Cubify 3D Printers Aren't Just for Squares (Video)

But can it print a Tux? by pinkushun · 2012-07-02 01:35 · Score: 1

I wonder how durable and strong the material is, obviously strong enough to make that shoe, and flexible enough for that m.j. style glove worn by the guy in the video.

#1 on my birthday wishlist!

Re:But can it print a Tux? by durrr · 2012-07-02 01:44 · Score: 2

$50 for the cartridge sounds a bit expensive.
You can probably find something equvalent for less than half the price from http://reprap.org/wiki/Printing_Material_Suppliers
Re:But can it print a Tux? by StripedCow · 2012-07-02 02:00 · Score: 1

I wonder how durable and strong the material is
You could always print a mold, and use that to cast the desired shape in any material of your own liking.

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If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by bluefoxlucid · 2012-07-02 02:13 · Score: 1

That's what I was thinking: Holy shit a fully decked out RepRap Mendel is cheaper than this, as is a spool of ABS feed stock.

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Re:But can it print a Tux? by skids · 2012-07-02 02:15 · Score: 4, Insightful

What I want to know is when will these things have a hopper where I can chuck all my old laundry detergent bottles as feedstock?

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Someone had to do it.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Space+cowboy · 2012-07-02 02:51 · Score: 4, Interesting

It's a popular idea, but the materials science guys tell us that re-melted plastic has different properties than "fresh" plstic, and the more times you melt it, the worse it gets (more brittle, different melting temp. etc)
If you want accurate prints, you're going to need fresh plstic. Sad but true.
Simon

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Physicists get Hadrons!
Re:But can it print a Tux? by roman_mir · 2012-07-02 03:05 · Score: 4, Informative

Unfortunately all plastics are different.
No plastic is the same, plastics have different composition, additives, melting points, all sorts of different properties that really makes it impossible to melt them together and expect any sort of consistency.
OTOH it instead of melting the plastics, your old bottles could be shredded somehow into powder and then mixed with something sticky, some glue or epoxy, but even then different behaviours of different plastics would be problematic.

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You can't handle the truth.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by jcochran · 2012-07-02 03:05 · Score: 1

Not so sure about that shoe. Since the cubify site itself claims that the build area is 5.5" x 5.5" x 5.5", I kind of doubt that the shoe was actually built on a cube. The maximum length in that cube is only 9.5" (assuming going from bottom corner, to opposite corner on top of cube. A more likely dimension would be from diagonal corners at the same level (so as to build shoe upright instead of canted diagonally) and that is only 7.75" kinda small for a foot..
Re:But can it print a Tux? by SomePgmr · 2012-07-02 03:09 · Score: 2

Fair, but I can see the utility in a finished device like this where everything is pretty simple. My first thought was of the tech labs we had as kids in middle school.
Also, can we please get a /. operating rule for video ads that says you can't immediately start with a annoying alarm clock going off? That little eye-opener damn near gave me a heart attack.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by tmosley · 2012-07-02 03:11 · Score: 3, Interesting

Seems to me that that is a function of the additives in the plastic. If you use all milk containers, the properties shouldn't change.

Also, I never heard of the properties of plastic changing just from melting and re-extruding them. Maybe it is just a scale issue, where small scale reprocessing creates an inferior filament.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by SomePgmr · 2012-07-02 03:15 · Score: 1

I'm not up on this (and it sounds like you are), but could this be the sort of thing where a setting could quickly adjust for recycled stock? Is the temperature of the extruder something you can usually adjust with a pot or some such?
I mean, assuming there are cases where slightly lesser print quality might still be acceptable, it does sound like a neat idea.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by skids · 2012-07-02 03:18 · Score: 2

Laundry detergent bottles are emminently remeltable. Just don't breath the fumes, and expect the volume to shrink a bit. But the end product is relatively durable. That plastic is a bit less rigid than would be needed for some uses, though.

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Someone had to do it.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 03:21 · Score: 0

'Obviously strong enough for that shoe'? Really? The maximum print size is 5,5" (about 14 cm). What's the size of your foot? In other words, that shoe is not a shoe.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by ortholattice · 2012-07-02 03:49 · Score: 3, Interesting

Actually, I was wondering the opposite, which is how to recycle objects that you make. I would guess that typically there will be significant waste as prototypes are fine-tuned, as well as when whatever you make breaks or is no longer needed.
I hope the design software will make it easy to incorporate the plastic's recycle number in a triangle embossed somewhere on the object, and even encourage it. My town's recycle service requires that all plastic objects have this number on them. In the past they have refused to pick up non-container plastic objects that don't have this number (when they notice it), such as a toy that stands out from the rest.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 03:51 · Score: 0

There are open source plans for one already: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:24583
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 04:18 · Score: 1

how about you idiots spare us the mindless speculation and look up the properties of different plastics
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 04:42 · Score: 0

Great idea -- they need to add a HOPPA!
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 04:47 · Score: 2, Informative

It's a function of the plastic itself. Most plastics will depolymerize* at a much lower temperature than that at which they would theoretically melt (if they could reach it without depolymerization). When you melt and re-solidify it, it often isn't even a plastic anymore.
3D printers use thermoplastics, which are the exception in that they become soft and workable at a temperature that's below depolymerization.
*Alternatively, turn into a different plastic composed of the same building blocks. Proteins** are an excelent example: go more than a little above body temperature and most will denature.
**Yes, they're polymers.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 06:18 · Score: 0

