I think that at the moment 3D printers (for home use) are toys. Certainly, cool toys and I’ve been tempted to get one a few times. But then I realize that while the magic of materializing physical objects out of bytes and some plastic filament is great, I just don’t need many (if any) small uneven pieces of plastic.
The claim that I objected to at the start of this sub-thread is that a 3D printer is now a cost-effective method of producing useful household objects. I didn’t think so and I still don’t think so. Saving money on a 50-cent bracket via buying a $1,000 printer doesn’t look particularly rational to me. Maybe things will change in a few years. We’ll see.
cool toys and I’ve been tempted to get one a few times
If you can use a 3D design program like Google Sketchup—do it! It is a cool toy, it is at least of minor practical use, and you might catch a wave to the future.
Saving money on a 50-cent bracket via buying a $1,000 printer doesn’t look particularly rational to me
Naturally. But throwing away a $1000 item for the lack of some stupid bracket that should cost 50 cents but can’t be had for any money AFAICT is not great either...
I agree—but I don’t find its output either cool or useful enough. When the 3D metal printers come down in price, I might reconsider. I find things like this considerably more appealing, but maybe that’s just me.
But throwing away a $1000 item for the lack of some stupid bracket that should cost 50 cents but can’t be had for any money AFAICT is not great either...
I think that at the moment 3D printers (for home use) are toys. Certainly, cool toys and I’ve been tempted to get one a few times. But then I realize that while the magic of materializing physical objects out of bytes and some plastic filament is great, I just don’t need many (if any) small uneven pieces of plastic.
The claim that I objected to at the start of this sub-thread is that a 3D printer is now a cost-effective method of producing useful household objects. I didn’t think so and I still don’t think so. Saving money on a 50-cent bracket via buying a $1,000 printer doesn’t look particularly rational to me. Maybe things will change in a few years. We’ll see.
If you can use a 3D design program like Google Sketchup—do it! It is a cool toy, it is at least of minor practical use, and you might catch a wave to the future.
Naturally. But throwing away a $1000 item for the lack of some stupid bracket that should cost 50 cents but can’t be had for any money AFAICT is not great either...
I agree—but I don’t find its output either cool or useful enough. When the 3D metal printers come down in price, I might reconsider. I find things like this considerably more appealing, but maybe that’s just me.
Never had this happen to me, ever :-P