3D printers...YES or NO

[west0618]

With the cost of 3D printers coming down regularly, I have to ask...has ANYONE bought one yet? And if so, how are you doing with it?

I was looking at the one offered at HobbyKing...
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... ouse_.html
It looks a bit frail and I have seen good and bad reviews on it. For some one like myself, this would be GREAT for the odd ball stuff I get into and try to pull off old school.

I'm as curious about the software you use to generate the files to produce the end result as well. That is often where the BIG money can be racked up. And the learning curve on the higher end software has to be high. I'm passed the point of wanting to take a college course to make a nosecone or whatever.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on 3D printers and their easy / difficulty to get a grip on let alone master.

[Lee]

I have been thinking a lot about 3D printers lately too.
They are still a little rich for me to allocate funds to, unless you get a really cheap one.
But I don't want to by a cheap piece of crap, just because its in my price range.
From what I have seen, the Lulzbot mini, seems to be a great printer, with easy to use software.
Its a mid range price model at around $1500.
I think I will wait a little longer for this level of model, to come down in price, before I press the buy button.

[Graham Lawrie]

https://plus.google.com/103401212165525 ... fN7dGSHFJm

This is a link to a cheap one that a guy in FPV Scotland bought and the quality of the prints he is doing are awesome and it is cheap:)

If you follow his thread ypu will see what he is printing:)

[Graham Lawrie]

https://plus.google.com/103401212165525 ... TiWwnZt5QU

https://plus.google.com/103401212165525 ... xyKmE9fLfW

https://plus.google.com/103401212165525 ... FCbkNuQCR7

[Lee]

I can't see a link to the Printer Graham, only to his posts.
I don't see any mention of the models name.

[Graham Lawrie]

I can't see a link to the Printer Graham, only to his posts.
I don't see any mention of the models name.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shi ... 57787.html

[pvolcko]

I've been thinking about picking something up. Still undecided on going with a tabletop CNC machine, 3D printer, or something that can do both. I'm kind of leaning in the direction of a tabletop cnc machine rather than a 3D printer. Any 3D printing capability would be gravy. Have been eyeing a StepCraft setup for a while now. Expense is holding me back.