Well you could buy 2.5 Solidoodles for that much too. http://www.solidoodle.com/
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Aviation+Pete · 2012-07-02 09:52 · Score: 2

Also, I never heard of the properties of plastic changing just from melting and re-extruding them. Maybe it is just a scale issue, where small scale reprocessing creates an inferior filament.
Then you are not listening to the right people, those who know their stuff. Plastics are long chain molecules, and extrusion involves high shear forces at high temperatures, cracking those chains.
Next, these molecules need stabilizers to protect them from UV light and oxygen radicals. Those are also damaged in the melting and re-extrusion process. Either you add more of them, or permanently degrade the material.
The list goes on ...

--
You know it's time for the next revolution when your rulers' names end with roman numerals.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by nighthawk243 · 2012-07-02 11:23 · Score: 3, Insightful

Most people are used to paying out the ass for inkjet/toner cartridges. Anyways, the RepRap is much cheaper and flexible, but it isn't something the mainstream users that Cubify is targeting will be able to build/use. Your average Slashdotter that likes to tinker with 3D printing will take the time to become proficient with the small details of getting everything to work; but the run of the mill engineer, doctor or whatever trying to prototype something via CAD just wants it to work without much effort. Plus it appears to be more polished, which helps in regard to workplace safety. An exposed extruder isn't something you really want. While I love the RepRap project, 3D printing won't become mainstream if it remains a gearhead type of operation.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 16:25 · Score: 0

I bet you were the sort of kid who when he played doctors and nurses with the neighbour boys always wanted to be the nurse. Or, is a baseball analogy better suited?
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Bitsy+Boffin · 2012-07-02 20:54 · Score: 1

So, like this...
http://filabot.com/
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:24583
Work in progress obviously, but people are working on it.

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Re:But can it print a Tux? by Phoghat · 2012-07-03 05:07 · Score: 1

$50 for the cartridge sounds a bit expensive. You can probably find something equvalent for less than half the price from http://reprap.org/wiki/Printing_Material_Suppliers
Give them some credit for thinking out of the box ( at least as far as 3D printing boxes, anyway), Seems this is geared towards the same crowd tyhat would buy an iPad insyead of an Android tablet, because the Apple product is geared toward the person who just wants to say "I have one", and impress their friends.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
Re:But can it print a Tux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-06 10:21 · Score: 0

How about you look up filament?

not slashvertisement enough... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 01:40 · Score: 3, Insightful

article needs a blue screen w/ 1800 number and steak knives.

btw, who cares if google thinks it's "cool."

where am i supposed to go to satisfy my lust for sanding? photocopying? or any of the other basic tools?!

finally, a thermally-controlled 3d-printer without an enclosure to control ambient temperature is begging for trouble.

Just what hackerspaces need.. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 01:46 · Score: 5, Insightful

Something closed-source, with proprietary consumables, and based on how it looks likely difficult to repair.

No thanks, I'll stick with a Makerbot or RepRap 3D printer.

Re:Just what hackerspaces need.. by jythie · 2012-07-02 02:15 · Score: 2

Well, that is why market variety is a good thing. 'hackerspace' is a pretty broad group, with one hacker's tools being another hacker's toys. These more propriety devices will generally be better for people who want a device who's purpose is to produce parts for their actual interest as opposed to something that is a goal unto itself.

Personally I have been considering things like the Makerbox, RepRap, Rapman, etc... but so far they are too in the 'toys unto themselves' category whereas what I want is an out of the box device for producing components. I do not think this device will be what I want either, but I imagine that in a few years we will see a few converances.
Re:Just what hackerspaces need.. by Smidge204 · 2012-07-02 02:56 · Score: 2

If you want a true out-of-the-box solution for 3D printing you can have it - at a premium price. ZCorp immediately jumps to mind but they are by no means the only source. A Reprap device will cost you a tenth or less of the commercial-ready machines, but the tradeoff is you will need to put in the time to assemble it and tinker to get top performance.
=Smidge=
Re:Just what hackerspaces need.. by jythie · 2012-07-02 03:00 · Score: 1

True, but ZCorp and other suppliers represent another end of the spectrum, high cost professional rigs that tend to require investment not only in money but time to learn and utilize the systems.
Re:Just what hackerspaces need.. by psergiu · 2012-07-02 03:10 · Score: 4, Insightful

Also, according to their site, the software needed to convert the "3d object" files in a format that this printer will understand is Windows-only.

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Re:Just what hackerspaces need.. by faedle · 2012-07-04 11:50 · Score: 1

It would seem to me that anything that would deserve the moniker "hackerspace" will have problems with, at minimum, one of those.

Who is this for? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 01:46 · Score: 2, Insightful

Hmmm lets look at this:
The market for something this expensive would be people so deep into the hobby, that they would be able to get something cheaper, expandable and accepts a universal standard for input instead of something expensive and proprietary. Even in a hacker space you have to have the knowledge to get the model and then use the software to print it, you have to dive pretty deep in order to get involved.

