I've had a 3D printer for a little over a year now. And it's a big deal. The very best thing about it is being able to design parts that fit. I had an antique drain where I needed to attach a hose from my furnace. I was able to make a part that fit the hose and the drain cover, replace lost vacuum cleaner parts, an LED flashlight helmet mount, custom clips for easily attaching straps to a caving bag, the list goes on and on.
Currently I'm working on quadcopter frame. Though most of the frame is aluminum angle iron, the engine mounting pieces, legs, electronic platforms are all 3d printed to fit. I'm personally not very great with power tools or other tools for machining, cutting, or carving parts. The 3d printer is far more accurate at placing screw holes and making things the right size than I am. I print it and as long as I designed the parts with the right size it just fits.
Though having a delivery truck that delivered 3d printed parts? I don't see that as being very useful. You don't have the turnaround time if you make a mistake in the design. It'd only be good for pre-designed items not self designed.
Baffling. None of your examples are anything more than laziness or a lack of wherewithal in finding parts. Quadcopters? The single most popular thing at the moment, and you can't find parts already made? Come off it.
"There are things that are so serious that you can only joke about them"
- Heisenberg
What's the market here? (Score:2, Interesting)
I really don't get it. With all the 3D hype, I've never seen anyone in the street or personally talk about or have a 3D printed object.
What are people doing that it requires such a massive infrastructure?
Last I heard, it was only Luddites that had factories or delivery trucks, we were going to 3D print everything at home, including the home itself?
Re:What's the market here? (Score:1)
Currently I'm working on quadcopter frame. Though most of the frame is aluminum angle iron, the engine mounting pieces, legs, electronic platforms are all 3d printed to fit. I'm personally not very great with power tools or other tools for machining, cutting, or carving parts. The 3d printer is far more accurate at placing screw holes and making things the right size than I am. I print it and as long as I designed the parts with the right size it just fits.
Though having a delivery truck that delivered 3d printed parts? I don't see that as being very useful. You don't have the turnaround time if you make a mistake in the design. It'd only be good for pre-designed items not self designed.
Re: (Score:0)
Baffling. None of your examples are anything more than laziness or a lack of wherewithal in finding parts. Quadcopters? The single most popular thing at the moment, and you can't find parts already made? Come off it.