Thanks for this channel, I am new to 3D printing and found your videos very informative. I feel like I am back at school learning from a teacher or back in the 90s learning to use a computer for the first time.
@@3dpprofessor Absolutely. Videos are clear and concise too. I have been doing some initial designs on Tinkercad and wanted to move on to something more comprehensive like Blender. I am watching your Blender series now. I managed to do simple chess pieces and a toy soldier on Tinkercad. My printer arrives on Thursday so I guess I'll see then how good a job I did. Thanks again.
Whenever people ask about how easy it is, I tell them to think of their 2D printer and all of the constant problems it probably gives them (because you know it does) and multiply that by an entire extra dimension.
Interesting math here. Anyway, I don't have any trouble with my 2D printer. Ever. Except for the WiFi sometimes disconnecting and needing a reboot. But that's only once or twice per year. I have a 3D printer on its way, though, and am looking forward to all of the kinks so that I can feel a little accomplishment with each successful print.
As a person who designs and builds 3D printers and other CNC machines I must say you really hit the nail on the head. For most people a 3D printer is an expensive novelty. For those who really learn to use them, they're fantastic.
I build my own printers at a cost of less than $300. I have thousands of hours of print time on them with almost no down time. My first printer was a Chinese flashforge which is still going strong but very noisy so I don't like to use it much. My own printers are very quiet operation. Since a print can take many hours, quiet is good...
I have not used the Anet printers so I can not compare directly. The cost of my own design is based on the cost of the parts when I first designed it 2 years ago. Many of the parts are cheaper to buy today than they were back then, but I never bothered to recalculate. But one difference is with my design, you can also use it for plotting, drilling (for making PC boards) and laser cutting\engraving, if you change the head. Plotting adds nothing to the cost but drilling and laser cutting increases the cost. However, do not ask to buy one as at this time I am not producing any. I am much too busy for that. If you are good with your hands then you can buy any cheap printer then use it to make a much better machine. I know several people who have done that.
Earth Lab I wish you luck. One important thing that people often forget is a printer can only make what you design. So, unless you just want to print out what other people have created, you need to learn CAD. There are many free programs out there that work very well with 3D printers. Play with them first.
I'm in the same boat, I've been using 3d studio max for years and now I can bring my créations to life. Thanks Prof for saying what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear.
I don't need a 3d printer... but I do want one. For me, it's not about needing to produce or prototype anything. it's about learning the technology, tinkering and improving something, making it work, and just having fun. It's a hobby like my CNC machine that I also don't need but still like. And if I end up with a blue plastic Yoda on my desk at work, that's a bonus for me. I just ordered the Monoprice mini, my first 3d printer, and I can't wait for it to come.
I feel the same! I think this video was good adivce, but maybe too negative at times. Almost as if the guy assumes everyone is super lazy, and not interested in actually learning the machine and how it works.
Another thing to consider is the myth that 3d printers are only good for useless trinkets and things. but the truth i think is people buy them out of interest and dont really think about real practical things to print :) until you have had it a while and then finally you start creating more useful objects. The first time i drew something on paper, then designed it in a cad program and finally then printed it. something magical about that.
Bobby K The very first thing I designed for 3d printing, even before I had a 3D printer, was a practical item. but that wasn't the first thing I shared. the first thing I shared and that someone was willing to print for me was a Chinese Chess set. like I said to another commenter recently, it's the trinkets and nicknacks that sell printers and get the views.
I have a very specific application that I am considering getting a 3D printer for, one that I haven't found a decent solution for by either cobbling together currently made and sold items. (And I certainly can NOT model in clay.) This is why I am considering getting a 3D printer - also knowing that I will have some work to do to get it correct and just right. I'm used to creating designs on cutters and embroidery machines. A 3D printer will take them to another level. But yeah.. practicality, not toys or trinkets, is why I want one.
That’s the reason most people get them. But that’s not what they’re made for. They’re made for replacing parts, designing new solutions, and designing new things in general.
Most of what 3D Printers are used for.... are trinkets. But that's mainly because your more major things are still made in a factory. But that's not to say that 3D Printers can't be used for engineering because many of them have resolutions as low as 1mm. Another common misunderstanding has more to do with plastics. People as a whole seem to associate "plastic" with "easily breakable" but that's also a myth. I've made plastic prints that could withstand 900 pounds repeatedly. Sure that's not as good as Metals but it's plenty good enough for most things.
I almost gave you a round of applause for this video, well said! I have been using 3D software for about 17 years, 15 of those years were with 3DS Max, and when I first read about a 3D printer, I wanted one so bad, but the price was way out of my reach. This year, my other half bought me a 3D printer for Xmas, its a Da Vinci Mini. A great starter machine, reliable, yes I have had a few misprints but that's part of the learning procedure. Man I love this thing. Like you said you can design something in 3D space and make the thing, if it's too big for your printer, make it in parts and either glue or friction weld the parts together. What was interesting was when you mentioned about using wood, I am also a woodwork enthusiast and during the winter months my little workshop is impossible to work in due to the cold, so now I can do creative stuff indoors, and now, with the power of a 3D printer, I can start making new tools to help with the woodwork side as well. But you are right, you need to do your homework before even thinking about getting one. I have been thinking, dreaming and wanting a 3D printer for over 5 years! Great video...... I've subscribed!
Great video! People have tons of misconceptions about this technology. Here are a couple of examples of my own. 1. When a co-worker heard I have a 3D-printer she went "I think those are scary. I've heard you can make guns." No. Just, no. If someone wants a gun without going through the proper paperwork and training, they can dig up some shady dealer and get a gun. The most dangerous weapon you can make in home-grade 3D-printer is a pointy stick, and even then, a sharpened pencil will do the trick. 2. Like you said, it's a slow process. A 3D-printer is not a factory for mass-producing stuff. I've talked to people who think my Ultimaker 2 can beat injection-cast plastic in terms of price _and_ manufacturing time. One guy even got annoyed with me when I told him that he should just put in an hour or two more at work and buy the thing he wanted because it would be far cheaper and less time-consuming that way. 3D-prinitng really shines when you want one of a kind or very small series of items tailored to your exact specifications and there isn't a mass-produced alternative.
There are a lot of rumors and videos floating around of folks claiming to have functional firearms printed in ABS, so is suppose you can't blame some folks thinking that (although I've seen guys make guns out of sheet metal and standard shop tools so I don't see how a 3D printer would be any scarier) but I do question their legitimacy. Anyways, I actually have a super cheap small 3D printer I got from one of those kickstarter printers a long while back. It's a neat little gadget, but I've been messing around with 3D modelling a bit lately and I'm just now thinking about going for a machine in the $600 range so I can start designing my own pieces and printing them off at home.
Yes, you can make a gun. You can make a better gun with metal tubes, but you can make a gun. Of course you can also make a prosthetic hand for a child or a wrench for the international space station. Every child may grow up to be the next Hitler, does that mean we should ban baby wards? ...That may be the worst analogy ever.
My point exactly. People have all these knee-jerk reactions as soon as they learn that some strange new technology could theoretically be used to make a weapon.
Pile of carbon until they can print in metal they can't make functional guns. Parts maybe. Cnc machine or lathe would be far more useful in making a gun.
Maybe is a good place to be. I want everyone to enjoy 3D printing because I love 3D printing but I also want everyone to have a good experience, and coming from the hype, reality is always a let down. If you're in "maybe" town it means you're in a place now where the hype isn't affecting you, you can look at it objectively and make the right choice. 3D printing isn't for everyone, but I hope it's for you.
Thanks. Been taking your advice and playing with the Cura software, but was off to a bad start when it wouldn't even run on W7. I found an older Beta version which would and found it quite cumbersome and lacking basic functionality. You seem to have to load an image or something to get you going, you can't just start with a basic shape and mould it. Not sure it is for me, as even though I can get one for £138 I can also buy a MIG welder, which might be more useful to me.
ArcanePath .. Cura is a Slicer , its not for designing ! Thats why you have trouble. A Slicer is a piece of software that you use to prepare your 3d object for print. If you want to play around with shapes and designing objects you should start out with something like 123DDesign or even the really beginner-friendly "TinkerCad" :) Have fun with it ..
You're not the first to say something like this. I've got a video coming soon about what slicers are, and aren't. And they definitely aren't for creating models.
Thanks, I've been looking more into this and have discovered what a slicer is now and I have been using 123DDesign and Mesh Mixer for modelling before deciding to order Anet A8 from Gearbest. I got rid of Cura but then re-installed it after I found that I do need it for converting my files into GCODE for the printer to be able to use. There's a steep learning curve with this tech it seems!
I agree. You are spot on. This is my hobby, just because of the reasons you suggested. I love to get the problems and overcome them to get slick prints. I design using Fusion 360, slice with Slic3r and print with an Anet 8 that I put together myself. It's hard work! (But awesome!)
Well I bought a GEEETECH Prusa I3 dual head some time ago, and I have found your "downsides" to be the source of most of my enjoyment / interest. It broke (enough times), so I learned a) how to fix it, b) how to prevent such failures recurring (within limits), and c) what aspects of operation are REALLY important, and what aspects can be safely assigned a lower priority. A year on and I have made many really good (but relatively very inexpensive - thank you Thingiverse!) mods, resulting in an "entry-level" machine being transformed into a "mid-range performance" machine for not that much more in dollar terms (and most of those dollars were spent on ABS filament). By focussing on the "end result" you might dissuade those who may be buying a kit "for the experience".
