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What would make you buy a 3D printer?

There's a lot of new kickstarters and options for low(er)cost 3D printers everyday and it seems like services like Shapeways or Sculpteo are bringing their prices down as competition ramps up. It seems a lot of CAD modelers are looking into it but what about Maya, 3DS max and ZBrush modelers.

As modelers and sculptors, what is your interest level in 3D printing? or what do you think needs to be done before you drop some coin on one?

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  • ExcessiveZero
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    ExcessiveZero polycounter lvl 6
    very little to be honest they have become so affordable i'm thinking of making it a priority purchase soon, realistically they cost as much as a good monitor or a small TV right now.

    No idea what I would print yet, would probably just break open my archive of models and print off some of my weirdest ones

    Edit:That said 3D printing is largely a novelty for me.
  • Justin Meisse
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    Justin Meisse polycounter lvl 18
    I almost bought one a few weeks ago but the seller backed down (no hard feelings though). I really want an Ultimaker 2 but it's made in the UK so getting it to the US adds about $500 to the price.
  • Justin Meisse
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    Justin Meisse polycounter lvl 18
    There's no hobby or interest in your life that you spend money that someone would call a frivolous way to spend money? I know plenty of people that say all this game art we do is a waste of time.

    I'm torn about buying a printer but it's probably equal or less than what the average person spends on phones & phone plans in a year. I rock a flip phone with no data that I replace only when it's so broken I can't use it anymore.
  • beefaroni
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    beefaroni sublime tool
    Hmm I'd be interested in a 3d printer to replace small broken parts around the house that are hard to find in stores/online.

    For example, I lost a few of those little feet from a few kitchen chairs. If I could just mockup/print some replacements, that'd be pretty cool.

    Or when the dishwasher loses a clip that holds one of the wheels or something. Would be super fun/easy to print.

    Oh another idea. Maybe GPU is sagging in computer. 3d print a custom support that mounts to one of the rear slots.

    Going even further.. Maybe a switch in the car broke and its insanely extensive for a simple plastic part. 3d print!!

    Jeez edit again. Want some nice polarized lenses but don't want to pay for a frame. Design and print some custom frames!

    Costs would have to decrease and quality would have to increase though. Maybe in a few years.
  • Justin Meisse
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    Justin Meisse polycounter lvl 18
    quality is pretty good for printing replacement parts, Rhinokey is always printing out brackets, webcam mounts, combs, dice, etc...

    One of my project plans is to print out goggles to house my brain machine (custom fit to the 3D scan of my head I did with the Kinect)
  • beefaroni
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    beefaroni sublime tool
    quality is pretty good for printing replacement parts, Rhinokey is always printing out brackets, webcam mounts, combs, dice, etc...

    Oh I had no idea, I haven't done much research into 3d printing. So hopefully costs come down to like $100-$200 for a small printer. That'd be sweeeet.
  • Justin Meisse
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    Justin Meisse polycounter lvl 18
    beefaroni wrote: »
    Oh I had no idea, I haven't done much research into 3d printing. So hopefully costs come down to like $100-$200 for a small printer. That'd be sweeeet.

    That might be a while, I've seen people say you can build your own almost from scratch for around $700-$900.

    I've thought about getting a Mendel Max, it seems like a good balance of build it yourself so you know how to fix/upgrade it and decent prints.
  • Shadownami92
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    Shadownami92 polycounter lvl 7
    For people in the US, the Printrbot is looking to be a pretty nice and sturdy 3d printer and it runs at about $600. It's tested print quality is 100microns but some people have been able to calibrate theirs with a few tweaks to get layer heights of 50 microns (normally for really small prints though due to a few factors.)

    Also Frys now sells the plastic for the printer. I actually have a business venture of my own in mind that would make a 3d printer a very useful asset so I intend to hopefully get and mod one myself sometime this summer. And I imagine printing out my own glasses frames could save me quite a bit of money in the long run too.
  • Ruz
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    Ruz polycount lvl 666
    I would print out a gold bar and spend it on another gold bar, then print that too.
  • sargentcrunch
  • NegevPro
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    NegevPro polycounter lvl 4
    If I was a character artist I think it would be really cool to see my characters in a print. Printing the tiny barrels, props, and other crap I make will probably feel less rewarding lol.
  • JohnnyRaptor
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    JohnnyRaptor polycounter lvl 15
    print quality (resolution) + print volume (size of printout) + reliability (printout success rate) + cost (printer, delivery, customs, material) are the variables that i look at. in that order.
  • regalrayn
    The only way I would be interested in getting a 3D printer, regardless of cost, is if I was planning on using it as a tool for some sort of business venture. I don't collect toys (or anything for that matter) and I have zero interest in printing my personal projects just to plop it on a shelf in my office. Frankly I don't understand all the hype. Seems like an extremely frivolous way to spend money in most cases.

    Where the technology is concerned, I'm far more interested in it's potential in non-entertainment fields - printing building structures for low cost homes, printing customized medical implants, printing replacement parts for spacecraft, etc.