Re:Who is this for? by faedle · 2012-07-02 02:02 · Score: 2

Not necessarily. $1200 puts it into the reach of the kinds of people who bought the first generation Cricut. Plus, the cartridge-based consumables and the software makes it pretty user-friendly. My guess is that you can go from open-the-box to printing something off Thingiverse in a matter of minutes.
This is the Apple ][ of the 3D printing world: the first completely assembled ready-to-go take-it-out-of-the-box-and-start-printing consumer 3D printer. Yes, it's likely going to have a fair share of early adopters and hobbyists, but this is a likely candidate for something that takes 3D printing into a lot of homes and workshops that six months ago wouldn't have imagined owning a 3D printer.
Yes, I can imagine one soccer mom type I know getting one of these. It will sit right next to the Cricut and the $1200 embroidery machine.
Re:Who is this for? by mattr · 2012-07-02 02:08 · Score: 1

Schools?
Re:Who is this for? by wjsteele · 2012-07-02 02:49 · Score: 3, Informative

It's most certaintly not the first. There are several 3D printer manufacturers (including MakerBot themselves) out there that have been doing this for quite a while now... but none of them are charging as much for their consumables. It seems that for $50, you get about a pound of material, which is roughly 3 times the normal cost.

Bill

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It's my Sig and you can't have it. Mine! All Mine!
Re:Who is this for? by Tough+Love · 2012-07-02 06:39 · Score: 1

The price is not much different from a decent SLR lens.

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When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
Re:Who is this for? by jasenj1 · 2012-07-02 09:52 · Score: 3, Informative

We have a Cricut and a Silhouette - electronic paper cutters.
The home crafting market is one I think a 3D printer would do well in, and this one seems to be aiming in that direction. There are lots of moms & grandmas who sew, quilt, knit, make cards, scrapbook, etc. Many of those women are incorporating computer driven tools into their workflows. A 3D printer would let them print cutsie embellishments, cupcake holders, party favors, napkin rings, and "girlie" things that are completely off the radar of the "hacker space" boys club.
- Jasen.
Re:Who is this for? by ghostdoc · 2012-07-02 19:11 · Score: 1

Wargamers.
The average cost of a lead miniature is ridiculous. The cost of a full army is easily > $1500, so you could recoup the investment after just one army.
You can 3-D scan existing miniatures to create the blueprint.
So we just started pirating real physical objects. I wonder how long until there's a Manufacturer's *IAA demanding a levy on all 3d-printers because they're primarily being used to breach copyright?

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Business/App ideas are like arseholes: everyone's got one, they're mostly shit, but very rarely they contain a diamond

Precious metal plastic cost by vlm · 2012-07-02 01:52 · Score: 5, Insightful

(plus $50 each for the plastic "print" cartridges)

Filament extruder plastic costs about $35 per kilo (talk about mixed measurements... but that's how its sold. Figure "fifteen bucks per pound")

So a loaded $50 cartridge should weigh at least 4 pounds total. I can't figure out on the website how much a cartridge weighs, but just looking at it it seems like you're paying a pretty high premium for your plastic.

Not quite as bad as "precious metal cost" printer ink, but I bet by the time HP sells a 3-d printer they'll find a way to make the plastic cost more than, say, silver, on a weight basis.

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"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger

Re:Precious metal plastic cost by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:05 · Score: 0

Yeah, people here seem to be zeroing in on the recurring cost of cartridges. The site (specs page) says 13 or 14 "mid-sized creations" per cartridge, so figure a few bucks each, screwups included. More than I'd pay. Price will fall (for printers in general, if not this one).
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by TheCarp · 2012-07-02 02:23 · Score: 2

Yup. I just setup a 3d printer from a kit, but the one I put together can be had, already set up, for $1200, which is $100 cheaper than they want.... plus, uses simple filiment rolles, and I am printing beautifully with those cheap $35/kg PLA rolls.
Can't blame them, I guess, for trying to get people to agree to a lock in for convinenece.... especially since there is no real need for anyone with a normal 3d printer to ever pay the premium to support their vendor.
That said, I will take a bit more manual work for the cheaper filiment.

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"I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by h4rr4r · 2012-07-02 02:24 · Score: 1

Do you have a link to the model you picked?
I have been looking at this for ages now and would like one I can build without already owning an entire machine shop.
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by JaredOfEuropa · 2012-07-02 02:49 · Score: 1

I helped a friend build his Makerbot kit, this thing came complete with all necessary parts and electronics. Required tools: just a soldering iron, screwdrivers and other small tools. No difficult cutting, sizing or sawing required. With that said, we've had no end of trouble getting the print head and feeder to work reliably, even a replacement assembly did not help. The feedstock would invariably get stuck in the print head after printing a few layers. I know there's plenty of other people who have had a lot of success with their Makebot or RepRap, but I think you still need to be prepared for a fair amount of fiddling and cursing.

That is the attraction of the Cubify printer. Crappy business model aside, it at least promises to work out of the box.

