[skyhawk133]

Anyone doing anything with 3D printers? I've got a buddy that keeps talking about them and while I used to do some CAD stuff, the thought of cranking out actual 3D models seems pretty cool. It'd probably be even cooler if you had some industrial/manufacturing need to do prototyping instead of just creating 3D penises all day, but that's beside the point really.

http://www.kickstart...rinter?ref=live

[no2pencil]

I've not done anything with them, but there was a large assembly/display at Ohio Linux Fest last year (this year too, but last years was larger, from memory). They went over open source software, assembly of printer, material, & so on. I should have taken better notes.

calvinthedestroyer may have more information to offer, as this is right up his mad-scientist alley.

[modi123_1]

I've been eyeballing them for sometime.. damn price point is a hard one to chew up as an individual.

I've also been skimming through kickstarter (like it is some sort of card table selling shady wares on NYC) for a cheaper 3d printer. I've watched too many not get funded or have yet to materialize a product for people. That with, while I am not opposed to assembly, are in a whole mess of pieces.

If I was to go in I would probably hit the only reputable group in town - Makerbot.

Their 'Iteration 1' of their new line:
http://store.makerbo...icator-404.html

The big, newer, and more pretty version 2.
http://store.makerbo...eplicator2.html

[BenignDesign]

mMmM... 3D penises...

Seriously though, I would LOVE to have one of these to play with (the printer, not the penises. Ok, ok, fine... both). I'm not much of a gadget person - I rarely feel the need to have the newest, the greatest, the most hyped items out there... I'm pretty content to use the same old stuff for the same old jobs day after day after day... but 3D printing excites me. And I don't know why.

[modi123_1]

Though with the kickstarter you linked provides another interesting concern of mine - more exotic materials. Makerbot uses extruded plastic.. that one uses "a laser is used to draw on the surface of a liquid plastic resin that hardens when exposed to a certain wavelength of light.". I know I can buy spools of plastic for cheap.. I am not so sure about this resin.

Edit:
As an alternative project you can buy the gears and components for MendleBots and Repraps off ebay and build the sucker off their open source plans.. or have the chasis already put together and what not and just go for the electronics side of it..

http://www.ebay.com/...=item2575e515f2
http://www.ebay.com/...=item337cded150

This post has been edited by modi123_1: 15 October 2012 - 11:51 AM

[jon.kiparsky]

BenignDesign, on 15 October 2012 - 01:35 PM, said:

mMmM... 3D penises...

As opposed to the 4D kind?
(Coming soon to a theater near you: Tom Swift and his Hyper-Penis)

Quote

Seriously though, I would LOVE to have one of these to play with (the printer, not the penises. Ok, ok, fine... both).

I'm sure you could find some lonely DIC head who isn't using his very much, and would be happy to lend you the use of it.

This post has been edited by jon.kiparsky: 15 October 2012 - 11:39 AM

[BenignDesign]

His printer? Sweet!

[no2pencil]

Old & outdated, but free for the using

[Nykc]

Why print out 3D dongs when you can just be like this guy.

This post has been edited by Nykc: 15 October 2012 - 11:55 AM

[modi123_1]

While I can't see that video I am guessing it is... NSFW?

[Martyr2]

I think these 3D printers are so awesome! I can only imagine what can be built when people with great ideas have a way to build custom parts cheaply and without needing to have some crazy minimum order for a manufacturer. I am glad to see one company has actually gotten to the point of making a nice looking product too. I have seen the older generations and they were ugly and clumsy.

Now hopefully the resin isn't a punch to the wallet and that the software is easy to design with. If they can get that in check, these things will catch fire.

P.S. I am bringing back the green army men toys of yesterday with this!

This post has been edited by Martyr2: 15 October 2012 - 12:02 PM

[supersloth]

ive known some people to sell their designs for spare cash on http://www.shapeways.com/

[BenignDesign]

An awful lot of girly heart-shaped stuff there.

[modi123_1]

How else are you supposed to get a date with a pretty-pretty girl?


Side note - Makerbot's collective for projects: http://www.thingiverse.com/

[no2pencil]

or