Alex - most of the mods were downloaded from Thingiverse and there's a VERY actiove Geeetech "owners collection" there. I also have used objects designed for other printers (but whose .stl files were amenable to editing via TinkerCAD). THE most useful mod was effective workpiece cooling (lots of blower shroud designs), along with cooling of the motherboard (the standard unshrouded fan was less than useful). It is worth the (minimal) cost to buy a few LED type thermocouple thermometer modules - so you don't have to rely on the LCD display (a module for each hot end and the bed is a good choice - a few dollars via Ebay / DX / Banggood). I've redesigned the printed guides to take the LM8LUU bearings (they seem to provide better accuracy), and have obviously replaced those awful cable-tie fastenings on the build platform with M3 threaded rod (curved to the right radius using a simple wooden guide). Next upgrade will be self-levelling (but NOT using their sensor), and probably a heated enclosure so I can print more complex ABS forms with a lower failure rate.
No problem, you'd be surprised how much help I've had over the past year and a bit!. Other mods you might consider are buying "external controller boards" (Bang Good do them) that use the ATMEGA 80256 MOSFET outputs as control signals. Reduces Motherboard power flows (so reduces heating), and provides a more stable supply to the stepper controllers. Seeing as the three power MOSFETS aren't the "very best" this mod will improve reliability. It also seems to provide better thermal rise time (things heat up faster, and temp. control seems tighter). Worth looking at improving the cooling on the stepper drivers - those little heatsinks are barely good enough (especially with the extruder steppers drawing a fair current). There are a few good multi-fin copper ones that seem better (going by my non-contact IR thermometer that is). The existing PSU is OK - but does benefit from a printed shroud with a decent fan (Thingiverse!), and your printing will be much improved if you replace than nasty plastic tube "spindle" on the filament reel carrier with a ball-bearing system. Unfortunately there is a lot of "hole diameter" variation between suppliers, but if you stick to the same supplier you should be able to fabricate spacers to fit the reel to bearings of your choice. There are a few nice ideas on Thingiverse (including a conical "one size fits all" adaptor system). Hope this helps, and it's well worth investing in spare nozzles, cleaning drills, maybe heater cartridges, thermistors - and the 3d Printer section on the Bang Good website is a VERY useful resource for things that are "cheap enough to break / destroy without too much anxiety!"
Alex - as a note, have a look at Bang Good part number 1086965 . These "controllers" DO take a LOT of the power load off the motherboard power connectors, and although I'm suspicious where their "25A capacity" is concerned, they do seem to do the job well (and the MOSFET heatsinks don't get particularly toasty, even over a very long print run) The white connector is very popular as a charging connector in the RC industry and is available as a "jst-xh 1s" connector (Bang Good sell these loose or cabled-up, e.g. 80685 for plugs AND sockets), and it's important to observe polarity when connecting up. Apart from that, they are cheap, and they do the job (print bed AND extruder heaters) very well indeed.
Good points all around. I started doing 3D modelling about 20 years ago so having models to print, or rather to try to print is not a problem. I bought my 3D printer about 3 weeks ago and learned pretty quick that you have to tinker with the machine AND your models to get good prints. So yeah, it's not a "make-anything-you-want" machine, but it's still damned impressive. I have to say though, I think the most important point you made was... the last one! It is freaking cool! ;)
I remember when I was a kid, I used sketch-up to model shit and I don't even remember what. This was before 3d printers were really a thing, and certainly before I knew anything about them. And I've been making various models over the years of stuff I want. Finally bought an Ender 3 just to get my feet wet, and I've already got 5 gcodes ready to print. Really hoping I don't burn out...
5 years late with this comment BUT I have only been 3D printing for 6 months. I bought mine with the idea of using it for practicality and I would say I have done 60% of my prints based on practicality and 40% just for fun (puzzle, flexible animal, etc.). The practical stuff I designed, the fun stuff I download and maybe tweak a bit. Practical, a couple examples. I have a video camera alarm system made by Tend. I broke the mount for one of the camera. You can't just buy a mount. I took the broken parts in, modeled and printed. Made one initial mistake, iteration 2, perfect. Second practical thing. Again with the Tend camera. My printer has no camera for monitoring a build while I am away, the Tend security camera has a cell app so I built a mount for my 3D printer to mount the camera and I can now view the print in real time. Here's a 3rd one. My computer keyboard crashed, more exactly coffee spilled on it. I have a Mac and the angle on the old keyboard was perfect, the replacement not angled for nice comfortable typing. I took off the base of my old keyboard and I could mount the new one inside the base but it wasn't secure. I build clips to hold the base to the new keyboard. And one more. I have a classic BMW and 850i. The cup holder is in the globe compartment and the holders fold, are unstable and can only hold a cup the size of a dentist spit cut. I printed one that fits in the center console. I printed a base, which actually has a small drawer, and a dish top to hold coins. I can unscrew the dish top and attach the cup holder. AND, for cosmetics I designed a BMW logo and I did it in multicolor, 3 color, by stoping the print and swapping filament colors. It came out amazing. I was a software developer so I know I had the ability to use design studios and slicer so I decided to take a shot. My current project is more technical, a word clock using Arduino control card and neopixels. I have seen a few on thingiverse but mine is more 3D print driven and also includes the weather, stock ticker, and humidity. So, like I said my printing is much more practical than just printing Star Wars characters that others designed. I am thinking to download someone else's designed Lost In Space - Jupiter 2 and using the Arduino and Neopixels to illuminate the underneath and inside compartment.
Love your enthusiasm! I totally agree with your CAD modelling requirement comments. One thing I would also mention is that now all filaments are equal!
This is a pretty good representation of some of the difficulties of using a 3d printer. I've had mine for about 3-4 years now and sometimes it sits for months, while other times it will be going non-stop for days or weeks. I built mine from a kit, but because parts wear out, there is not much left of that kit, I have upgraded/replaced almost everything.
It's because I have years of experience in CAD or designing in 3D spaces that I haven't made the drive. I just can't find it to be anything other than another hobby and I already have an excess of those.
LOL!!! I have 3 3D printers... They are are friggin fun. Just the tech and fun of being an inventor makes me love them. Probably will never make me any money but you know what... for 20 dollars for Filament every month is cheap entertainment.
I knew nothing about 3D printers two years ago. I bought a Smartrap+, built it, and thought I had a duff machine. Jammed filament, things not sticking to the glass bed etc etc etc. I downloaded Openscad, and was pulling my hair out, I was thinking I had wasted a bunch of cash. However, after ignoring a lot of terrible advice on the internet and instead learning how the machine worked, and how to design parts, I am now printing 1/16 scale tanks that are fully functional. I learn more everytime I use Openscad. I have since bought and built a Sintron Kossel as well, so it was back to the nightmare of getting a machine set up. All of that said, all of my prints now stick to an unheated glass bed using PLA, the print quality is top notch, and I never get blocked nozzles. It's all down to getting the machine set up properly, and designing parts properly. The print orientation is also important. I can design repair parts for all sorts of things now, and wouldn't be without them now.
I've been on the fence for 2 weeks now debating if I should get a 3D printer. I'm a designer, I work as a third party for a big 3D printing company making various designs for big companies, but I've never touched the printing aspect of it. The company I work with use super high end printers and I would only be purchasing a consumer level printer. What has been holding me back is really the maintenance and the fear of it going to waste (not printing anything worth while). My initial reasoning for buying a 3D printer is to design and print useful products to sell online, but the more I think about it, the less I believe that anyone can make a side business selling 3D prints... I really appreciate this video and all the useful information. I will let this marinate in my mind for the next few days but I believe this video has pushed me toward the "wait for 3D printers to evolve a bit more" phase.
I learned the CAD aspect in my Intro to Engineering Design class and printed out my miniature bugle and matchbox car models at school. All the designing and waiting for prints is well worth the wait and struggle because it's so satisfying to have an idea, design it, and pop it into something you can hold in a matter of a hours (or days depending on complexity and size).
Number 8 is probably exactly true. I never used to know how to design 3d objects. I made a deal with myself that once I could I would get a 3d printer. I tried and failed to really do much. Then I discovered fusion360. It took me a few hours to get a rudimentary understanding(by that I mean I can make basically 2.5d sketches then extrusions lol). I designed a small quad that is arriving from shapeways tomorrow actually. Im an engineering student and do a lot of projects with micro contollers and such and one issue I've always had: is finding/making enclosures that work well. Im about to order a 3d printer in the next few days, that I can design my own parts, and am stoked that I can make enclosures that are not grossly oversized, but are in fact perfectly sized, have standoffs in exactly the right places, and have all the ports I need without drilling into a cheap plastic one...Im definitely not on the fence lol. Although your points made me think lol.
I'm fairly active in our local maker community where we have what is now an older Ultimaker. I'm 3 sessions (about 30 hours) into printing a gearbox and probably have another 2 or 3 sessions left before I can attempt assembly. It's a design I downloaded and the primary reason I'm building it is because I don't understand how it works. Once it's printed I think I'll be able to work it out as we're primarily visual-tactile creatures. Afterwards it will make for an interesting desktop toy, something that may encourage creative thinking in my team along with other desktop toys to be made in the future. Having a printer at home will be a huge step for me. Something that I've been working on for 5-6 weeks and will continue to work on for another 3-4 weeks (delays caused by family obligations and work constraints) is expected to be able to be produced in 2-3 weeks with a home printer. That's a big deal. Being able to iterate a design is huge for me. Mashups of designs, well, that's my nirvana. I recently ordered a printer that is within my price range for an introduction into how this tech will impact my day-to-day life but as is so often the case, I expect I'll use it heavily for 4-6 months then less so until it gets as much attention as my desktop laser (paper) printer. I absolutely agree that 3d printing isn't for everything. It's a tool, a capability that goes right along with all of the rest like laser cutting, welding and brazing, lathe and mill work and carpentry. People that have these capabilities quickly take them for granted but people without these capabilities covet them greatly. I agree that spending some time learning how to design using 2d and 3d CAD is time well spent but ultimately there must be a space for the payoff, whatever that means to the maker. I've found my time at our local maker studio to be priceless in achieving this payoff. Still, convenience wins in this instance.
I have had a 3D printer for two years now, I agree that there are times when I had to take the thing apart to unjam some stuck plastic (which taught me the lesson to not change between PLA and ABS so often) but after some time you get to know how to use it better. Now knowing the settings which best suits my printer, I have no problem with printing stuff in general and get very few errors.