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If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by vlm · 2012-07-02 03:14 · Score: 2

figure a few bucks each, screwups included. More than I'd pay.
How much to people pay for pathfinder/DnD/Mech minis? Or small kids toys, or custom/exotic chess set pieces, etc?
I was semi seriously thinking of teaming up with a 3d graphics artsy type to make a service where you send us a couple (preferably clothed) pics and we send you a pathfinder mini who looks like you but with somewhat elvish features wearing wizard clothing... I figured I could sell personalized minis for about the same as mass produced generic minis but surface features "don't work" at this time at that price level. Maybe another factor of 10 on resolution per dollar and I can go for it. The problem is I can buy the res I need off the shelf but the minis would have to cost $300 each, or I can buy the price I need but the res would be poor enough not to bother. Then again the latest pathfinder release of a ultra fancied up adventure path re-release is like $200, so maybe there's a market after all.
Oh even paying 2 to 10 times normal retail for the plastic, there are still uses. I just don't want to overpay by 2 to 10 times.

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"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by Grayhand · 2012-07-02 03:17 · Score: 1

Cartridge cost is the one thing that would hold me back. If you have a serious need then it's a great thing but you have to be realistic because for a $50 cartridge you can probably make a handful of items that would cost a few bucks each. We're a long way from kids making their own toys to save money. Any part you make will be expensive. I've checked into some more industrial units that run off bulk stock and then you're talking something that costs the price of the plastic and electricity. It's a very high buy in but if you are using them a lot for practical purposes then they make sense.
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 03:25 · Score: 0

HP already sells a 3d printer. Prints ABS filament, like many of the RepRap style 3D printers.
It's HP, though. $35 per kilo? Try $333 per kilo.
To be fair, that's still a bit less than half the price of silver.
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by vlm · 2012-07-02 03:30 · Score: 2

I helped a friend build his Makerbot kit
To the best of my knowledge they only sell the replicator model now.... the "good" news is they sell it fully assembled and tested just remove from box and plug in, the "bad" news is instead of a mere $1200 or whatever its more like $2K with dual extruders.
Rapman product is the specified "about $1200", maybe thats what the original poster purchased.
The printrbot is much cheaper around $500 but seemingly perpetually out of stock.

build without already owning an entire machine shop.
I own a full machine shop, and unfortunately there are no 3-d printer blueprints. plenty of STL files and assembly diagrams to be printed but a dude with a milling machine and a lathe has to figure out how to make the parts on his own and some of them are rather mysterious from a traditional machining standpoint. I should probably sharpen up my cad skills and create and release a set of traditional machinist prints for a near-reprap printer, like a huxley or a mendel. It would seem a heck of a lot simpler to retrofit my CNC mill to extrude, or simply find a buddy to print me a set of parts.

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"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by nospam007 · 2012-07-02 04:11 · Score: 1

"Yup. I just setup a 3d printer from a kit, but the one I put together can be had, already set up, for $1200, which is $100 cheaper than they want.... plus, uses simple filiment rolles, and I am printing beautifully with those cheap $35/kg PLA rolls."
Well, you could just print those expensive Cubify cartridges and make a fortune.
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by TheCarp · 2012-07-02 05:29 · Score: 2

I put together the MakrerGear kit: http://www.makergear.com/products/3d-printers
It is a bit expensive but a number of parts are upgraded from the cheap options that people say you can source for half the total cost. Brass bushings instead of PLA, linear rod instead of tool rod, Really nice compact extruder with a metal gear box on the stepper, pre-cut jig for checking the frame geometery.... and of course shielded wire for motor hookups.
Its a great kit if you are willing to pay a bit more for the convinence of having it all put together, and the upgrades there (including a tube that can be used for either a bowden extruder or a filiment guide).
A few bits could have been documented better, would have saved me some time. I highly recomend getting some 1/4" or so thick window glass (8"x8") and some binder clips to mount (plenty of pics online) then cover that with Kapton.
The mistake that cost me the most time was not using seperate nuts for tensioning the bed springs and adjusting the bed level. Once I found a video online that showed it done properly, it was an easy fix. first upgrade I recomend is M4 thumbwheels for the bed leveling nuts.
I also just uploaded my own design for a jig to mount a dial gauge indicator on the rods to check the bed level.... I recomend a dial guage and this jig: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:26031

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"I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by TheCarp · 2012-07-02 05:35 · Score: 1

Just thought of one more thing. Docs aside, I really didn't like the use of terminal blocks to make the shielded wire to motor connection, so I actually used some of the large molex that you see on PC power supplies.
I aborted that, am running without the shilded wire for now (its still a bit of a mess but printing beautiofully anyway). So I decided to break down and place a mouser order for some of these:
http://www.molex.com/molex/products/datasheet.jsp?part=active/0430250408_CRIMP_HOUSINGS.xml
of the appropriate size, and their mating parts/pins etc, and then I will finish making my wiring pretty.

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"I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
Re:Precious metal plastic cost by modecx · 2012-07-02 14:07 · Score: 1

A similar situation: When I first got into mastering my own music to audio CD (around 1994-95) the CD-R drive alone was around $1500, disks were about $10 a pop, coastering of disks was way too common, burning a disk took half an hour (2X man, that was fast!), all of the software involved was proprietary and likewise expensive; worst of all, the dollar was worth significantly more!
I jumped in feet first and didn't complain, but look at where we're at today, a DVD-R drive costs about $20, media costs about a quarter when you buy in bulk, and it writes over 6 times the data in 1/5th of the time. We're spoiled by extremely inexpensive, highly capable electronics relative to just a few years ago. If this kind of device finds a niche, the prices will come down, quality and versatility will increase, the market will diversify, and maybe eventually every engineering, architectural and art student wouldn't want to be without their 3D printer.

