Ok, this may be the vodka talking. Has anyone thought about 3D printing the boxes, and possibly the playfields. I'm not talking the artwork, just the structure. I know Spooky 3D prints their plastics. This would possibly solve the splitting and denting problems. The box would be seamless. Then again, I don't know how durable the stuff that is used for printing. Maybe it'd be too heavy. I know they are making bigger printers and starting to do all sorts of things. Just a thought.

#2 6 years ago

MSW

ToucanF16

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 122K 5,195

Must be good vodka!

#3 6 years ago

DLG

dnapac

Pinside+ Frequent

Alton, IA

19y 137K 2,693 6 30

Quoted from ToucanF16:
Must be good vodka!

Guess I'll have another. I have the best ideas with vodka, and play the best pinball...although my scores always suck.

#4 6 years ago

ZUM

Mr_Tantrum

Fort Worth, TX

8y 140K 12,535 3 6 75

Has anyone thought about using plate steel instead of wood? I guarentee that would prevent ball marks on the playfield. So, let me see you try to shoot that idea down.

#5 6 years ago

???

Homepin

Inactive member

Unknown

13y 77,400 2,125 1

3D printers, as we know them in the <$1000 price range, have not yet evolved to the point where the finished item is (IMO) robust enough to use in a commercial product.

3D printing is perfect for fast prototyping and tests, we use it all the time in the factory, but certainly not in a finished product.

Maybe time and better materials will sort that out but not in the current form.

#6 6 years ago

DLG

dnapac

Pinside+ Frequent

Alton, IA

19y 137K 2,693 6 30

Pinball companies (even small companies) could go with 10000-100000 dollar printers and turn a profit...if I'm right. But I don't know anything about the material...so I could be wrong. All in theory...again, outside the box.

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