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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?

#251

Post by bdickason »

dagw wrote: post #226
SoftwareMaven wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One person's useless gimmicks are another person's stylish nick-knacks. I can't see myself buying a 3D printer just for stuff like that, but the ability to accent my home in an individual fashion is not unappealing to me. Not everything is the world is purely functional.

Not everything is the world is purely functional. Absolutely agreed. I love a stylish nick-knacks and neat design details as much as the next person but there seems to be a disconnect in the 3D printing world. On the one hand everybody talks about the revolutionary effect of home 3d printers, and on the other hand the only examples people have ever shown me are children's toys and stylish nick-knacks. Where are the a…

Here's an example that is not sexy but is at least functional: http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/940-how-to-repair-a-b...

Also note Clay Shirky's belief that the most disruptive tech initially appears to be a toy to most.

I have to admit, I have the same problem with 3d printing and think that some of the newer materials (stainless steel for example) will really improve the functional designs, especially as the cost decreases.

Disclaimer: I work at Shapeways

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

#252

Post by bdickason »

cschmidt wrote: post #189
porter wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any examples?

Some personal favorites I ordered off of Shapeways: http://www.shapeways.com/model/24470/gyroid.html http://www.shapeways.com/model/335195/the-code-prize-fire-co... http://www.shapeways.com/model/683524/super-mario-mobius-str...

Thanks for posting this, cschmidt! Those are some of my favorite Shapeways products as well :D

Disclaimer: I work for shapeways

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

#254

Post by bborud »

porter wrote: post #85
georgemcbay wrote: post #10

I'm excited by the potential of 3D printers but they aren't quite at the price/convenience/quality intersection I'm waiting for. I'd pay current prices for machines (the relatively consumer-level ones that are like $500-2000) that are faster and produce better output without having to do acetone-based "post-processing". I'd pay less than current prices for the current tech just to dick around with, but I don't want t…

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?

Why you'd want a 3D printer? Isn't that kinda obvious? To make parts for your next 3D printer of course!

Joking aside: I have a few spare time projects where I am going to need some way of producing mechanical parts. For instance I am designing an integrated device for controlling the flow rate of dialysis fluid during peritoneal dialysis fluid exchange. I've been working on this for a while and have gone through many designs. Mostly as a learning exercise.

I think that in a few years it will be more common for people to make simple objects in their home. Brackets, mounts, adapters etc. I'm not sure if a lot of people will necessarily be involved in designing parts, but through the wonder that is the internet: you'll have vast repositories of ready made designs that can be printed.

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

#255

Post by simba-hiiipower »

bambax wrote: post #249

Not technically a 3D "printer" but I bought a 3D Pen on Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1351910088/3doodler-the-... Delivery date is set to next Nov., so we'll see what this can do!

likewise. looking forward to toying with it as I think it presents some interesting use cases, though i realize its pretty far-off from a 'printer' in terms of capabilities..

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

#257

Post by saintx »

We have two in my office, and we make software completely unrelated to the domain of design or manufacturing. We recognize the value in curiosity and in engaging with new technologies, so we foster a workplace where experimentation and play are valued as part of the creative process.

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

#258

Post by tlrobinson »

bborud wrote: post #254
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?

Why you'd want a 3D printer? Isn't that kinda obvious? To make parts for your next 3D printer of course! Joking aside: I have a few spare time projects where I am going to need some way of producing mechanical parts. For instance I am designing an integrated device for controlling the flow rate of dialysis fluid during peritoneal dialysis fluid exchange. I've been working on this for a while and have gone through man…

You joke, but I bought a MakerBot and pretty much the only things I've printed are "upgrades" for the printer itself.

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

#259

Post by droidist2 »

7952 wrote: post #247
beobab wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

If I could make a perfect copy of a car out of thin air, without depriving anyone of anything, I would "steal it". So would absolutely everyone, and the motor industry would have to change their business model.

What would that business model look like?

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

#260

Post by patdennis »

droidist2 wrote: post #259
7952 wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I could make a perfect copy of a car out of thin air, without depriving anyone of anything, I would "steal it". So would absolutely everyone, and the motor industry would have to change their business model.

What would that business model look like?

Designing better cars; making parts for the 3d printers that built the cars.
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