--
Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.

50$ for a cartridge? by Hentes · 2012-07-02 01:53 · Score: 2

I guess they also copied the business model of 2D printers.

Re:50$ for a cartridge? by vlm · 2012-07-02 01:55 · Score: 1

I wonder if they've "chipped" the cartridges to prevent people from home re filling.
If not if might be an interesting technology to swap different colors in and out of the printer.
Of course they've probably patented the idea of a filament cartridge, and patented the business method of overcharging for consumables, etc etc.

--
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Re:50$ for a cartridge? by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2012-07-02 02:43 · Score: 4, Funny

Oh, you can refill the cartridge; but does your filament have the correct cryptographically-signed-and-timestamped anti-tamper code printed along its entire length?

If the optical-verification scanner in the filament feed path encounters a missing section, or a section not signed with the private key corresponding to the public key QR-coded on the filament cartridge, it won't continue printing, now will it?

And don't even think about a replay atttack... Each cartridge's key is reported to the Consumable License Activation Server upon first installation, and each Enciphered Consumable Subsection String is reported as consumed when it first passes through the optical-verification path. If a printer attempts to validate a previously validated cartridge key, or reports the consumption of filament with the same Enciphered Consumable Subsection String more than once, your printer will fail Cubify Genuine Advantage...

(The above is sarcasm; but I suspect that it wouldn't exactly be rocket-surgery to implement such a system in the real world...)
Re:50$ for a cartridge? by Arancaytar · 2012-07-02 02:59 · Score: 1

Not quite; then you'd get the printer free with a two-year cartridge subscription. :P
Re:50$ for a cartridge? by vlm · 2012-07-02 03:06 · Score: 1

Ah those are MBA level suggestions right there. I came up with another, create a certain specific color, then patent / copyright / trademark that specific shade of blue or whatever, and sue the heck out of anyone on the internet who dares to speak that specific precise wavelength. 476.242526 nm? You thief, you! File lawsuits against people who sell tee shirts with the number 476.242526 written on them, etc.

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"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Re:50$ for a cartridge? by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2012-07-02 03:13 · Score: 1

I suspect that the good folks at Pantone would be happy to collaborate with you on a line of co-branded and heavily licensed colors...

Just kick out the offerings here in filament rather than chip shape, add 75% for the service, and you are on your way.
Re:50$ for a cartridge? by Issarlk · 2012-07-02 04:33 · Score: 1

If they did it would be cheaper to buy a new printer everytime the cartridge is empty.
Re:50$ for a cartridge? by gitano_dbs · 2012-07-02 05:50 · Score: 1

The cartridge included in the printer can be at half capacity like the ones on the 2d printers to prevent this.

Re:Video doesn't work for me by second_coming · 2012-07-02 01:54 · Score: 0

I finally gave up on Firefox a few months ago after using it from the first version.

Continually locking up on Google images was the last straw.

Moved over to Chrome and after the initial period of hating it (because it was an unfamiliar program) now love it.

Following the inkjet business model... by Kogun · 2012-07-02 01:58 · Score: 1

people who buy these will eventually regret the proprietary cartridges.

How about openness? by unixhero · 2012-07-02 01:59 · Score: 3, Insightful

What happened to sharing?
I thought the most important part about the 3D printer revolution was that users were in fact able to get designs through a communal repository of designs, FOR FREE.

What I see here is a bunch of super-fancy iPhone covers that sell at USD30.
That is not going to help fuel the revolution that the other 3D printers started. The implications for the world are enormous when everyone can replicate items in their house for free. It is not impressive when you get an iPrinter- that increases the cost of using it significantly.

Screw simplicity. I want to be free.

Re:How about openness? by jythie · 2012-07-02 02:21 · Score: 1

Simplicity is what jumps something from a niche geek toy to a mass market devices, which results in driving down the price not only for the 'simple' devices but also for the niche ones. If this takes off, you will still be able to get your community centric ideologically specced devices, but probably for a lot cheaper and powerful then today, just like computers.

Though it should be noted, even the 'best' 3D printers today do not even come close to 'replicating themselves'. Yeah you can print out the plastic parts, but they do not make up the lion's share of the cost of producing one and you still have to go to more specialized producers for all the critical pieces. The whole 'raprap can duplicate itself' is a somewhat dishonest tagline that I wish the community would stop spreading.
Re:How about openness? by Hognoxious · 2012-07-02 02:42 · Score: 1

I remember seeing one claim that it could produce 90 percent of itself, which is true.
If you go by weight; essentially it's the chassis.

