Unreal intake manifold cost

mopowers said

I know nothing about 3D printing, but the process is really interesting to me. Could you answer these questions that immediately come to my mind?

1. In metal 3D printing, is there welding involved? Otherwise, how is the filler (if that's even the word) deposited?
2. How does one go about creating a map or file for a 3D-printed manifold?
3.Could someone do copies of already produced manifolds without risk of copyright infringement?

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I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

1. I thought I knew the answer to the first question but I'm not actually sure I'd recommend searching YouTube on how metal 3D printing works there's tons of content about it and IIRC multiple methods of how the metal gets deposited. Oak Ridge National Labs are putting a ton of R&D into the technology, when I visited their museum a few years back they had a 'rough' (unmachined) 3D-printed aluminum cylinder head for some kind of DOHC 4-cylinder car engine.

2. Just like plastic 3D printing you create a 3D model in a program like SolidWorks then "translate" that file into what is essential CAM software (like used for CNC milling/lathing machines) specific for 3D printing.

3. That's a tough one to answer for sure but if you aren't trying to make a business selling them I imagine companies would have a REALLY hard time trying to enforce or even claim copyright infringement especially if the manifold you make has no company logos or brand markings on them. It's just a plenum and a bunch of tubes in a fancy configuration you can't really patent or copyright that.