Combined 3D Printer and CNC Machine? Is that the future?

The way I see things, the future of 3D printing will be combined with CNC machines. Why not have a machine that can do it all.... Machines that can print, cut, subtract, grind, mold, etc? A machine that can combine 3D printing with CNC would be a machine that can create virtually anything. How long do you think it will be before we see 3D printers incorporating CNC machine technology into themselves?

Of course, people will produce these. We may even produce some. But be aware that part of what makes a quality mill and lathe (both manual and CNC) able to reproduce good results is the amount of sheer mass, which acts as a stabilizer and a dampener.

I don't believe that a tabletop device weighing even a hundred pounds is able to do precise and repeatable milling on anything denser or tougher than plastic or circuit boards.

You only have to add an extruder head to some types of CNC machine (I'm thinking bed type) to make it dual function.

Once again, however, what material would an extruder in such a set up extrude?

Old Man Emu

Wasnt that fabtotum or whatever like this?

I even believe it had a lathe ?

Very slow of course and wont do metal, but wood etc i guess.

Actually this is something that AutoDesk CEO Carl Bass discussed today at the Inside3DPrinting Conference. He seems to believe that in industry, machines that combine multiple technologies, such as milling and 3D Printing will end up being huge, when it comes to manufacturing parts. There are already machines out there that are able to 3D print metal object, then automatically switch heads from a printer nozzle to a cutting tool, to finish its work. It probably won't be something that is used in homes, but will be something that Carl Bass seems to believe will become very useful for manufacturing.

Eddie

I once saw a video on Youtube where a guy attached an extrusion head alongside his milling spindle. He could print something and then mill it to finer tolerances. Unfortunately I can't find the video.

Found it. He doesn't do too much with it, but it shows the potential.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTN8OWIhJNA

Steve S