--
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Re:How about openness? by jythie · 2012-07-02 02:54 · Score: 1

*nods* a more specific claim like that I can see, but even then it is a little dishonest since that last 10% is rather important. It is like saying 'I can make 90% of my linux box out of wood!' simply because you can built the case. The 90% you can replicate doesn't get you 90% of the functionality, it doesn't even get you 9%.
Re:How about openness? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 16:31 · Score: 0

It is like saying 'I can make 90% of my linux box out of wood!' simply because you can built the case.
Why did my mind jump to a picture of Ted Kazinski maniacally laughing while compiling a kernel

Bloody printer cartridges... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2012-07-02 02:02 · Score: 4, Insightful

The thing that makes me nervous about this 'Cubify' business, though the hardware certainly has a more polished look than some of the DIY models, is that it appears to derive its attitude toward software and consumables from the same cesspool that consumer inkjets use...

By the pictures, the 'cartridge' is a smallish reel of polymer filament('proprietary ABS' per the FAQ). ABS filament should set you back less than $20/lb, not $50/cartridge-of-unspecified-capacity-and-properties...

And software? Ha, ha, ha. Even if you already have an STL object ready to roll, it's their fisher-price-meets-flash-game mutant bastard child of kiddo's first 3d modelling application/device-driver for you. But at least you get 25 free 'creations' if you buy one! Have they been poaching software guys from HP's consumer printers division or something?

It's honestly somewhat baffling. Given economies of scale, mass production, experience, potentially useful patents, etc. it shouldn't be terribly difficult for commercial 3d-printer vendors to compete on hardware specs(along with fit-and-finish and easy availability of finished products rather than kits) with the various DIY contraptions, but these 'Cubify' fellows seem determined to undermine what might be promising hardware with usurious consumables pricing and cringe-worthy software...

Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by faedle · 2012-07-02 02:08 · Score: 2

I think you may be looking the wrong direction as to "who they're copying."
They are looking directly at the Cricut. Call it a hunch, very soon there will be an online store where you can buy objects for printing: and those will be where the profit is made.
Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by h4rr4r · 2012-07-02 02:23 · Score: 1

I predict very soon those will be pirated or copied by FREE plans.
What I want, is something that can scan any 3d object and make a file to print it.
Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by jythie · 2012-07-02 02:27 · Score: 2

*shrug* geeks might lament the closed rip-off that is the inkjet printer market, but it did work quite well, resulting in low cost high quality printing in pretty much every livingroom. I still remember when 'high quality' printing was the exclusive domain of massive laser printer systems and plotters. You know what.. if one wants more open options they still exist. You have to pay more for them, but they have been driven down in cost over the decades.... in other words the open alternatives might not have gotten as much of a boost as the closed one but they still benefited from the market.

This 'all market segments should meet my requirements' thing is starting to drive me crazy. Sure, these devices are not ideologically pure, but your devices will still exist and mere morals interested in just printing things will have access to equipement that meets THEIR needs.
Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:33 · Score: 0

There already are online stores for buying 3d models to print... personally I prefer to give something back and contribute freely to Thingiverse as a consequence of getting my hands on a reprap.
Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by joss · 2012-07-02 02:52 · Score: 2

You need http://geomagic.com/en/ - good software, also happens to be run by one of the most fascinating people on the planet.

--
http://rareformnewmedia.com/
Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2012-07-02 03:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

Maybe the people that I know are unrepresentative(and I'm not just talking about my nerd friends, I include the family members and various other non-techies who end up informing me of their usage habits in the course of extracting tech support); but inkjets seem to have suffered pretty massively in popularity in the last 5-ish years.

Photo printing seems to be nearly dead, with people either sending them to facebook and never printing them at all, or uploading them to some print service, which small-scale home inkjets can't touch on price or performance, and $100 laser printers have been a real kick in the teeth for inkjets when it comes to printing text/homework/online bank statements for paper filing/etc/etc.

Back when laser printers were quite expensive, and 'online' was not a ubiquitous concept, inkjets were certainly all over the place; but the 'razor/blades' model that the vendors all chased seems to have earned them substantial enmity. Even complete technophobes have frequently have a sense of grievance about how much ink cartridges cost, and how often printers break.

In the case of 3d printing, I definitely don't think that the future is a reprap in every household: DIY/Kit/OSS/etc 3d printers are geek toys, no question. However, the non-geek(and, in many cases, also useful to geeks) solution appears to be one of the 'upload 3d model, receive physical model by fedex' services that will sell you time on 20k+ printing gear a few bucks at a time, in the same way that the online photo printers do for 2d prints.

That is why I have such doubts about an offering like this. It isn't a terribly good fit for the nerds and hackers demographic that is likely to actually want a 3D printer on site; but it is also too expensive(up front and in consumables) to compare favorably for nontechnical users with the online print-to-order outfits that are similarly simple and friendly but have much more sophisticated equipment, and it's attempt to hit a consumer price point makes it a bit too limited(in materials, model size, and toolchain) for the rapid-prototyping needs of business users.
Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by Smidge204 · 2012-07-02 04:04 · Score: 1

