas coins not so much.

Edit: Jennifer Lawrence is in Holodeck 3

19Lyds

<< <i>The robots built today are comprised of individually printed servos which are later assembled and wired by hand. I'm seeing the same future as you except complex items will say "some assembly required" whereas coins not so much.

Edit: Jennifer Lawrence is in Holodeck 3 >>

IN?

or ON?

LochNESS

I'd rather be in her, but on would suffice

I know that's not what you meant. I think the correct grammar is indeed "on" Holodeck 3.