PLASTIC

摘要

Until a few years ago, plastic wasn't a usable material for hobbyists. But today, thanks to cheap 3-D printers and rapid-prototyping services, makers like Stony Smith-who designs pieces for model railroad sets in Z-scale, one of the tiniest gauges out there-can manufacture runs of plastic pieces with just a few clicks of the mouse. A computer scientist by training, Smith works as a programmer, supporting billing software for telecoms. A couple of years ago, when his wife encouraged (OK, ordered) him to find a hobby, he took up model railroading, and soon he got curious about whether he could use 3-D modeling software to make the scenery accessories: trucks on the city streets, say, or planes on the local airstrip. After creating a few test models with CAD and uploading the files to the Shapeways prototyping service, he found he could make not just his miniatures but also some extra money through the company's online store-in less than two years, he's sold more than 1,250 pieces. Give him a few days and he can make a tiny version of just about anything.