Except a photo-quality 2D printer is now something not uncommonly seen in someone's home. Rarer than a normal 2D printer but most people would not be surprised to see one and you can buy them off a shelf. I agree that the tech has a long way to go before it reaches that level of disposable consumer ware, but I'm not going to write off the possibility it will happen.
There are three categories of people as I see it;
The first are the hardcore tinkerers would have no problem buying a kit and spending the time and money on what is essentially a hobby in and of itself.
The second are the people who just want the finished product. The best fit for them is the online print-to-order services. They don't care to get involved with the creation process and probably don't care all that much about the design process either, relying on other people to design the items.
The third group are the people who will want to focus on the design with immediate results, and not concern themselves with the printer itself. These are your artist or crafting types, or professional setting where they want rapid prototyping but nobody has the time to waste tinkering. Now for the pros they might be able to justify $20K+ for a machine that "just works," but for others the choice is between spending a lot of time tinkering or a lot of time waiting for mail-ordered parts.
I think there's room for a middle option.
=Smidge=
Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by twebb72 · 2012-07-02 10:32 · Score: 1

What I want, is something that can scan any 3d object and make a file to print it.
What I want is "Tea. Earl Grey... Hot"
Re:Bloody printer cartridges... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 16:34 · Score: 0

What I want is "Tea. Earl Grey... Hot"
What I want is a piss

Won't happen by Dunbal · 2012-07-02 02:03 · Score: 2

They're using the ink-jet business model by overcharging for the "cartridges". Except they are charging an arm and a leg for the printer too. So for $1300 you can buy the printer and a cartridge, and additional cartridges are $50 each. For that $50, you can print (according to their website) between 10 and 14 creations. That means each creation costs between $3.50 and $5.00 each without starting to think about paying for the machine itself and other costs (software, design, licenses, electricity, etc). Funny to think it's still cheaper to make something in China and have it shipped to the other side of the planet.

When they are serious about this being more than just a toy, they'll drop the price on the cartridges to what it's really worth - like maybe $5.

--
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.

Shapeways by i+kan+reed · 2012-07-02 02:08 · Score: 5, Insightful

I know this will sound like shilling, but all I can give is my personal assurances that I have no connection to the site.

Shapeways.com is cool. I realized long ago that I won't personally 3d print very many items, and there are still economies of scale to 3d printing, even if a lot less than manufacturing. So shapeways has multiple varieties of 3d printer, and numerous materials of varying pricing, and open source models other users have printed you can use or modify and use. As a user, you only see the software(blender) and the finished product when it's shipped to you. Actually OWNING a 3d printer doesn't appeal to me much, but there are a couple things I'm working on to (eventually, some day) print.

Re:Shapeways by QuasiSteve · 2012-07-02 03:11 · Score: 4, Informative

Not sure why you're modded off-topic - considering that Shapeways or, and I guess I'll plug their 'competitor' here, i.materialise, are a great option for those who want high quality (much higher than what you get out of Makerbot etc.) for a low price (compared to buying a 3D printer (kit+assembly)) with practically zero hassle.
I guess this Cube thing is somewhere between the Makerbots and the z-corp et al high end devices, but still more on the Makerbot end.
There are also desktop 3D printers that cost a bit more but may be worth the bother if you need what they do. One site that comes to mind is http://desktopfactory.com/
It occurs to me, reading the page there, that 3D Systems may be on their way to trying to corner the consumer/prosumer market.
Re:Shapeways by tofarr · 2012-07-02 04:11 · Score: 1

Why was this modded off topic? With the article about 3d printers, I too personally feel that renting the service makes more sense. Though I do not advocate any particular company, paying $1250 to print the few bits and pieces that would constitute the total usage of the device for most users seems excessive to me.
Re:Shapeways by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 04:22 · Score: 0

Shapeways is cool. It offers good services to a lot of people. And they are also friendly. Even towards the home printer people. I'm an Ultimaker guy myself, and Shapeways doesn't seem to have any problem with us.
But this cubify is really the HP Deskjet of 3D printers. It looks easy to break, it's most likely slow. You have no control over repairs or refills.

Casting Material very limited by Roger+W+Moore · 2012-07-02 02:13 · Score: 1

You could always print a mold, and use that to cast the desired shape in any material of your own liking.

Not really - only a material with a lower melting point and which does not bond to the plastic can be used. So you are probably limited to wax but that could lead to some interesting, asymmetric candle designs.

Re:Casting Material very limited by h4rr4r · 2012-07-02 02:14 · Score: 4, Insightful

SoI take it you have never heard of lost wax casting I take it?
You print the item you want, you pack that in a material with a higher melting point than the desired material for the object, melt the end material and pour it in.
Re:Casting Material very limited by h4rr4r · 2012-07-02 02:19 · Score: 3, Informative

Clearly I need more caffeine.
I meant to say:
I take it you have never heard of lost wax casting?
You print the item you want, you pack that in a material with a higher melting point than the desired material for the object, melt the end material and pour it in.
This is how a lot of metal casting is/was done using wax as the model and sand as the form.
Re:Casting Material very limited by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:29 · Score: 0

Print the part, create a silicone mould from that and resin cast it...
The materials in common use (PLA and ABS) are surprisingly strong (Repraps use a lot of reprap printed parts and they are pretty sturdy). You can also vary the solidity of the model which affects its strength.
Re:Casting Material very limited by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:37 · Score: 0

Yeah, everybody has a forge and crucible in their kitchen.
Re:Casting Material very limited by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:46 · Score: 0