I've been doing 3D modeling for around 20 years, so I totally am all about the hype. Plus, i have done a lot of research here lately on the "beginner" level printers out lately. With hundreds of reviews on them. Seems like the industry is advancing. I can't wait to see what is coming around the corner. I like your page, and I am just getting into reviewing these things for myself.
I am very impressed by your multi-tasking ability to deliver an articulate 10 minute talk while you are fixing your machine. Interesting assessment of 3D printers.
All very good points. I got a CR-10 mostly to make my own designs. I think most people that get a 3d printer just for the sake of getting a 3d printer get bored pretty fast. Making your own models for fun though, is incredibly addicting!
Absolutely brilliant. I really couldn't have said it better. While a 3d printer can be a very expensive toy, it can also be a very cheap way to do prototyping. I personally own a printer, and love it. It may be fun to just download and print something, but it is way, way, more rewarding to see a model you made and have it be made into a physical model. A 3d printer can be an extremely useful tool.
For a regular person, sure this applies. However, as an engineer and someone who works ALOT at a makerspace I've got to say, 3D printers is one of the most used tools we have. You will design the part in CAD in any case, using a 3D printer makes prototyping and end-use production super easy. The only thing here that really applies to engineers and makers is the fact that it's slower than most of them expect.
i bought a cheap I3 kit with my xmas funds. i use one at work all the time and find it infinity useful. just having those situations, "crap i need an adapter to mount this speaker" or whatever. you can simply make one and tell those guys selling them for $60 a pop to go screw off! love the technology!
Well, here's my story... I wanted a 3D printer just to print Dnd miniatures cheaper than the ones that they sell here in Mexico (about 10 US DLS per piece), I was very hesitant at first because of all the points you mentioned but at last, I decided to buy one. When it arrived I knew very little about 3D design or 3D modeling. I've been 3D printing for 3 months and now I built a little 3D shop of my own, I've designed a couple of products and doing good, definitely 3D printing has changed my life. I consider myself a noob but getting better everyday. I love the ending, it summarizes all of the thing that I think about 3D printing. Sorry for the long text, hope you made it here
Do I need a 3D printer? No. I mean I'm still figuring out 3D modeling and I haven't figured out that much of it at all. But I've found all kinds of cool things to print up, including pieces for a tabletop game that has become defunct and is no longer produced. So did I get a printer anyway? Nope. I did not get a printer, I have three now. I find these things imesurably fun to watch. Tweaking the slicer setting, tuning belts, adjusting calibrations, the whole process of getting them ready is fun. Then you get a thing at the end of it all, a little printed prize! These things are now my favorite hobby, it makes me so happy.
You're right. You're absolutely right. Thing is that statement makes intuitive sense, especially if you're a designer. But considering that of the top 4 3D print channels on youtube, none of them design anything every, that says something about how wrong that statement was.
Its been several years since 2016, most of those issues have been solved. There is more than enough information and apps out there for each filament and printer type to find the right settings. But ONE thing does not change, if you want to print it, you have to design it - or at least learn how to use the splicer. Im glad that i watched and waited a few years to go from 3D CNC to 3D printing, printers, software and tools are so much better now that in the days of "lasercut plywood" printers
Having buy an ANET a6 2 months now twinging it and designing items my self . I have to say that 3D printing is the most ( fun to money spend ratio ) hobby i ever had.
Well, I might be a bit early on the gun, seeing as how I had to mail the tool head on mine back in (micro blower was out). The lulzbot mini, from nearly all accounts I've heard, and even mine, with it's...well, ok, it came broken. But broken, it still did the default print really well. Bit stringy, but pretty good. (and honestly, I think the blower broke during shipping, because the final print they did before boxing it was even better than my print, by a fair bit. UPS is hard on packages.) Once I switched to my pla, it did pretty well for about a dozen layers, then gave up. Heat creep, apparently, is very bad for pla. (lesson learned) But broken, this machine is pretty dang awesome. Just throwing that one out there.
I agree with everything you just said! I have a love-hate relationship with my 3D Printer. Some prints take a while to get right or the printer doesn't start the print off right and it falls over, but I also love making things, and when the come out good, I'm very happy. Sure you could of bought something of the internet for a few quid, but where's the fun in doing that.
One of the very best and accurate videos that I have ever seen regarding the current state-of-the-art of 3D printing (even though this video is a year old). We purchased a Lulzbot TAZ 5 at work last year, and although the printer paid for itself within its first week, I still saw how parts for 3D printing had to be designed with some care. I even recently purchased one of those crazy (fairly cheap) Chinese 3D printer kits (a 'FlyingBear'), and have been having a blast with it.
Hi I"m 14 years of age and fellow 3-d printer owner, I have a Makerfarm pegasus. I have had it for 3 years now and sure there is some hard thing's to get through such as building it if you got it in a kit or leveling and aligning everything, but I feel like anyone could get a 3-d printer. I say this because I knew nothing about 3-D printers and let alone electronics but with enough patience you can be a pro at it.
Thats cool, i bought a Flashforge Creator about a year ago because i got tired of shaping things out of foam or wood and then molding them in expensive silicone and making resin copies. It IS alot of work, regardless of the printer you gotta be willing to tinker with the printer. i dont believe current gen printers are anywhere close to being your average consumer ready product.
That ending though! 😂 I realize everything you said is true. But (also like you said) it is still difficult to hear those negative points about 3D Printing. However, I'm glad you ended it on a positive note. For a lot of people who love 3D Printing, going through the difficulties is part of the hobby/passion and it's something they are willing to bear or actually enjoy. I, myself, love creating and tweaking designs because it's a part of what makes it fun for me. Anyway, kudos for addressing the concerns and for the awesome ending. It really took me by surprise and made my day.
I really like this down to earth advice from a real entrepreneur of this kind of tech. I recently got myself an Anet A8. Can't wait to try it out. It's like you said, you get this fever of how much stuff you could use it for. I used a 3D printer in the past a couple years back, so I can relate to the use case and the not so necessary application. But, I loved it then, and it is an amazing tool to have around. Glad it's gotten to this point of affordability for the average consumer!
Many think CNC machines in machine shops are similar. Just put in a program and push start. It can take days to set up the machine and make the program run correctly and smoothly. Sometimes it was much quicker to run a single part manually.
as a teenager 3d printing is a great hobby for me to learn and understand CAD software and doing many upgrades like replacing my mainboard and it really taught me loads. i think 3d printing is amazing although some days i might spend a good 6 - 8 hours troubleshooting. i guess as a kid i have all the free time unlike some other people though so i mean i would recommend a printer if you really have the time and patience.
I loved this. Thanks. I have friends that I have encouraged to get a printer and others that I have told to think hard about it before they buy it. Honestly, I don't want to be the one they call to fix their printer every time they have a problem.
I bought a Mini Kossel kit 2 months ago... Made my money back in less than 2 weeks and have been profitable ever since.... The majority of my time is spent on calibration of the machine, if you buy one just know that you will be doing more tweaking of your system than printing for quite some time and even if you have it perfect it wont stay that way...
Great list; spot on. Currently, 3D printers aren't even at the level of user friendliness as commercial dot matrix printers in terms of home use and basic maintenance. The home applications are similar; desk top publishing, a term no longer used, and I suppose automated home fabrication would be the equivalent of DTP. But in terms of daily use, generally the only technical issues a user will run into is a paper jam, which is easily cleared by hand and a clogged print head, which was addressed with automatic print head cleaning cycles and regular replacement of print heads with each new ink cartridge by the time ink jets became the norm. Currently, there is no equivalent quick user fix for many filament jams or nozzle clogs and the average user that requires push button usability and basic maintenance requirements will either have to learn a new set of skills just to keep their printer running, or 3D printer repair technician will become the way for the 3D printer hobbyist to turn that hobby into a side job. I'm still of the notion that 3D printers are now firmly within the realm of specialty markets such as product designers, engineers, artists and repair technicians, but with more and more schools currently adding them to basic classroom equipment along with lessons on how to use them, we are currently in an age where this generation will have grown up familiar with the technology, and that alone assures the industry will continue to evolve.
Cool! Thanks to warning people... I totally agree all of you say, it is in agreement with my own, old experience. Our lab bought one of the very first, very expensive Stratasys, and despite the price (I could not give it here ;-), it ended with endless repair processes. I think that after almost ten years, there is not a part we did not change, and like a Marines, with its rifle, I could disassemble and reassemble it with closed eyes... But anyway this is a fantastic machine and 3D printing has changed the life of many technicians and designers in our lab !!
Totally agree with you I still remember when I first saw a 3D printer 6-7 years ago, I really wanna buy one. But after my research, I decided to wait, I am waiting for the industry to grow and imagining it can become something like a desktop inkjet printer. I kept checking the information of 3D printing occasionally but what I imagine haven't come, despite many cool 3D printer came up through the years, the barrier of using the 3D printer still there and still high for a normal guy like me, I still are not confident to use it like I am using my inkjet printer by just typing a few words and print it out so easy. And I start to think I am wrong. To prove am I wrong, I started to learn designing 3D stuff by different softwares. When I am able to make something out, I buy my very first (and very cheap) 3D printer, then I realised what the problem is. I am totally wrong, 3D printer is not a inkjet printer, may be I have been mislead by the word "printer", it is a machine and a tool
what he said about needing to be able to design things to really make the 3d printer worthwhile is totally true. you CAN just download thingiverse stuff and print it, but that's kinda boring and doesnt really justify the price of the printer itself. i did that for about a week after first getting my printer, and then i got bored, and started making my own stuff in tinkercad, then in onshape. also, the feeling of seeing something that started out as just an idea in your head becoming a physical object is much more satisfying than just finding stuff to print online.
Hey good video. I liked how you maintained a non biased opinion and did communicate struggle points of 3D printers that a lot of people do not consider.
