3D Printers for Home

Ramsayman · Post by **Ramsayman** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:44 pm

Anyone heard of these?

http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.fabathome.org/
http://www.makerbot.com/

They're a build your own kind of thing.

PetarB · Post by **PetarB** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:18 pm

I'm constantly reviewing options.
However... solutions like RepRap are still not 'there' yet for me, the resolution is just too low. I'm keeping my eye out though, it's an evolving tech. And it's an amazing tech, once the resolution gets better. It's going to be transformative...

Ramsayman · Post by **Ramsayman** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:16 pm

Yeah, I fiigured the resolution might be on the low side. But a friend of mine wants an excuse to build one, so I figure it might work for some good basic shapes, then detail it up after.

Umi_Ryuzuki · Post by **Umi_Ryuzuki** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:23 pm

LEGO.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX1cO2XhMrg

Andrew Gorman · Post by **Andrew Gorman** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:19 am

I've seen the makerbot in action, and it seemed to do a good job. Various tech guys keep saying that there will be a $300.00 3d printer at Toys R Us for next xmas. I really don't want to learn computer modeling right now, so I'll stick to knives and sandpaper!

TazMan2000 · Post by **TazMan2000** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:58 pm

Andrew Gorman wrote:I've seen the makerbot in action, and it seemed to do a good job. Various tech guys keep saying that there will be a $300.00 3d printer at Toys R Us for next xmas. I really don't want to learn computer modeling right now, so I'll stick to knives and sandpaper!

If there is going to be one....the resolution with be pathetic.

TazMan2000

Umi_Ryuzuki · Post by **Umi_Ryuzuki** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:23 pm

There are these printers based on the Makerbot.
Like the makerbot, there is only one print head, and models
need to be self supporting, or cut into sections that can be printed in one pass.
Note the stair stepped terracing of some areas of demo models.
The resolution at this price is still pretty course.

http://pp3dp.com/

ajmadison · Post by **ajmadison** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:29 pm

These machines and the desktop CNC machines are all a balance of resolution versus cost. Technically, the machines that can cut out shapes for scrapbooking are CNC machines, they're in the $300 range, and the resolution by those machines, for modeling purposes, is terrible. OTOH, a desktop laser CNC made in China is approximately $2K, though they're coming down, but you have to be both really serious about the hobby and have an intense project in mind to make the machine "worth it."

These 3D printer efforts will produce a prosumer level (resolution & capacity) machine, that I'm sure of. But it could be five years before we're "there yet." (Basically 3 generations of processor.) Upon reflection, in the late 80's, some arcade games either had 2D playing fields, or were 3D but were ray-traced, and it was obvious that the available computational power was the limitation. I bought an original XBOX in 2006, which was behind the initial wave, but it had real time 3D graphics. I'm not saying it will be 20 years, but we're going to need some upgrades before there is going to be a 3D printer on my desk.

Chas · Post by **Chas** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:47 pm

Yeah and we all think the 'mom & pop hobby shop' is a rare thing these days! As intriguing as these machines are (& I use to work in rapid prototyping) I somehow am not that eager for their arrival in the consumer market.

nash30 · Post by **nash30** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:57 am

Andrew Gorman wrote:I've seen the makerbot in action, and it seemed to do a good job. Various tech guys keep saying that there will be a $300.00 3d printer at Toys R Us for next xmas. I really don't want to learn computer modeling right now, so I'll stick to knives and sandpaper!

and now i am about to purchase my dream Makerbot 3D ink printer.. maybe just too late since some are already on the Makerbot upgrade time stage and building new platforms..

tetsujin · Post by **tetsujin** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:57 pm

I have tossed around the idea of getting one of these machines.

Unfortunately, apart from the limited printing resolution I also get the impression that owning and operating one of these is a hobby unto itself.

southwestforests · Post by **southwestforests** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:45 am

Okay, so, how long until you can do this at home?

3D-printed titanium jaw allows 83-year-old to bypass risky reconstructive surgery
Digital TrendsBy Jeff Hughes | Digital Trends – 5 hrs ago

http://news.yahoo.com/3d-printed-titani ... 38528.html

ajmadison · Post by **ajmadison** » Fri May 25, 2012 4:09 pm

IMSI sent me their semi-annual sale brochure begging me to spend money on software I don't need (or to upgrade) and there was a link in the email that caught my eye.

http://www.turbocad.com/3DPrinters/RapM ... fault.aspx

This 3D printer is in the almost affordable range, albeit for the very serious hobbyist, and with a resolution that is tolerable: it is in the sub-millimeter range. What I don't know is how expensive the material is, and if the single head print speed is reasonable, e.g. can it print a fairly large sub-assembly, say in one day, or not. Its not obvious how to translate the linear speed into volume estimate.

So the prices are coming down. But I'm not ready to be an early adopter.