3D printing - for who?

[mantrid]

Someone was extoling the virtues of 3D printing to me the other day
and telling me how it was going to "revolutionise" all sorts of things.
I listened politely and went on my way. (Half listened to be honest)

Anyway - it occured to me that there is a lot of fuss about what is undoubtedly a fascinating technology but what exactly is it any good for?

I've just had a look around thingverse and after trawling through 300 items
I couldn't find a single one of any widespread use. Every single
item in the 3D printed category was for a very specialised (and very geeky) purpose. A wheel for a specific machine. A bearing holder or
cable clip and so on.

In fact I found one for a quadcopter and the very first question asked about it was "can you design it with something other than the printed arms?" (paraphrasing.)

So my question is:
By the time youve spent 2,500 GBP on a half decent 3D printer/software and spent hours learning to use it all - what CAN you use it for if you don't plan to build your own plastic robot?

Do 3D printers genuinely have any widespread appeal beyond being a fascinating technology or is it just a, "Look what I can do daddy !" toy.

[limor]

I don't know where you got the 2500 GBP figure from.
We sell Makerbot 3D printers and you will have a tough time to get to those figures even if you buy a printer with loads of plastic and addons and netfabb professional and 3d scanner etc.

But if you want to learn, i suggest you go to the local hackerspace. pay the mothly 50GBP and there you will find free advise on how to build a 3D printer for 300GBP. it may not give you initially 50 micron precision but it will get your appetite going.

3D printing is about letting your creativity go a step forward. If you are not historically creative in the sense of making physical things (you can be creative cooking and remodeling the living room), then 3D printing will not do much in the way of giving you joy. If you have done some electronics or built things in wood, or played with a CNC and Lego then a 3D printer will let you build nicer things and let do stuff that you thought can not be done. and you can convert this creativity into money via crowdfunding or simply post it around and get appreciation from like minded people.

[Gort]

Whoa, mantrid not sure where to start?

To start I am a true believer in the power of personal fabrication / Maker movement. Which 3d printing is a huge part.

How is the ability to make whatever you dream up not a very powerful and game changing revolution?

I would encourage you to go to your local hackerspace and maker faire because seeing is believing.

I think you need to spend more time looking at all of the cool things on Thingiverse. There are 10s of thousands of very cool and use full objects you can print out.

The cost of 3d printing to the individual is dropping everday. You can get a good 3d printer for under 1000 USD and a good entry level printer for under 500 USD.

Also how is making your own personal humanoid robot not very cool? This is a forum about robot making by the way. Here is my entry, so tell me how that is not cool?

http://mike-ibioloid.blogspot.com/2013/ ... ne-is.html

[mantrid]

Perhaps I didn't phrase the question clearly enough.

I'm not interested in learning (not it the sense suggested anyway) I've seen more than 30 3D printers in action close up.
The cost is not an issue for me.

I don't deny the tech will be invaluable in future (I'll provide an interesting link in another thread here) - I'm interested in what I see as very premature fuss about something that appears to me to have little practical use as yet. I guess the question really is - am I wrong about that - if so prove it!

My question is about functionality and value for money right now.
I have yet to see anything of general interest to the majority of people.
(do provide links if you know of something)

[Gort]

It just sounds like you are not a early adopter or lighthouse customer. I do not think that I could post anything to change your mind as it is already made up.

The part in the State of the Union address from the President of the US when he talks about 3d printing or this.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:43163

http://conversations.nokia.com/2013/01/ ... -printing/

Or this maybe?

phpBB [media]

You should sign up for the maker pro newsletter, I got this information last week.

The Latest in 3D Printing

"Entry-level 3D printer manufacturer Printrbot sold about 3000 printers in 2012, with most of those sales in December. MakerBot now has more than 15,000 printers in the wild. We spoke to both companies, as well as Type A and TrinityLabs, to get their thoughts on the year past, and the one ahead. Read the full report on MAKE.

The Yano Economic Research Institute reports that Japan's domestic 3D printing market will grow to 7.7 billion yen ($85 million USD) by 2015. The report also finds more schools and small- to medium-sized businesses buying printers. In 2011, 638 3D printers were sold in Japan, according to the report, which predicts that by 2015 3D printer sales will nearly triple, to around 1800.

New entry Makexyz allows those without 3D printers to get 3D prints by sending their designs to nearby private individuals who own printers, making it possible to get your object the same day. This adds to the the 3D printer access already provided by Shapeways, the 3D community and marketplace in New York City, and the Staples 3D print service market test set to go live in the Netherlands and Belgium this year. To paraphrase A.J. Liebling, 3D printing is no longer limited to those who own one. [Via 3dprinting.com]"

[mantrid]

You just dont seem to get it or perhaps want to.
Its not about me.
The question has nothing to do with whether or not "I" want one.
I dont know how to phrase the question any clearer so I'll drop it.

[siempre.aprendiendo]

Interesting that you ask this question in a "personal" robots forum. "what exactly are these robots good for?"

At least in my case and others I know it's just for the love and fun of learning creating it ("por amor al arte", for the love of art)

I don't have a 3D but I suppose that the answer is the same.

Anyway there are practical and professional uses, like architecture or developing product prototypes. like:

http://www.zcorp.com/en/Company/Custome ... spage.aspx

http://www.3dprototype.com/3D-printing.html

http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case ... mours.aspx

<object id="flashObj" width="480" height="270" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1838625224001&playerID=1594609720001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAABZHZNdKk~,FM7H3b6my7ZRXiWW3RTJ-Ij4T2dr1Gmp&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true"><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1838625224001&playerID=1594609720001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAABZHZNdKk~,FM7H3b6my7ZRXiWW3RTJ-Ij4T2dr1Gmp&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="480" height="270" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>

[siempre.aprendiendo]

Opps, I just saw that Gort posted the video, sorry

[Gort]

siempre.aprendiendo, you had some great examples!

yes we are in the early days of wide spread 3d printing for individuals, like when everyone first got a computer at work or home or when you first logged on to the Internet.

Some of the 3d printers are hard to use and setup correctly. So it can be difficult for a newbie to print out their first object.

All you have to do is to go to your Local Hackerspace or Maker Faire and see the interest and see how revolutionary this technology willl be to individuals.

[siempre.aprendiendo]

By the way, I discovered the ZCorp visiting the Sagrada Familia workshop (I love this word ; ) and shoot this photo:

[Gort]

phpBB [media]

[limor]

while we are on the subject, I'm looking for information about how 3D printers are used in schools with real examples, videos, curriculum interviews with teachers etc.

[siempre.aprendiendo]

Juan Gonzalez and his students prints its own robots and even its own 3D printers

[Gort]

There is a lot out there on 3d printers in schools both Make and Makerbot have education programs.

[Gort]

I can find better and more links when I have time.

http://curriculum.makerbot.com/

http://www.makerbot.com/education/

http://blog.makezine.com/kids/