Hi I own a Wanhao 4s and never get jams. I never unload filament, I always cut off the filament near the extruder and select load then feed in the new one. no more jams.
I agree, if you don't know how to edit meshes or 3d objects, then the only fun you will have is downloading and printing other peoples stuff. Learning to create and edit your own models is essential!
Oh man I loved this video .In fact I was printing out a part when i stumbled on to this video. Home build delta printer and it took me forever to get mine up and running. It so worth it.
i built my printer for replacement plastic parts that i cant buy so not every one expects to make money from printing if anything it is more of a pain to spend hours if not days printing off files only for your print to crash half way through but they are good for simple things i.e i bought some curtain tracks from flee bay only to find it didnt come with enough curtain hooks so i contacted the seller only to be told that the track is discontinued so i copied the design and printed off as many as i want my sisters son through away one of her cookers nobs she asked if i can print one for her with in a few hours she had one to take home and still has it on her cooker 3yrs later i find having a printer a great tool to have
+smurf196uk I agree. And if you have the ability to do the required design work then it can be a great tool. it's a bit like having a drill press, but not knowing how to use it, except with a 3D printer you can actually *look* like you know what you're doing by just downloading things online.
Joe's 3D Workbench lol true fact is i didnt have a clue of how to use one i knew nothing of g-code i didnt even know what cad was or what it is for i was completely green to the whole idea of 3d printing but i knew i could build one i knew i could learn how to calibrate every thing (softwear and hardwear) it was well worth the effort just for the fun of it and i ended up with a useful tool that was 3years ago but alas pla doesn't last long before it starts to break down so now i have to rebuild my printer
Awesome! I love how you mentioned that sometimes bare materials do it better. I am making a droid from scratch; it follows the classic R2D2 design but only in the fact that it has a central body with two legs mounted at shoulder height and a retractable leg. I have been able to make the entire head and upper brain assembly with only a trashcan, a soldering-iron and a dremel.(please note i Used a un-used trashcan for plastic sheeting) the only reason i am going to 3d-printing is for the construction of gear boxes and a servo controlled hydraulic assembly.
I bought a lulzbot mini last December and must say that I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I didn't buy a 3d printer to make money or solve problems in the world -- I bought one because I thought it would be neat to download a file, print it out and have something in my hands. I've taken the time to learn how to create my own 3d models, most of which I make using Tinkercad which IMO is the easiest way to get started.
Nice work prof. The only thing it looks like you might have missed is, for now, mechanical aptitude (or at least persistence.) Even the simple printers require some user adjustment/tweak/repair.
When I was younger, I was really into both Nerf and RC cars, and my brother liked RC planes. They'd break left and right, and we'd have to wait like a week for a replacement part. It would be rad to have been able to print out another part in about 30 minutes. I have the knowledge to make the files for the parts now too.
I've had my printer for a couple years now. Started by just downloading. Then got frustrated when I wanted something that wasn't there. Started learning blender and fusion 360. Now I refuse to download, i want to design it myself. It's a hobby that just won't die for me.
I feel the same way. It's kind of a struggle for me to want to print other's people's stuff. I got stuff of my own to print! And then I start a kickstarter hoping people will want to print my stuff.
I'm an inventor or mainly I repurpose things. How many times did I scour the malls, dollar stores, and thrift shops to find almost something I need that would connect 2 things together, to cut and hack and modify in hopes for it to fit. Instead I want to have that extra option to build in Blender and have it 3D printed.
Awesome twist of tone at the end haha, I've been practicing making my own models on my school's 3D printers and I think it is high time I pick up a small one for practice. Thanks for the super encouraging video!!
I disagree with #8. Not everyone wants to design stuff. Some of us just want to print something cool, for varying reasons. Having a printer ourselves just spares us from having to deal with the hassle of ordering prints from somewhere like shapeways. We can do it much cheaper at home and don't have to wait for it to come in the mail.
Hey they’re fun. If you’re a tinkerer then even better! I even used my 3D printer to print all the parts to make another one! Seriously though. I use mine to replicate parts I plan to machine on my CNC mill and lathe. It allows me to tune the G code and see any problems with my design. I think your points are right on, it’s not plug and play, although the Prusa I have is very close and has a great support system. If you have kids that show an interest and have a mechanical aptitude a 3d printer will go a long way in developing that aptitude. In other words, if you have a kid who takes things apart to see how they work, get her or him a Ender 3 and turn them loose.
I respectfully disagree with your point that you probably shouldn't own a 3D printer if you don't like/know how to design and all you want to do is download files and print them. I know quite a few people that wouldn't know the first thing about CAD software or designing, but absolutely LOVE just downloading files from thingiverse and printing away the little nick knacks that they put in their garden, or in a window, and the fact that they made it themselves adds to that joy.
I'm currently teaching myself BLENDER for 3d animation. I'm hoping what I learn in Blender will translate well into 3d printing. My original intent is to get an early start in creating things for virtual reality. I'm guessing in the near future the big money will come from the "blueprint" designs, not the 3d printers themselves.
i have my 3d printer for 5 years and i use it every week and it never get old. and YES it is hard to keep it going and i made over 1,000 dollars from 2 moths of selling thing.
My Lulzbot 5, especially with the recent firmware update that calibrates the z before every print, is super reliable. It's a trooper. Initially I only used ABS and wanted to print large and that did not work well. I got a clear enclosure and then printed with PLA and that was great until one day it would stop extruding in the middle of prints. Then with some research I realized that PLA is not as lubricated as ABS and I found a 3D printed collar where you apply oil to it. After that I have had no problem.
Inexpensive hobby for me. Picked me up a $150 fire sale anet A8. I have saved 100s of dollars owning it printing my own jigs and parts for wood shop... very fun inexpensive hobby I think. Very simple machine and has been very low maintenance I think
I imagine that if you are inclined to get one, chances are you are already selected for affinity to use one. It takes a certain mental leap to be inclined. As for being cool, it's actually way cooler than just doing trinkets. Most enthusiasts don't seem to get that you can make potent functional stuff. Robots, drones, even a personal plane. Most don't grasp how strong plastic can be. Some printed plastic is actually stronger than mild steel by weight and close to aircraft alu. Think about that. With a gmax, you can print a personal pressurized high altitude jet.
> I imagine that if you are inclined to get one, chances are you are already selected for affinity to use one. Well that's clearly not true. Just look at this guy's experience. But as for the rest, the trinkets and useless stuff drive traffic, it's easy to see how cool and useful those things are. But I agree, the functional stuff is what gives 3D printing legs.
I know I'm late to the party (WRT this video), but this is a REALLY good video. I own a business and started contemplating doing a little 3D printing as part of my business. I ended up coming to the same conclusion: I decided to download some of the 3D design and slicer programs and try them out before investing in a 3D printer. I wanted to make sure I could handle the design process. Turns out (for me), it looked manageable so I'm going to give it a try. 3D printer just arrived today.
Thank you. Your video has helped me decide that 3D printing isn’t for me. I have deep hobby pockets but precious little hobby time that I would not want to spend playing around with 3D printing. I’d rather just pay someone else to do it. After all they only get paid if the product is acceptable, where as I can pour money and time into 3D printing with no guarantee.
I would say that instead of getting a 3D printer, people should first buy the 3D prints from a service like Shapeways. The few practical reasons (from money making point of view) to then get a 3D printer are (a) to reduce lead times (when you *have to* get the part within hours so you can test and iterate your design forward) or (b) reduce material costs. However reduced material costs are offset by the time you spend on maintaining and screwing around with the 3D printer. A professional, more expensive, machine should have lower labor cost associated with it.
Write up is here: joes3dworkbench.blogspot.com/2016/03/10-cold-hard-truths-about-owning-3d.html
Godzilla Griffon, this is for you then: ua-cam.com/video/UhZJD5FnNJY/v-deo.html
3D Printing Professor sneaky sneaky I see what you did there with number 10 lol
Thanks for this channel, I am new to 3D printing and found your videos very informative. I feel like I am back at school learning from a teacher or back in the 90s learning to use a computer for the first time.
@@JRWatchman85 Hopefully, one of the cool teachers that you actually wanted to go to the class of. Hah.
Glad I can help.
@@3dpprofessor Absolutely. Videos are clear and concise too. I have been doing some initial designs on Tinkercad and wanted to move on to something more comprehensive like Blender. I am watching your Blender series now. I managed to do simple chess pieces and a toy soldier on Tinkercad. My printer arrives on Thursday so I guess I'll see then how good a job I did. Thanks again.
I went the entire 9+ minutes thinking "That is like the smallest ponytail I've ever seen!"
My only regret is that have but one "like" to give.
hahhahahahahahah i dieded >_
OMG me too!
lmao
Whenever people ask about how easy it is, I tell them to think of their 2D printer and all of the constant problems it probably gives them (because you know it does) and multiply that by an entire extra dimension.
+Adahop But then you have to remind them that when you multiply in 3 dimensions, you don't just increase by 2, you increase by 8. Because volume!
Adahop! Now look where I have found you...
Go back to editing neebs videos!
Interesting math here. Anyway, I don't have any trouble with my 2D printer. Ever. Except for the WiFi sometimes disconnecting and needing a reboot. But that's only once or twice per year. I have a 3D printer on its way, though, and am looking forward to all of the kinks so that I can feel a little accomplishment with each successful print.
2D printers are a scam and generally have more problems than 3D printers do, in my experience and opinion.
Stuff and Things
True, I currently own a €300 and a €3100 3d printer. They both work great. The 2d printer at home of €200 hardly works.
As a person who designs and builds 3D printers and other CNC machines I must say you really hit the nail on the head. For most people a 3D printer is an expensive novelty. For those who really learn to use them, they're fantastic.
I build my own printers at a cost of less than $300. I have thousands of hours of print time on them with almost no down time. My first printer was a Chinese flashforge which is still going strong but very noisy so I don't like to use it much. My own printers are very quiet operation. Since a print can take many hours, quiet is good...