    Good points. I guess I'd personally see it as a purchase on par with a great gaming rig. It's an extraneous purchase that will show it's worth with how great the content created for it is. If someone had a design or idea on printing products out to start a small business venture, that'd be pretty cool.
    I guess I'd consider myself a collector so I'd also be interested if the lead character artist at Naughty Dog or someone of that caliber that's well known, decided to sell the printable file of one of their characters. Or Naughty dog themselves sold a Joel and Ellie printable maquette/statue I might buy into that. Kind of like DLC but you get something physical with your purchase.
  • cryrid
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    cryrid interpolator
    It didnt take much; I already have one. I've worked with some previously so I had a good idea what to expect. I felt it would come in handy for a few hobbies old and new, so I snagged one along with a small vacuum-form and some mold making kits.
  • Richard Kain
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    Richard Kain polycounter lvl 18
    I'm very interested in the Peachy printer. I don't mind a little do-it-yourself, so long as the end result can be of high enough quality and resolution.

    I'm most interested in using a 3D printer for creating custom parts for classic games. I would love to design some custom shells for some of my older video game consoles and handhelds. And I specifically want to create custom-sculpted exteriors for some classic game cartridges. It's the kind of thing I could create a basic 3D template for, and then sculpt details on to it in lieu of stickers.

    There's also the possibilities for custom board game design. Being able to print out my own custom miniatures would be fantastic for designing my own table-top games.
  • Mr.Moose
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    Mr.Moose polycounter lvl 7
    3d printing food..
  • Anthony
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    Anthony polycounter lvl 2
    I've thought about getting one over the past year or so, but three factors have always stopped me:

    1. I can't really find any high-quality ones that don't cost more than i can currently spare.

    2. I have no where to put it.

    3. I'm honestly not sure i'd use it enough.

    But despite those factors, i'd probably use it for making small models/kits/toys that i could then sell.
  • ZacD
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    ZacD ngon master
    I'd probably buy one if it was about $300, had a large print area, and had a decent resolution.
  • Lazerus Reborn
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    Lazerus Reborn polycounter lvl 8
    I've got the micro 3D printer coming this november so fingers crossed for it being good!

    I've gotten custom/bespoke table top miniature orders in already so should be a little profitable. At the very least i'm expecting enough orders to float my own projects. If not then i can always put it on a rent-a-3d-printer site.

    But custom parts, models, PC case fixes, miniatures, bespoke work and a few secret endeavors for a hyper niche market i stumbled upon.
  • Shadownami92
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    Shadownami92 polycounter lvl 7
    Where to put it is definately something I've been wondering about.

    I'm not sure how well it would work in the house with the smell of melted/burnt plastic but I'm not sure how it would work keeping it in the garage either since it's a bit of a dustier environment.
  • d1ver
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    d1ver polycounter lvl 14
    If I could buy a 3d printer, print a new 3d printer with it and then return the original one.

    Otherwise I'm just going to wait until they are way more consumer friendly, cheaper and require less maintenance. I'm really excited about the idea though.
  • Jason Young
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    Jason Young polycounter lvl 14
    I'm basically just waiting for them to come down in price and work out some of the kinks. I'm pretty excited at being able to work on stuff with my kids and print objects together.
  • naturon
    This reddit thread is pretty interesting, makes me excited to get the technology to a good enough state and into peoples hands just to see what they do with it.

    http://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/27gttk/my_journey_into_3d_printing/


    1N2H3o0.jpg
  • thomasp
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    thomasp hero character
    question for those who print supports, replacement parts et al: do you just measure and estimate these parts and model them in the usual subjects and go straight to the printer or is there a stage where you end up having to use some software from the engineering realm to determine if the part is structurally sound at all?

    also - can a printer take different materials depending on project?

    can you really print gold? :)
  • Lazerus Reborn
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    Lazerus Reborn polycounter lvl 8
    thomasp wrote: »
    question for those who print supports, replacement parts et al: do you just measure and estimate these parts and model them in the usual subjects and go straight to the printer or is there a stage where you end up having to use some software from the engineering realm to determine if the part is structurally sound at all?

    also - can a printer take different materials depending on project?

    can you really print gold? :)

    Depends on the type, Nasa prints with metal for jet engines, China prints with concrete for houses.

    Gold? Yes probably on specialist printers.

    Some printers have their own software for the real world size calibration.
    As for manual, get some HQ measuring equipment build to scale in program, print off rapid prototype at LQ, measure, tweak, reprint HQ.

    Again for the $300 micro 3D it supports: ABS, PLA, nylon, chameleon, (don't know this material ->) professional.

    The newest generation of Rerap, are being designed for PCB printing. So that will lend a hand to self replication.
  • Tits
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    Tits mod
    3d printer are pretty much a ''luxury'' at the moment,
    but still loads of fun and it's really cool to be finally able to hold stuff you made on a computer screen :).
    Tho, it sure is a new thing and so it's not as easy as ''press print'' yet, it's a learning curve but a fun one in my opinion :)
    gallery_33775_932_1815311.jpg
  • eld
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    eld polycounter lvl 18
    I got the Ultimaker 1, building it was the best part so far!

