3D printer buyers - how long before your 3D printer was on trademe? (a new hobby question...)

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › 3D printer buyers - how long before your 3D printer was on trademe? (a new hobby question...)

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#233887 8-May-2018 09:20

So with birthday on the horizon, one of the proposed gifts from the lovely Mrs Item was https://www.prusa3d.com/original-prusa-i3-mk3/

Now the idea of a 3D printer as a hobby kit has been bouncing around in my head for a while - I am a stereotypical gadget nerd after all - but that thought was always tempered by the nagging voice saying "it will be gathering dust within 6 months"...

So for those of you that have already made the leap and bought a 3D Printer as a hobby/toy and without any specific or ongoing application in mind - how did it work out for you?

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#2009724 8-May-2018 09:31

ive had mine for about 3 years. im only trying to sell it now, as ive just stopped using it (got into wood working, so anything i would of 3d printed before I typically just make from wood now).

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#2009726 8-May-2018 09:34

reven:

ive had mine for about 3 years. im only trying to sell it now, as ive just stopped using it (got into wood working, so anything i would of 3d printed before I typically just make from wood now).

Did you make much of real value, or innovate with it by making things you would have otherwise bought or custom items for interesting problems or needs, or was it just aimless tinkering and gewgaws?

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#2009736 8-May-2018 09:47

I've had mine for about 6-8 months and still gets used - although now it's more to prototype things before I make them on my little CNC machine and for unimportant things like project boxes where it's cheaper to use filament than stock, and where there's no real strength or precision required.

Even with a little CNC (and a bigger one on the way) I don't see me being without a 3d printer anytime soon.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

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#2009741 8-May-2018 09:51

Lurking.

I thinking of getting a 3d printer to replace those little plastics bits that disappear off toddler toys or are missing from friends giving you their kids old toys..

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#2009788 8-May-2018 10:34

I used it for various things, picture hooks instead of the 3m ones, headphone stands, some toys or my kids (unmovable pretty dumb stuff, but pokemon,dinosaurs etc). I would say i didnt really get the value of it. My friend uses it to print war gaming stuff and he uses it all the time, and does get the value out of it. I got it cos i thought "oh cool, i want!".

its a handy thing to have, thats why I hung onto it,but now I can build better stuff from wood to fill the gap I was using a 3d printer for.

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#2009799 8-May-2018 11:00

I've had mine for about six months. I put off buying one for a long time because although I really wanted one I didn't think I'd use it. Now I use it often, but not all the time. It's extremely useful when you have an idea or need a part that is just so to be able to whip up a quick model and print it.

I do a lot of woodworking, but I find the 3D printer complements the structures I am making from wood.

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#2009803 8-May-2018 11:04

I bought one several years ago as a gift. It is still sitting unopened.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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#2009854 8-May-2018 11:51

Rikkitic:

I bought one several years ago as a gift. It is still sitting unopened.

Someone else was the recipient or a gift for yourself??

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#2009862 8-May-2018 12:01

Someone else.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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#2009926 8-May-2018 13:15

Item:
So for those of you that have already made the leap and bought a 3D Printer as a hobby/toy and without any specific or ongoing application in mind - how did it work out for you?

I haven't bought one but keep looking into them from time to time. It's very difficult to come up with a usage scenario in which a CNC milling machine isn't much more useful if you want to create items that you intend to actually use: With a 3D printer you can make fragile, and typically kinda rough-looking, prototypes, with a CNC mill you can make actual items for use.

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#2009934 8-May-2018 13:25

That's funny, got back to my desk and i've got a txt sitting here that covers off very much the same topic...

To me, 3d printing will probably me more for fun and project than used. i do have a few things i've had printed which are very useful - poor friend gets Queues of tasks stuck on him

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#2009940 8-May-2018 13:30

neb:
Item:
So for those of you that have already made the leap and bought a 3D Printer as a hobby/toy and without any specific or ongoing application in mind - how did it work out for you?

I haven't bought one but keep looking into them from time to time. It's very difficult to come up with a usage scenario in which a CNC milling machine isn't much more useful if you want to create items that you intend to actually use: With a 3D printer you can make fragile, and typically kinda rough-looking, prototypes, with a CNC mill you can make actual items for use.

Sorry, grandad. These days 3D prints are strong and smooth, and you can make actual items for use.

neb

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#2009946 8-May-2018 13:34

irongarment:
neb:
Item:
So for those of you that have already made the leap and bought a 3D Printer as a hobby/toy and without any specific or ongoing application in mind - how did it work out for you?

I haven't bought one but keep looking into them from time to time. It's very difficult to come up with a usage scenario in which a CNC milling machine isn't much more useful if you want to create items that you intend to actually use: With a 3D printer you can make fragile, and typically kinda rough-looking, prototypes, with a CNC mill you can make actual items for use.

Sorry, grandad. These days 3D prints are strong and smooth, and you can make actual items for use.

Print metal do they?

irongarment

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#2009948 8-May-2018 13:39

neb:
irongarment:
neb:
Item:
So for those of you that have already made the leap and bought a 3D Printer as a hobby/toy and without any specific or ongoing application in mind - how did it work out for you?

I haven't bought one but keep looking into them from time to time. It's very difficult to come up with a usage scenario in which a CNC milling machine isn't much more useful if you want to create items that you intend to actually use: With a 3D printer you can make fragile, and typically kinda rough-looking, prototypes, with a CNC mill you can make actual items for use.

Sorry, grandad. These days 3D prints are strong and smooth, and you can make actual items for use.

Print metal do they?

Well, some of them do, but most people will print PLA or ABS (which is a kind of plastic). The printed parts are strong and immediately usable.

neb

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#2009963 8-May-2018 13:47

irongarment:
neb:
irongarment:
neb:
Item:
So for those of you that have already made the leap and bought a 3D Printer as a hobby/toy and without any specific or ongoing application in mind - how did it work out for you?

I haven't bought one but keep looking into them from time to time. It's very difficult to come up with a usage scenario in which a CNC milling machine isn't much more useful if you want to create items that you intend to actually use: With a 3D printer you can make fragile, and typically kinda rough-looking, prototypes, with a CNC mill you can make actual items for use.

Sorry, grandad. These days 3D prints are strong and smooth, and you can make actual items for use.

Print metal do they?

Well, some of them do, but most people will print PLA or ABS (which is a kind of plastic). The printed parts are strong and immediately usable.

The last time I saw something printed by one, a relatively recent Stratasys, it still needed to build up solids by honeycombing, and the result looked flimsy and 3D printed. I was told by the guy running it that it was more reliable than it looked, but I haven't gone back and asked him if it's broken yet. I wasn't impressed.

As I said, given the choice between a CNC mill and a 3D printer, I'd take the mill any day.

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