I have not used the Anet printers so I can not compare directly. The cost of my own design is based on the cost of the parts when I first designed it 2 years ago. Many of the parts are cheaper to buy today than they were back then, but I never bothered to recalculate. But one difference is with my design, you can also use it for plotting, drilling (for making PC boards) and laser cutting\engraving, if you change the head. Plotting adds nothing to the cost but drilling and laser cutting increases the cost.
However, do not ask to buy one as at this time I am not producing any. I am much too busy for that.
If you are good with your hands then you can buy any cheap printer then use it to make a much better machine. I know several people who have done that.
Earth Lab I wish you luck. One important thing that people often forget is a printer can only make what you design. So, unless you just want to print out what other people have created, you need to learn CAD. There are many free programs out there that work very well with 3D printers. Play with them first.
Earth Lab You are ahead of the game. Good luck and have fun!
Found out more about USB connectivity to 3 - D printers by using Quora. They gave great answers which were really helpful.
I watched this to stop wanting one and now I'm gonna get one 😂😂😂
I approved!
Same
I'm in the same boat, I've been using 3d studio max for years and now I can bring my créations to life.
Thanks Prof for saying what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear.
Same
Lol
I don't need a 3d printer... but I do want one. For me, it's not about needing to produce or prototype anything. it's about learning the technology, tinkering and improving something, making it work, and just having fun. It's a hobby like my CNC machine that I also don't need but still like. And if I end up with a blue plastic Yoda on my desk at work, that's a bonus for me. I just ordered the Monoprice mini, my first 3d printer, and I can't wait for it to come.
I feel the same! I think this video was good adivce, but maybe too negative at times. Almost as if the guy assumes everyone is super lazy, and not interested in actually learning the machine and how it works.
I don’t need it, I don’t need it, I definitely don’t need it…
*I NEEEED IIIIIT!*
Haha. God bless and have a good day!!!
Another thing to consider is the myth that 3d printers are only good for useless trinkets and things. but the truth i think is people buy them out of interest and dont really think about real practical things to print :) until you have had it a while and then finally you start creating more useful objects. The first time i drew something on paper, then designed it in a cad program and finally then printed it. something magical about that.
Bobby K The very first thing I designed for 3d printing, even before I had a 3D printer, was a practical item. but that wasn't the first thing I shared. the first thing I shared and that someone was willing to print for me was a Chinese Chess set.
like I said to another commenter recently, it's the trinkets and nicknacks that sell printers and get the views.
I have a very specific application that I am considering getting a 3D printer for, one that I haven't found a decent solution for by either cobbling together currently made and sold items. (And I certainly can NOT model in clay.) This is why I am considering getting a 3D printer - also knowing that I will have some work to do to get it correct and just right.
I'm used to creating designs on cutters and embroidery machines. A 3D printer will take them to another level. But yeah.. practicality, not toys or trinkets, is why I want one.
That’s the reason most people get them. But that’s not what they’re made for. They’re made for replacing parts, designing new solutions, and designing new things in general.
Most of what 3D Printers are used for.... are trinkets. But that's mainly because your more major things are still made in a factory. But that's not to say that 3D Printers can't be used for engineering because many of them have resolutions as low as 1mm.
Another common misunderstanding has more to do with plastics. People as a whole seem to associate "plastic" with "easily breakable" but that's also a myth. I've made plastic prints that could withstand 900 pounds repeatedly. Sure that's not as good as Metals but it's plenty good enough for most things.
I almost gave you a round of applause for this video, well said! I have been using 3D software for about 17 years, 15 of those years were with 3DS Max, and when I first read about a 3D printer, I wanted one so bad, but the price was way out of my reach. This year, my other half bought me a 3D printer for Xmas, its a Da Vinci Mini. A great starter machine, reliable, yes I have had a few misprints but that's part of the learning procedure. Man I love this thing. Like you said you can design something in 3D space and make the thing, if it's too big for your printer, make it in parts and either glue or friction weld the parts together. What was interesting was when you mentioned about using wood, I am also a woodwork enthusiast and during the winter months my little workshop is impossible to work in due to the cold, so now I can do creative stuff indoors, and now, with the power of a 3D printer, I can start making new tools to help with the woodwork side as well. But you are right, you need to do your homework before even thinking about getting one. I have been thinking, dreaming and wanting a 3D printer for over 5 years! Great video...... I've subscribed!
Great video! People have tons of misconceptions about this technology. Here are a couple of examples of my own.
1. When a co-worker heard I have a 3D-printer she went "I think those are scary. I've heard you can make guns." No. Just, no. If someone wants a gun without going through the proper paperwork and training, they can dig up some shady dealer and get a gun. The most dangerous weapon you can make in home-grade 3D-printer is a pointy stick, and even then, a sharpened pencil will do the trick.
2. Like you said, it's a slow process. A 3D-printer is not a factory for mass-producing stuff. I've talked to people who think my Ultimaker 2 can beat injection-cast plastic in terms of price _and_ manufacturing time. One guy even got annoyed with me when I told him that he should just put in an hour or two more at work and buy the thing he wanted because it would be far cheaper and less time-consuming that way.
3D-prinitng really shines when you want one of a kind or very small series of items tailored to your exact specifications and there isn't a mass-produced alternative.
There are a lot of rumors and videos floating around of folks claiming to have functional firearms printed in ABS, so is suppose you can't blame some folks thinking that (although I've seen guys make guns out of sheet metal and standard shop tools so I don't see how a 3D printer would be any scarier) but I do question their legitimacy.
Anyways, I actually have a super cheap small 3D printer I got from one of those kickstarter printers a long while back. It's a neat little gadget, but I've been messing around with 3D modelling a bit lately and I'm just now thinking about going for a machine in the $600 range so I can start designing my own pieces and printing them off at home.
Pile of carbon but you can make a gun with a 3d printer
Yes, you can make a gun. You can make a better gun with metal tubes, but you can make a gun. Of course you can also make a prosthetic hand for a child or a wrench for the international space station. Every child may grow up to be the next Hitler, does that mean we should ban baby wards? ...That may be the worst analogy ever.
My point exactly. People have all these knee-jerk reactions as soon as they learn that some strange new technology could theoretically be used to make a weapon.
Pile of carbon until they can print in metal they can't make functional guns. Parts maybe. Cnc machine or lathe would be far more useful in making a gun.
Thanks. Been debating this for a while and decided nah. Then the cost became super affordable for something decent. Now I'm like... uh... maybe?
Maybe is a good place to be. I want everyone to enjoy 3D printing because I love 3D printing but I also want everyone to have a good experience, and coming from the hype, reality is always a let down. If you're in "maybe" town it means you're in a place now where the hype isn't affecting you, you can look at it objectively and make the right choice. 3D printing isn't for everyone, but I hope it's for you.
Thanks. Been taking your advice and playing with the Cura software, but was off to a bad start when it wouldn't even run on W7. I found an older Beta version which would and found it quite cumbersome and lacking basic functionality. You seem to have to load an image or something to get you going, you can't just start with a basic shape and mould it. Not sure it is for me, as even though I can get one for £138 I can also buy a MIG welder, which might be more useful to me.
ArcanePath .. Cura is a Slicer , its not for designing ! Thats why you
have trouble. A Slicer is a piece of software that you use to prepare
your 3d object for print. If you want to play around with shapes and
designing objects you should start out with something like 123DDesign or
even the really beginner-friendly "TinkerCad" :)
Have fun with it ..
You're not the first to say something like this. I've got a video coming soon about what slicers are, and aren't. And they definitely aren't for creating models.
Thanks, I've been looking more into this and have discovered what a slicer is now and I have been using 123DDesign and Mesh Mixer for modelling before deciding to order Anet A8 from Gearbest. I got rid of Cura but then re-installed it after I found that I do need it for converting my files into GCODE for the printer to be able to use. There's a steep learning curve with this tech it seems!
i tried my first print today and the nozzle got clogged. currently I'm learning to disassemble the extruder. it's more fun because it did not work.
I agree. You are spot on. This is my hobby, just because of the reasons you suggested. I love to get the problems and overcome them to get slick prints. I design using Fusion 360, slice with Slic3r and print with an Anet 8 that I put together myself. It's hard work! (But awesome!)
Honest, balanced, and so very, very, true. Nicely done.
Well I bought a GEEETECH Prusa I3 dual head some time ago, and I have found your "downsides" to be the source of most of my enjoyment / interest. It broke (enough times), so I learned a) how to fix it, b) how to prevent such failures recurring (within limits), and c) what aspects of operation are REALLY important, and what aspects can be safely assigned a lower priority. A year on and I have made many really good (but relatively very inexpensive - thank you Thingiverse!) mods, resulting in an "entry-level" machine being transformed into a "mid-range performance" machine for not that much more in dollar terms (and most of those dollars were spent on ABS filament). By focussing on the "end result" you might dissuade those who may be buying a kit "for the experience".
Have the same printer, would you be able to list some of the best/most effective mods you made to it?
Alex - most of the mods were downloaded from Thingiverse and there's a VERY actiove Geeetech "owners collection" there. I also have used objects designed for other printers (but whose .stl files were amenable to editing via TinkerCAD). THE most useful mod was effective workpiece cooling (lots of blower shroud designs), along with cooling of the motherboard (the standard unshrouded fan was less than useful). It is worth the (minimal) cost to buy a few LED type thermocouple thermometer modules - so you don't have to rely on the LCD display (a module for each hot end and the bed is a good choice - a few dollars via Ebay / DX / Banggood). I've redesigned the printed guides to take the LM8LUU bearings (they seem to provide better accuracy), and have obviously replaced those awful cable-tie fastenings on the build platform with M3 threaded rod (curved to the right radius using a simple wooden guide). Next upgrade will be self-levelling (but NOT using their sensor), and probably a heated enclosure so I can print more complex ABS forms with a lower failure rate.
