3D Printers for $750

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/08/makerbot/

by onreact-com • 17 years ago

43 16 17 years ago

wired.com

onreact-com• 17 years ago

This is a huge leap. Last time I checked "affordable" 3d printers did cost 15k dollars.

jacquesm• 17 years ago

It's a price vs quality thing.

Makerbot is a great thing though because it makes this affordable, whatever the quality, some manufacturing capability at low quality (resolution, material choices) is better than none at all.

replicatorblog2• 17 years ago

Exactly right. The MakerBot is not a threat to Stratsys, Objet, or any of the other big 3D printer companies, but it does open the door to any school with an engineering bent and the ability to run a profitable bake sale.

It helps teach the principles of 3D printing, give people a good reason to pick up CAD skills, and hopefully will produce a cool product or two.

steveklabnik2• 17 years ago

You're also able to lease many of them now. It's usually about the cost of a car payment. A Dimension machine would run you just under $300/month.

ars• 17 years ago

How much does it cost to run?

rdouble2• 17 years ago

When I looked into these devices in May, the ABS material was $25 per cubic inch. Most of the professional machines are designed to be run 24/7. I.e. if they stop running for too long they get clogged with goo and have to be serviced by a technician.

If you're in the Bay Area, TechShop in Menlo Park has professional versions of these machines and often hosts seminars where you can learn a lot about them for free, or for a moderate price ($30).

tocomment• 17 years ago

I can't imagine it's that much. Here it says $30 for 5lbs, http://store.makerbot.com/plastic.html

How many cubic inches does five pounds get you? Hopefully many?

rdouble2• 17 years ago

My (serious) question... can I run gingerbread, or some other bake-able substrate through one of these? I have a molecular gastronomy inspired art project in mind...

replicatorblog2• 17 years ago

The MakerBot can't print gingerbread, but they did create a "Frostruder" a printhead that deposits cake frosting. The Fab@Home project also lets you print with liquefied chocolate.

dave_au• 17 years ago

Fab@Home dream project: chocolate easter bunnies with anatomically correct frosting organs.

sp332• 17 years ago

Candyfab! http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/candyfab

http://candyfab.org

niyazpk• 17 years ago

This page contains the video of one in action: http://www.makerbot.com/

tedshroyer• 17 years ago

I don't know if it's less expensive to build it yourself but I think Makerbot sells parts for repraps also.

http://reprap.org http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/PartsSupplies

steveklabnik2• 17 years ago

One thing that's not covered in this particular article, but has come to light recently, is that MakerBot Industries is paying people to make parts for the MakerBot. http://blog.makerbot.com/2009/08/06/makerbot-is-pioneering-d...

skwaddar• 17 years ago

The Utah teapot is used in 3d demos because of it's topological properties, though it does make a cameo in Toy Story.

3D Printers for $750

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