Steve's discussion near the end of this podcast of the difficulties Shellac has experienced with pressing their new record inspired a question. What logistical issues would need to be addressed to make high-quality records on a 3-D printer? At what scale would a release produced with a machine like a FormLabs 3 (chosen because my employer has one) be economically viable compared to using a pressing plant?

Couldn’t be done at any cost. The wavelength of a 10kHz tone on a vinyl LP is about 20 microns (1/50 of a millimetre or 1/625 of an inch). So even mp3 quality is beyond the resolution of the best 3D printers.

Yeah, I work a lot with 3D printers and there is no way in hell you could ever get the resolution high enough to print a record.

Wonder if a CNC mill or lathe could do this?

Wish bishopdante was here to give us a few dozen extremely theoretical options (seriously!)

twelvepoint wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 12:54 pm Wonder if a CNC mill or lathe could do this?

Wish bishopdante was here to give us a few dozen extremely theoretical options (seriously!)

Mill no, lathe well - they cut the acetate on lathes already, but you're going to have to clean it up etc.

What are the issues cited?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdzCv_9eaoM

twelvepoint wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 12:54 pm CNC mill

NC

(sorry! j/k)

OP should've given up on this 3D nonsense and asked about tortillas from the get go

TylerDeadPine wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 5:30 pm OP should've given up on this 3D nonsense and asked about tortillas from the get go

They're the only future-proof format if you want to get serious.