You are a true gentleman! Thanks for this, exactly what I was looking for, happy printing! :D
No problem, you'd be surprised how much help I've had over the past year and a bit!. Other mods you might consider are buying "external controller boards" (Bang Good do them) that use the ATMEGA 80256 MOSFET outputs as control signals. Reduces Motherboard power flows (so reduces heating), and provides a more stable supply to the stepper controllers. Seeing as the three power MOSFETS aren't the "very best" this mod will improve reliability. It also seems to provide better thermal rise time (things heat up faster, and temp. control seems tighter). Worth looking at improving the cooling on the stepper drivers - those little heatsinks are barely good enough (especially with the extruder steppers drawing a fair current). There are a few good multi-fin copper ones that seem better (going by my non-contact IR thermometer that is). The existing PSU is OK - but does benefit from a printed shroud with a decent fan (Thingiverse!), and your printing will be much improved if you replace than nasty plastic tube "spindle" on the filament reel carrier with a ball-bearing system. Unfortunately there is a lot of "hole diameter" variation between suppliers, but if you stick to the same supplier you should be able to fabricate spacers to fit the reel to bearings of your choice. There are a few nice ideas on Thingiverse (including a conical "one size fits all" adaptor system). Hope this helps, and it's well worth investing in spare nozzles, cleaning drills, maybe heater cartridges, thermistors - and the 3d Printer section on the Bang Good website is a VERY useful resource for things that are "cheap enough to break / destroy without too much anxiety!"
Alex - as a note, have a look at Bang Good part number 1086965 . These "controllers" DO take a LOT of the power load off the motherboard power connectors, and although I'm suspicious where their "25A capacity" is concerned, they do seem to do the job well (and the MOSFET heatsinks don't get particularly toasty, even over a very long print run) The white connector is very popular as a charging connector in the RC industry and is available as a "jst-xh 1s" connector (Bang Good sell these loose or cabled-up, e.g. 80685 for plugs AND sockets), and it's important to observe polarity when connecting up. Apart from that, they are cheap, and they do the job (print bed AND extruder heaters) very well indeed.
Good points all around. I started doing 3D modelling about 20 years ago so having models to print, or rather to try to print is not a problem. I bought my 3D printer about 3 weeks ago and learned pretty quick that you have to tinker with the machine AND your models to get good prints. So yeah, it's not a "make-anything-you-want" machine, but it's still damned impressive.
I have to say though, I think the most important point you made was... the last one! It is freaking cool! ;)
Nat Grant nice pfp
I remember when I was a kid, I used sketch-up to model shit and I don't even remember what. This was before 3d printers were really a thing, and certainly before I knew anything about them. And I've been making various models over the years of stuff I want. Finally bought an Ender 3 just to get my feet wet, and I've already got 5 gcodes ready to print. Really hoping I don't burn out...
5 years late with this comment BUT I have only been 3D printing for 6 months. I bought mine with the idea of using it for practicality and I would say I have done 60% of my prints based on practicality and 40% just for fun (puzzle, flexible animal, etc.). The practical stuff I designed, the fun stuff I download and maybe tweak a bit. Practical, a couple examples. I have a video camera alarm system made by Tend. I broke the mount for one of the camera. You can't just buy a mount. I took the broken parts in, modeled and printed. Made one initial mistake, iteration 2, perfect. Second practical thing. Again with the Tend camera. My printer has no camera for monitoring a build while I am away, the Tend security camera has a cell app so I built a mount for my 3D printer to mount the camera and I can now view the print in real time. Here's a 3rd one. My computer keyboard crashed, more exactly coffee spilled on it. I have a Mac and the angle on the old keyboard was perfect, the replacement not angled for nice comfortable typing. I took off the base of my old keyboard and I could mount the new one inside the base but it wasn't secure. I build clips to hold the base to the new keyboard. And one more. I have a classic BMW and 850i. The cup holder is in the globe compartment and the holders fold, are unstable and can only hold a cup the size of a dentist spit cut. I printed one that fits in the center console. I printed a base, which actually has a small drawer, and a dish top to hold coins. I can unscrew the dish top and attach the cup holder. AND, for cosmetics I designed a BMW logo and I did it in multicolor, 3 color, by stoping the print and swapping filament colors. It came out amazing. I was a software developer so I know I had the ability to use design studios and slicer so I decided to take a shot. My current project is more technical, a word clock using Arduino control card and neopixels. I have seen a few on thingiverse but mine is more 3D print driven and also includes the weather, stock ticker, and humidity. So, like I said my printing is much more practical than just printing Star Wars characters that others designed. I am thinking to download someone else's designed Lost In Space - Jupiter 2 and using the Arduino and Neopixels to illuminate the underneath and inside compartment.
Love your enthusiasm! I totally agree with your CAD modelling requirement comments. One thing I would also mention is that now all filaments are equal!
Truth 11... 3d Printers are addicting!!!!!
No matter the difficulty 3D printing is still a nice hobby for the mechanically inclined.
This is a pretty good representation of some of the difficulties of using a 3d printer. I've had mine for about 3-4 years now and sometimes it sits for months, while other times it will be going non-stop for days or weeks. I built mine from a kit, but because parts wear out, there is not much left of that kit, I have upgraded/replaced almost everything.
It's because I have years of experience in CAD or designing in 3D spaces that I haven't made the drive. I just can't find it to be anything other than another hobby and I already have an excess of those.
LOL!!! I have 3 3D printers... They are are friggin fun. Just the tech and fun of being an inventor makes me love them. Probably will never make me any money but you know what... for 20 dollars for Filament every month is cheap entertainment.
I knew nothing about 3D printers two years ago. I bought a Smartrap+, built it, and thought I had a duff machine. Jammed filament, things not sticking to the glass bed etc etc etc. I downloaded Openscad, and was pulling my hair out, I was thinking I had wasted a bunch of cash. However, after ignoring a lot of terrible advice on the internet and instead learning how the machine worked, and how to design parts, I am now printing 1/16 scale tanks that are fully functional. I learn more everytime I use Openscad. I have since bought and built a Sintron Kossel as well, so it was back to the nightmare of getting a machine set up. All of that said, all of my prints now stick to an unheated glass bed using PLA, the print quality is top notch, and I never get blocked nozzles. It's all down to getting the machine set up properly, and designing parts properly. The print orientation is also important. I can design repair parts for all sorts of things now, and wouldn't be without them now.
I've been on the fence for 2 weeks now debating if I should get a 3D printer. I'm a designer, I work as a third party for a big 3D printing company making various designs for big companies, but I've never touched the printing aspect of it. The company I work with use super high end printers and I would only be purchasing a consumer level printer. What has been holding me back is really the maintenance and the fear of it going to waste (not printing anything worth while). My initial reasoning for buying a 3D printer is to design and print useful products to sell online, but the more I think about it, the less I believe that anyone can make a side business selling 3D prints... I really appreciate this video and all the useful information. I will let this marinate in my mind for the next few days but I believe this video has pushed me toward the "wait for 3D printers to evolve a bit more" phase.
I learned the CAD aspect in my Intro to Engineering Design class and printed out my miniature bugle and matchbox car models at school. All the designing and waiting for prints is well worth the wait and struggle because it's so satisfying to have an idea, design it, and pop it into something you can hold in a matter of a hours (or days depending on complexity and size).
Number 8 is probably exactly true. I never used to know how to design 3d objects. I made a deal with myself that once I could I would get a 3d printer. I tried and failed to really do much. Then I discovered fusion360. It took me a few hours to get a rudimentary understanding(by that I mean I can make basically 2.5d sketches then extrusions lol). I designed a small quad that is arriving from shapeways tomorrow actually. Im an engineering student and do a lot of projects with micro contollers and such and one issue I've always had: is finding/making enclosures that work well. Im about to order a 3d printer in the next few days, that I can design my own parts, and am stoked that I can make enclosures that are not grossly oversized, but are in fact perfectly sized, have standoffs in exactly the right places, and have all the ports I need without drilling into a cheap plastic one...Im definitely not on the fence lol. Although your points made me think lol.
This guy is awesome! As an engineer and maker I can’t argue with a single thing he says. Totally hits the nail on the head. Great job.
I'm fairly active in our local maker community where we have what is now an older Ultimaker. I'm 3 sessions (about 30 hours) into printing a gearbox and probably have another 2 or 3 sessions left before I can attempt assembly. It's a design I downloaded and the primary reason I'm building it is because I don't understand how it works. Once it's printed I think I'll be able to work it out as we're primarily visual-tactile creatures. Afterwards it will make for an interesting desktop toy, something that may encourage creative thinking in my team along with other desktop toys to be made in the future.
Having a printer at home will be a huge step for me. Something that I've been working on for 5-6 weeks and will continue to work on for another 3-4 weeks (delays caused by family obligations and work constraints) is expected to be able to be produced in 2-3 weeks with a home printer. That's a big deal. Being able to iterate a design is huge for me. Mashups of designs, well, that's my nirvana. I recently ordered a printer that is within my price range for an introduction into how this tech will impact my day-to-day life but as is so often the case, I expect I'll use it heavily for 4-6 months then less so until it gets as much attention as my desktop laser (paper) printer.
I absolutely agree that 3d printing isn't for everything. It's a tool, a capability that goes right along with all of the rest like laser cutting, welding and brazing, lathe and mill work and carpentry. People that have these capabilities quickly take them for granted but people without these capabilities covet them greatly. I agree that spending some time learning how to design using 2d and 3d CAD is time well spent but ultimately there must be a space for the payoff, whatever that means to the maker. I've found my time at our local maker studio to be priceless in achieving this payoff. Still, convenience wins in this instance.
I have had a 3D printer for two years now, I agree that there are times when I had to take the thing apart to unjam some stuck plastic (which taught me the lesson to not change between PLA and ABS so often) but after some time you get to know how to use it better. Now knowing the settings which best suits my printer, I have no problem with printing stuff in general and get very few errors.