    The use will be a bunch of engineering related stuff, building an internet radio at the moment and being able to customize every tiny part in the chassis really helps, another project will be an advanced wristwatch. Some robotics stuff as well!

    Will probably not print any art I do but functiomal boardgame related models would be fun!



    I think the two things that will make it take off more with the general public is price and reliability, there's no fire and forget extrusion printers, and the ones that are reliable have industry prices.

    Even the best extruding printers will require tweaking, and they will even fail now and then. Filament can also create problems depending on scenarios such as moisture in the air collecting in it.

    Then there's the third thing people wouldn't even think about: Printing is slow!

    For high quality and reliable prints on a good printer even small things can take hours, big chunky 10^3cm-range things can take a whole day, and then we add a tiny failure halfway into the print which is easily fixable but the entire print will have to be restarted.
  • regalrayn
    naturon wrote: »
    This reddit thread is pretty interesting, makes me excited to get the technology to a good enough state and into peoples hands just to see what they do with it.

    http://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/27gttk/my_journey_into_3d_printing/


    1N2H3o0.jpg

    Good thread. A lot of great information.
  • AlecMoody
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    AlecMoody ngon master
    I am waiting for larger build volumes and better materials for end use. I work with local printers to get my parts printed and often I am running up against material limits or the limits of overhang/size possible with FDM.
  • regalrayn
    AlecMoody wrote: »
    I am waiting for larger build volumes and better materials for end use. I work with local printers to get my parts printed and often I am running up against material limits or the limits of overhang/size possible with FDM.

    Yeah FDM has it's share of issues when it comes to quality. right now it may be the best when it comes to price per foot in terms of building bigger objects. Since a build plate is only so large it comes down to being able to break a design into smaller pieces and engineer them to fit together after the parts are printed.

    The print in my profile pic is around 5.5 feet printed only on consumer grade FDM printers. Put together after the pieces are printed.
  • Tits
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    Tits mod
    Would love to see a bigger shot of your print regairayn!
  • heboltz3
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    heboltz3 polycounter lvl 9
    If I could fabricate tough to find pieces for moped/motorcycle engines, that wouldn't explode or break I would be down like clown.
  • biomedicalchemist
    Hey I just want to throw this out there - I'm part of a team developing the first consumer friendly 3d printer - we're closing all the loops, adding feedback systems to autocorrect bed level, nozzle, and motor issues; we'll be doing a kickstarter at the beginning of next year. We've developed a large format printer The LATHON. Sign up for the newsletter to hear more.

    Also, if anyone has a 3d model that they want to see printed, contact me. I'm looking for a non-thingiverse beautiful model to print so I can put something novel on our new site, in exchange I'll print it for free and ship it to you. Normally that's a shapeways service of over a hundred dollars.

    Thanks for listening.
  • Suba
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    Suba polycounter lvl 5
    Hermit wrote: »
    I always loved action figures. It's definitely something I'd like to try with a 3D printer.
    Same here. To print the action figures you want? I'd so buy it one day.
  • Pancakes
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    Pancakes polycounter lvl 10
    I'm gonna print me a woman and then marry her. You can do that, right?
  • Xoliul
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    Xoliul polycounter lvl 14
    naturon wrote: »
    This reddit thread is pretty interesting, makes me excited to get the technology to a good enough state and into peoples hands just to see what they do with it.

    http://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/27gttk/my_journey_into_3d_printing/


    That is super interesting, that guy really has an awesome job!
  • Gusti
    Pancakes wrote: »
    I'm gonna print me a woman and then marry her. You can do that, right?

    Only if you invite a friend over, and you both wear some ganny-bras on your heads while printing!

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7cBjvdg5BHeHHA0hXW1fFrwNDN-iRp_SCqbpTQwz-cVkDI9NI
  • Pancakes
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    Pancakes polycounter lvl 10
    Gusti wrote: »
    Only if you invite a friend over, and you both wear some ganny-bras on your heads while printing!

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7cBjvdg5BHeHHA0hXW1fFrwNDN-iRp_SCqbpTQwz-cVkDI9NI

    jokes on you, I'm the guy on the right!

    so...so I guess this means

    tumblr_inline_n5by4l5fD31qa7k0a.gif
  • regalrayn
    Tits wrote: »
    Would love to see a bigger shot of your print regairayn!

    Here's some slightly bigger pics from the CES floor earlier this year.

    knepDkc.jpg
    This one shows the size comparison to the people walking below it.
    HryJA2n.jpg

    Fun to make, forever to print haha. I think the final count was just under 300 pieces
    (3 days printing almost non stop on 40 FDM Rep 2's)
  • pascal3112
    I'm a bit late to the party, but I'm currently working with a Zprinter 450, which makes plaster-like parts. It's super easy to work with and parts are dirt cheap, but I was wondering if anyone have tips for finishing the parts? I can't seem to get good surface finish, it's always very matte even after I sand it for a while and put on clear coating.
    2088383.jpg?422

    Anyways, there's a ton of stuff to do with this, I'm currently using a mix of 3ds max, solidworks and zbrush to create models and I've never had any technical issues with the printing.
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