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Poll: Do you have a 3d printer?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Poll: Do you have a 3d printer?

#231

Post by fest »

compumike wrote: post #15

Had access to a commercial 3D printer at a hackerspace. After the initial few cool test objects, the annoyance of dealing with broken STL files and waiting hours for tiny fragile parts overtook the "convenience". But I think those will both improve with time. My sub-poll question would be: for those who do have a 3D printer, do you create your own content or print only third-party STLs?

My own content, mostly fixing blocks for other devices I'm building (e.g. http://wiki.hackerspace.lv/w/images/6/69/Expon_1.jpg ).

In my opinion, current generation 3d printers have to be looked at as tools, not a holy saviour of manufacturing industry. It has it's strong points (fast turnaround times, low price) and has it's weaknesses (subpar resolution, support material is required for many types of parts, being finicky).

Nonetheless, I'm really happy with mine- I built a RepRap around 2 years ago. It took full 1 year to get from starting to read about it, to first prints good enough to be useful. After building, it gathered dust for some time because I didn't know what to do with it- the process of building was more interesting than process of using it :>

That being said, I'm also experimenting with DIY SLA printers- by using UV laser and rotating mirror assembly (found in 2d laser printers). Don't know if it works yet- I'm finishing up electronics/firmware and trying to come up with mechanical design.

Re: Poll: Do you have a 3d printer?

#232

Post by hatu »

greghinch wrote: post #114

I would venture to say 3d printers are not going to be ubiquitous like the home paper printer. The power is in replacing manufacturing processes. You need 10,482 M5x30mm stainless screws? Print them rather than having some factory in China ship you them in lots of 50,000 . And scale from there. Arguably, a single factory in China will print the screws and make whatever larger device. The point is, simplifying the sup…

I think you got it backwards, a factory is never going to be more efficient by using 3D printers. The whole point of a factory is to be very very specialized in only making screws the most efficient way possible.

Re: Poll: Do you have a 3d printer?

#234

Post by hatu »

Tsagadai wrote: post #183
porter wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would you do with a 3d printer in your house? For manufacturing and business use, it kind of makes sense to me. But personal use? After you print off a few cups and toy soldier molds, what would you want to do with a 3d printer?

I use it to fix things. Ever broken a handle off a drawer or snapped a catch on something? Print it, sand it and paint it. Done. I also use it for making little plastic doodads (like those you see on home shopping channels) where the idea was the hard part but reproducing it is pretty easy (think wall mounted bag hooks or egg cutters). Not the most practical uses but I see them as a way of answering the "what if I ha…

I think this is the most useful use for one I've heard so far, but when I think about how often do I need a little plastic knob - maybe once a year? I'm sure a couple of shops could do this as a business but other than that it seems crazy to think people will buy these things en-masse for homes.

Re: Poll: Do you have a 3d printer?

#235

Post by PeterisP »

iamwil wrote: post #101
porter wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would you do with a 3d printer in your house? For manufacturing and business use, it kind of makes sense to me. But personal use? After you print off a few cups and toy soldier molds, what would you want to do with a 3d printer?

You print out the things you weren't able to imagine, but other people were. 3D printers allow objects that don't need the economy of scale to work in its favor to come into being. If you're to compare 3D printed objects to things you can buy at Walmart, then of course, in most specs the 3D printer would lose. However, what a 3D printer allows you to make are all the things that you can't get at Walmart, either becau…

If you want to print out things you weren't able to imagine, but other people were - then it's an argument for not getting a 3D printer but having it printed at a 3d-printing service; it will be cheaper, higher quality, less hassle, and more options for materials/techniques than a single printer can provide.

Re: Poll: Do you have a 3d printer?

#238

Post by beobab »

hawkw wrote: post #193
kintamanimatt wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're never gonna print that car at a Kinkos.

You wouldn't download a car.

For some reason, your comment reminds me of those anti-piracy adverts they show on DVDs (in the UK) that you've legitimately bought: "You wouldn't steal a car." https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2023878

Re: Poll: Do you have a 3d printer?

#240

Post by iXce »

josefprusa wrote: post #236

Hell yeah! I have few RepRaps and thousands all around the world have one I designed! Anyone here with Prusa Mendel?! Jo Prusa

Yeah \o/ We first build an original Mendel at my Paris (France) hackerspace, then used it to print my own Prusa i1, which I upgraded to an i2 over time using itself, and printed a Prusa i2 for a friend with my i1. RepRap rocks :)

More than a tool, 3D printing is really a big hobby for me. It's not just about getting 3D objects printed, it's also about how the prints go, how the quality varies given the slicing/printing parameters, and how to push everything further with the community.

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