I've been doing 3D modeling for around 20 years, so I totally am all about the hype. Plus, i have done a lot of research here lately on the "beginner" level printers out lately. With hundreds of reviews on them. Seems like the industry is advancing. I can't wait to see what is coming around the corner. I like your page, and I am just getting into reviewing these things for myself.
I am very impressed by your multi-tasking ability to deliver an articulate 10 minute talk while you are fixing your machine. Interesting assessment of 3D printers.
All very good points. I got a CR-10 mostly to make my own designs. I think most people that get a 3d printer just for the sake of getting a 3d printer get bored pretty fast. Making your own models for fun though, is incredibly addicting!
Absolutely brilliant. I really couldn't have said it better. While a 3d printer can be a very expensive toy, it can also be a very cheap way to do prototyping. I personally own a printer, and love it. It may be fun to just download and print something, but it is way, way, more rewarding to see a model you made and have it be made into a physical model. A 3d printer can be an extremely useful tool.
For a regular person, sure this applies.
However, as an engineer and someone who works ALOT at a makerspace I've got to say, 3D printers is one of the most used tools we have. You will design the part in CAD in any case, using a 3D printer makes prototyping and end-use production super easy.
The only thing here that really applies to engineers and makers is the fact that it's slower than most of them expect.
i bought a cheap I3 kit with my xmas funds. i use one at work all the time and find it infinity useful. just having those situations, "crap i need an adapter to mount this speaker" or whatever. you can simply make one and tell those guys selling them for $60 a pop to go screw off! love the technology!
Well, here's my story...
I wanted a 3D printer just to print Dnd miniatures cheaper than the ones that they sell here in Mexico (about 10 US DLS per piece), I was very hesitant at first because of all the points you mentioned but at last, I decided to buy one. When it arrived I knew very little about 3D design or 3D modeling. I've been 3D printing for 3 months and now I built a little 3D shop of my own, I've designed a couple of products and doing good, definitely 3D printing has changed my life. I consider myself a noob but getting better everyday.
I love the ending, it summarizes all of the thing that I think about 3D printing.
Sorry for the long text, hope you made it here
Do I need a 3D printer? No. I mean I'm still figuring out 3D modeling and I haven't figured out that much of it at all. But I've found all kinds of cool things to print up, including pieces for a tabletop game that has become defunct and is no longer produced. So did I get a printer anyway? Nope. I did not get a printer, I have three now. I find these things imesurably fun to watch. Tweaking the slicer setting, tuning belts, adjusting calibrations, the whole process of getting them ready is fun. Then you get a thing at the end of it all, a little printed prize! These things are now my favorite hobby, it makes me so happy.
that bit about if youre not a designer is bs. You buy a 3d printer to learn to design. there are tons of cool things to keep you busy while you learn.
You're right. You're absolutely right. Thing is that statement makes intuitive sense, especially if you're a designer. But considering that of the top 4 3D print channels on youtube, none of them design anything every, that says something about how wrong that statement was.
"Tea, earl grey, hot" Picard is my favorite starship captain as well :)
Its been several years since 2016, most of those issues have been solved. There is more than enough information and apps out there for each filament and printer type to find the right settings. But ONE thing does not change, if you want to print it, you have to design it - or at least learn how to use the splicer.
Im glad that i watched and waited a few years to go from 3D CNC to 3D printing, printers, software and tools are so much better now that in the days of "lasercut plywood" printers
"a block of wood and a drill" ... I am so glad I'm not the only one who thinks like that!
Having buy an ANET a6 2 months now twinging it and designing items my self . I have to say that 3D printing is the most ( fun to money spend ratio ) hobby i ever had.
what you are refering to is old technology, there are better designed printers that are less of a worry.
For instance?
Well, I might be a bit early on the gun, seeing as how I had to mail the tool head on mine back in (micro blower was out). The lulzbot mini, from nearly all accounts I've heard, and even mine, with it's...well, ok, it came broken. But broken, it still did the default print really well. Bit stringy, but pretty good. (and honestly, I think the blower broke during shipping, because the final print they did before boxing it was even better than my print, by a fair bit. UPS is hard on packages.)
Once I switched to my pla, it did pretty well for about a dozen layers, then gave up. Heat creep, apparently, is very bad for pla. (lesson learned)
But broken, this machine is pretty dang awesome. Just throwing that one out there.
I agree with everything you just said!
I have a love-hate relationship with my 3D Printer. Some prints take a while to get right or the printer doesn't start the print off right and it falls over, but I also love making things, and when the come out good, I'm very happy.
Sure you could of bought something of the internet for a few quid, but where's the fun in doing that.
One of the very best and accurate videos that I have ever seen regarding the current state-of-the-art of 3D printing (even though this video is a year old). We purchased a Lulzbot TAZ 5 at work last year, and although the printer paid for itself within its first week, I still saw how parts for 3D printing had to be designed with some care. I even recently purchased one of those crazy (fairly cheap) Chinese 3D printer kits (a 'FlyingBear'), and have been having a blast with it.
Hi I"m 14 years of age and fellow 3-d printer owner, I have a Makerfarm pegasus. I have had it for 3 years now and sure there is some hard thing's to get through such as building it if you got it in a kit or leveling and aligning everything, but I feel like anyone could get a 3-d printer. I say this because I knew nothing about 3-D printers and let alone electronics but with enough patience you can be a pro at it.
Thats cool, i bought a Flashforge Creator about a year ago because i got tired of shaping things out of foam or wood and then molding them in expensive silicone and making resin copies. It IS alot of work, regardless of the printer you gotta be willing to tinker with the printer. i dont believe current gen printers are anywhere close to being your average consumer ready product.
That ending though! 😂 I realize everything you said is true. But (also like you said) it is still difficult to hear those negative points about 3D Printing. However, I'm glad you ended it on a positive note. For a lot of people who love 3D Printing, going through the difficulties is part of the hobby/passion and it's something they are willing to bear or actually enjoy. I, myself, love creating and tweaking designs because it's a part of what makes it fun for me. Anyway, kudos for addressing the concerns and for the awesome ending. It really took me by surprise and made my day.
I really like this down to earth advice from a real entrepreneur of this kind of tech. I recently got myself an Anet A8. Can't wait to try it out. It's like you said, you get this fever of how much stuff you could use it for. I used a 3D printer in the past a couple years back, so I can relate to the use case and the not so necessary application. But, I loved it then, and it is an amazing tool to have around. Glad it's gotten to this point of affordability for the average consumer!
Many think CNC machines in machine shops are similar. Just put in a program and push start. It can take days to set up the machine and make the program run correctly and smoothly. Sometimes it was much quicker to run a single part manually.
one of the most honest man i ever saw on youtube.
3D printing looks, sounds so cool, yet it can be a pita. Kinda like a "hot date" who acts weird after all the build up.
This is the best ban analogy I've ever heard. I'm gonna end up saying this some time in an inappropriate place.
All the drawbacks really dont matter for some designers
as a teenager 3d printing is a great hobby for me to learn and understand CAD software and doing many upgrades like replacing my mainboard and it really taught me loads. i think 3d printing is amazing although some days i might spend a good 6 - 8 hours troubleshooting. i guess as a kid i have all the free time unlike some other people though so i mean i would recommend a printer if you really have the time and patience.
I loved this. Thanks. I have friends that I have encouraged to get a printer and others that I have told to think hard about it before they buy it. Honestly, I don't want to be the one they call to fix their printer every time they have a problem.
I bought a Mini Kossel kit 2 months ago... Made my money back in less than 2 weeks and have been profitable ever since.... The majority of my time is spent on calibration of the machine, if you buy one just know that you will be doing more tweaking of your system than printing for quite some time and even if you have it perfect it wont stay that way...
Great list; spot on.
Currently, 3D printers aren't even at the level of user friendliness as commercial dot matrix printers in terms of home use and basic maintenance.
The home applications are similar; desk top publishing, a term no longer used, and I suppose automated home fabrication would be the equivalent of DTP. But in terms of daily use, generally the only technical issues a user will run into is a paper jam, which is easily cleared by hand and a clogged print head, which was addressed with automatic print head cleaning cycles and regular replacement of print heads with each new ink cartridge by the time ink jets became the norm.
Currently, there is no equivalent quick user fix for many filament jams or nozzle clogs and the average user that requires push button usability and basic maintenance requirements will either have to learn a new set of skills just to keep their printer running, or 3D printer repair technician will become the way for the 3D printer hobbyist to turn that hobby into a side job.
I'm still of the notion that 3D printers are now firmly within the realm of specialty markets such as product designers, engineers, artists and repair technicians, but with more and more schools currently adding them to basic classroom equipment along with lessons on how to use them, we are currently in an age where this generation will have grown up familiar with the technology, and that alone assures the industry will continue to evolve.
Cool! Thanks to warning people... I totally agree all of you say, it is in agreement with my own, old experience. Our lab bought one of the very first, very expensive Stratasys, and despite the price (I could not give it here ;-), it ended with endless repair processes. I think that after almost ten years, there is not a part we did not change, and like a Marines, with its rifle, I could disassemble and reassemble it with closed eyes... But anyway this is a fantastic machine and 3D printing has changed the life of many technicians and designers in our lab !!
Totally agree with you
I still remember when I first saw a 3D printer 6-7 years ago, I really wanna buy one. But after my research, I decided to wait, I am waiting for the industry to grow and imagining it can become something like a desktop inkjet printer.
I kept checking the information of 3D printing occasionally but what I imagine haven't come, despite many cool 3D printer came up through the years, the barrier of using the 3D printer still there and still high for a normal guy like me, I still are not confident to use it like I am using my inkjet printer by just typing a few words and print it out so easy. And I start to think I am wrong.
