3D printers

[FLOOB]

I want one. What do I need to know?

[guncrasher]

I want one. What do I need to know?

first what a 3d printer does.


semp

[BoilerDown]

A lot. Check out the reddit, for starters.

[tmetal]

Print area size
print method: FDM (plastic filament) and SLA (photo-reactive resin) are two of the most common
layer resolution capabilities of the printer
budget
single or double extrusion head (FDM)
ease of maintenance
customer support availability from the manufacturer
what type of material you want to print in (ABS plastic is very popular/common and cheap-ish),

Also something to consider: what kind of 3D modeling software is best suited for your needs. Programs like autocad and solidworks are great for precise engineering but are tougher to use to make organic shapes or animation type characters.

[ink]

Print area size
print method: FDM (plastic filament) and SLA (photo-reactive resin) are two of the most common
layer resolution capabilities of the printer
budget
single or double extrusion head (FDM)
ease of maintenance
customer support availability from the manufacturer
what type of material you want to print in (ABS plastic is very popular/common and cheap-ish),

Also something to consider: what kind of 3D modeling software is best suited for your needs. Programs like autocad and solidworks are great for precise engineering but are tougher to use to make organic shapes or animation type characters.

Blender is easy to use, for modeling, it also has an add on for 3d printing.


would love to pick one up....looked at pricing....way cheaper then I thought....but still just not in my price range. 

[ebfd11]

http://3d-printers.toptenreviews.com/

Lawndart

[Flench]

I like to have one to make RC parts .

[icepac]

What you need is 1 million dollars.

[Meatwad]

3D printer + silicone + stack of hustler = 

[Scherf]

3D printer + silicone + stack of hustler = 

Josie Stevens!

[MrRiplEy[H]]

3D printer + silicone + stack of hustler = 

Uh, where do you plan to get the prints? It was hard enough for me to get her to make the mold. 

[DmonSlyr]

I want one. What do I need to know?

Honestly, I'd let the technology get better and the price drop before you buy one. Many of the in commercialized ones are quite up to great resolution and are still edgey.

[BoilerDown]

I've got a newer but smaller version of the one shown in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4RGU2jXQiE

Strongly considered getting a "delta" design 3D printer though.  There's a lot of pros and cons to every aspect of 3d printers and 3d printing right now.