To prove am I wrong, I started to learn designing 3D stuff by different softwares. When I am able to make something out, I buy my very first (and very cheap) 3D printer, then I realised what the problem is. I am totally wrong, 3D printer is not a inkjet printer, may be I have been mislead by the word "printer", it is a machine and a tool
what he said about needing to be able to design things to really make the 3d printer worthwhile is totally true. you CAN just download thingiverse stuff and print it, but that's kinda boring and doesnt really justify the price of the printer itself. i did that for about a week after first getting my printer, and then i got bored, and started making my own stuff in tinkercad, then in onshape. also, the feeling of seeing something that started out as just an idea in your head becoming a physical object is much more satisfying than just finding stuff to print online.
I would love an updated version of this video. Things have come a long way in the last 7 years!
Hey good video. I liked how you maintained a non biased opinion and did communicate struggle points of 3D printers that a lot of people do not consider.
i know its hard. but it can be rewarding some times
one of the best and the most honest feedback on 3dprinters. Kudos!
Hi I own a Wanhao 4s and never get jams. I never unload filament, I always cut off the filament near the extruder and select load then feed in the new one. no more jams.
I agree, if you don't know how to edit meshes or 3d objects, then the only fun you will have is downloading and printing other peoples stuff. Learning to create and edit your own models is essential!
Oh man I loved this video .In fact I was printing out a part when i stumbled on to this video. Home build delta printer and it took me forever to get mine up and running. It so worth it.
i built my printer for replacement plastic parts that i cant buy
so not every one expects to make money from printing
if anything it is more of a pain to spend hours if not days printing off files only for your print to crash half way through
but they are good for simple things i.e i bought some curtain tracks from flee bay only to find it didnt come with enough curtain hooks so i contacted the seller only to be told that the track is discontinued so i copied the design and printed off as many as i want
my sisters son through away one of her cookers nobs she asked if i can print one for her with in a few hours she had one to take home and still has it on her cooker 3yrs later
i find having a printer a great tool to have
+smurf196uk I agree. And if you have the ability to do the required design work then it can be a great tool. it's a bit like having a drill press, but not knowing how to use it, except with a 3D printer you can actually *look* like you know what you're doing by just downloading things online.
Joe's 3D Workbench lol true
fact is i didnt have a clue of how to use one
i knew nothing of g-code i didnt even know what cad was or what it is for
i was completely green to the whole idea of 3d printing
but i knew i could build one i knew i could learn how to calibrate every thing (softwear and hardwear)
it was well worth the effort just for the fun of it and i ended up with a useful tool that was 3years ago
but alas pla doesn't last long before it starts to break down so now i have to rebuild my printer
Awesome! I love how you mentioned that sometimes bare materials do it better. I am making a droid from scratch; it follows the classic R2D2 design but only in the fact that it has a central body with two legs mounted at shoulder height and a retractable leg. I have been able to make the entire head and upper brain assembly with only a trashcan, a soldering-iron and a dremel.(please note i Used a un-used trashcan for plastic sheeting) the only reason i am going to 3d-printing is for the construction of gear boxes and a servo controlled hydraulic assembly.
I bought a lulzbot mini last December and must say that I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I didn't buy a 3d printer to make money or solve problems in the world -- I bought one because I thought it would be neat to download a file, print it out and have something in my hands. I've taken the time to learn how to create my own 3d models, most of which I make using Tinkercad which IMO is the easiest way to get started.
Nice work prof. The only thing it looks like you might have missed is, for now, mechanical aptitude (or at least persistence.) Even the simple printers require some user adjustment/tweak/repair.
I have 4 inventions that I need to see created. Just bought a 3D printer (CR 10S). Figured why not. Hope I don't regret it.
When I was younger, I was really into both Nerf and RC cars, and my brother liked RC planes. They'd break left and right, and we'd have to wait like a week for a replacement part. It would be rad to have been able to print out another part in about 30 minutes. I have the knowledge to make the files for the parts now too.
I've had my printer for a couple years now. Started by just downloading. Then got frustrated when I wanted something that wasn't there. Started learning blender and fusion 360. Now I refuse to download, i want to design it myself. It's a hobby that just won't die for me.
I feel the same way. It's kind of a struggle for me to want to print other's people's stuff. I got stuff of my own to print!
And then I start a kickstarter hoping people will want to print my stuff.
I'm an inventor or mainly I repurpose things. How many times did I scour the malls, dollar stores, and thrift shops to find almost something I need that would connect 2 things together, to cut and hack and modify in hopes for it to fit. Instead I want to have that extra option to build in Blender and have it 3D printed.
Thanks man, how truthful you are.
Excellent video. You speak the truth. Bought my first 3D printer 10 years ago. 11k. Made enough to pay for it.
Awesome twist of tone at the end haha, I've been practicing making my own models on my school's 3D printers and I think it is high time I pick up a small one for practice. Thanks for the super encouraging video!!
I disagree with #8. Not everyone wants to design stuff. Some of us just want to print something cool, for varying reasons. Having a printer ourselves just spares us from having to deal with the hassle of ordering prints from somewhere like shapeways. We can do it much cheaper at home and don't have to wait for it to come in the mail.
Yuuuuup. ua-cam.com/video/AY_ep8KiJho/v-deo.html
Learning first how to 3d model in Solidworks, Maya or 3dsMax is a must.
HAHAHA I loved that ending - it was so goddamn perfect
Great video loved your style. You gave it to us straight from the hip with no sugar coating. Plenty to think about. Thank You.
Hey they’re fun. If you’re a tinkerer then even better! I even used my 3D printer to print all the parts to make another one! Seriously though. I use mine to replicate parts I plan to machine on my CNC mill and lathe. It allows me to tune the G code and see any problems with my design. I think your points are right on, it’s not plug and play, although the Prusa I have is very close and has a great support system. If you have kids that show an interest and have a mechanical aptitude a 3d printer will go a long way in developing that aptitude. In other words, if you have a kid who takes things apart to see how they work, get her or him a Ender 3 and turn them loose.
talking about wait time, 5 inch tall model, 20%square infill 2mm walls and bottom .1mm layer height. print time-14 hours
Layer height affects the print time the most I find.
I have no idea why UA-cam is suggesting this video in 2024 but it's hilarious.
We've come an awful long way in 8 years.
I respectfully disagree with your point that you probably shouldn't own a 3D printer if you don't like/know how to design and all you want to do is download files and print them. I know quite a few people that wouldn't know the first thing about CAD software or designing, but absolutely LOVE just downloading files from thingiverse and printing away the little nick knacks that they put in their garden, or in a window, and the fact that they made it themselves adds to that joy.
I'm currently teaching myself BLENDER for 3d animation. I'm hoping what I learn in Blender will translate well into 3d printing. My original intent is to get an early start in creating things for virtual reality. I'm guessing in the near future the big money will come from the "blueprint" designs, not the 3d printers themselves.
Henry TheGreatAmerican It certain did for me. animation is where I started.
i have my 3d printer for 5 years and i use it every week and it never get old. and YES it is hard to keep it going and i made over 1,000 dollars from 2 moths of selling thing.
My Lulzbot 5, especially with the recent firmware update that calibrates the z before every print, is super reliable. It's a trooper. Initially I only used ABS and wanted to print large and that did not work well. I got a clear enclosure and then printed with PLA and that was great until one day it would stop extruding in the middle of prints. Then with some research I realized that PLA is not as lubricated as ABS and I found a 3D printed collar where you apply oil to it. After that I have had no problem.
another dream in the toilet.
Make sure you print the toilet
@James Remus thats weak. I eat the bones.
James Remus XD u actually replied HAHAHA
Inexpensive hobby for me. Picked me up a $150 fire sale anet A8. I have saved 100s of dollars owning it printing my own jigs and parts for wood shop... very fun inexpensive hobby I think. Very simple machine and has been very low maintenance I think
I imagine that if you are inclined to get one, chances are you are already selected for affinity to use one. It takes a certain mental leap to be inclined. As for being cool, it's actually way cooler than just doing trinkets. Most enthusiasts don't seem to get that you can make potent functional stuff. Robots, drones, even a personal plane. Most don't grasp how strong plastic can be. Some printed plastic is actually stronger than mild steel by weight and close to aircraft alu. Think about that. With a gmax, you can print a personal pressurized high altitude jet.
> I imagine that if you are inclined to get one, chances are you are already selected for affinity to use one.
Well that's clearly not true. Just look at this guy's experience.
But as for the rest, the trinkets and useless stuff drive traffic, it's easy to see how cool and useful those things are. But I agree, the functional stuff is what gives 3D printing legs.
I watched with a defensive heart, then I agreed
For number 6. How about a CNC router/mill and a 3D printer. That gets you about 90% there in terms of capability right?
Without question the more tools you have available provide more options for solving problems.
I know I'm late to the party (WRT this video), but this is a REALLY good video. I own a business and started contemplating doing a little 3D printing as part of my business. I ended up coming to the same conclusion: I decided to download some of the 3D design and slicer programs and try them out before investing in a 3D printer. I wanted to make sure I could handle the design process. Turns out (for me), it looked manageable so I'm going to give it a try. 3D printer just arrived today.
Thank you. Your video has helped me decide that 3D printing isn’t for me. I have deep hobby pockets but precious little hobby time that I would not want to spend playing around with 3D printing. I’d rather just pay someone else to do it. After all they only get paid if the product is acceptable, where as I can pour money and time into 3D printing with no guarantee.
Best video I've watched in YEARS. Period. Thumbs up!
Thank you. Your video saved me a$1000 . I'll set up my program and have it printed some where else.
I would say that instead of getting a 3D printer, people should first buy the 3D prints from a service like Shapeways. The few practical reasons (from money making point of view) to then get a 3D printer are (a) to reduce lead times (when you *have to* get the part within hours so you can test and iterate your design forward) or (b) reduce material costs. However reduced material costs are offset by the time you spend on maintaining and screwing around with the 3D printer. A professional, more expensive, machine should have lower labor cost associated with it.