Do you have any idea how ridiculously easy and cheap it is to get set up casting low melting-point metals (lead, zinc, etc. alloys) at home? Yeah, even a small iron/steel foundry is a big deal, and aluminum's not quite cheap, but there's a good range of metals that are well within reach.
Re:Casting Material very limited by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:47 · Score: 4, Funny

Or you could have the local smithy cast it for a shilling.
Re:Casting Material very limited by h4rr4r · 2012-07-02 02:50 · Score: 2

No, you keep that in the garage.
WIth just a propane tank and some hardware store supplies you can easily be casting low melting point metals. Even just reuse "free" metal like aluminum cans or wheel weights.
Re:Casting Material very limited by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:55 · Score: 0

You're not limited to materials which are softened by heat. Clay and similar materials can be moulded cold and then permanently hardened by high temperature, retaining their moulded shape while the mould is destroyed. (Since you don't want to melt the original plastic, you'll need a few intermediate steps to get a disposable wax mould for that.)
Re:Casting Material very limited by ArsonSmith · 2012-07-02 03:11 · Score: 2

http://smooth-on.com/
In case you'd like to learn how to do it.

--
Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.
Re:Casting Material very limited by Smidge204 · 2012-07-02 04:23 · Score: 2

You're better off turning in the aluminum cans for the deposit and buying fresh aluminum with the money. There is FAR LESS than 5 cents of aluminum in a soda can.
=Smidge=
Re:Casting Material very limited by dj245 · 2012-07-02 05:49 · Score: 1

Most US states don't have bottle deposit programs. Traveling to a state that does is usually cost-prohibitive with today's fuel prices. Even when Seinfeld did a similar scheme back in 1996 with a postal van, it wasn't really worthwhile. Gas averaged around $1.30 then.

--
Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
Re:Casting Material very limited by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 05:58 · Score: 0

Not all of us get 5 cents per can. (aka, we don't live in Crazyfornia) I get paid by the pound, and I don't get anywhere close to what the market price is. (20 cents normally, but they occasionally have a recycle day when they will pay 35 cents. For the record, aluminum closed at 83 cents on Friday.)
Re:Casting Material very limited by Smidge204 · 2012-07-02 06:15 · Score: 1

The chance that you live in a state with container deposits is roughly 1 in 3. Regardless, the amount of aluminum in a typical soda can is so small (and so contaminated with paint and plastic liner) that it's just not worth using them for your own melting operation.
And you should feel bad for citing a Seinfeld episode as an argument.
=Smidge=
Re:Casting Material very limited by JesseMcDonald · 2012-07-02 10:48 · Score: 1

Not really - only a material with a lower melting point and which does not bond to the plastic can be used.
That's not universally true, due to materials like green sand and ceramics which can be molded at the low temperatures needed for the plastic, and yet still hold their shape after setting when exposed to molten metal.
The lost wax casting method, which makes use of both green sand and ceramics, has already been mentioned; there have also been some promising experiments with the simpler "lost foam" process, using ultra-low-density plastic prints in place of foam. Low-temperature metals like pewter can also be poured into a plaster of Paris negative, cast in turn around a positive model printed in plastic.

--
"The state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else." - Bastiat
Re:Casting Material very limited by sjames · 2012-07-02 21:59 · Score: 1

At that point, wouldn't it be cheaper to mill the wax model?
Re:Casting Material very limited by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 23:55 · Score: 0

Milling and 3D-printing fill different niches in the "make a fancy shape" space.
Also, it's trivial to make a rubber(oid) mould of a 3DP positive, then cast *that* using whatever hobby materials you have to hand. The example I know is Bad Dragon's furry dildos. You have been warned, but it's the future. :)
Re:Casting Material very limited by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-03 00:20 · Score: 0

The example I know is Bad Dragon's furry dildos. You have been warned, but it's the future. :)
If that's the future, I'm going to kill myself before we get there.

The only reason not to shoot furries on sight is that if you stalk them back to their lair you may end up being able to take out a whole mob of them at once.
Re:Casting Material very limited by sjames · 2012-07-03 03:39 · Score: 1

The excitement over printing is that it removes some of the limitations inherent to milling. If you're going to put those back in play by casting the result, you might as well go back to subtractive. Especially since the waste wax from milling can be recycled with trivial ease compared to other materials.

Re:Video doesn't work for me by h4rr4r · 2012-07-02 02:16 · Score: 0

Chrome needs better pugins. I love vimperator and it keeps me on firefox.
The vim like plugins for chrome do not get rid of the url bar, no do any of them appear to be modal.

Replicator Rocks by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:22 · Score: 0

I'll stick with my dual extrusion Makerbot Replicator. I like the community they foster, too.

For $1300 I'll buy an M2 by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 02:31 · Score: 1

http://www.makergear.com/products/m-series-3d-printers

Re:For $1300 I'll buy an M2 by hirschma · 2012-07-02 03:28 · Score: 1

Well, for $1300 and weeks-to-months of waiting.
FYI, I plunked down my cash on an M2; I was given a "fuzzy" ETA of 4 weeks, now passed. New guestimate of arrival is... 1st-2nd week of July.
Has anyone received one yet? Any reviews?
Re:For $1300 I'll buy an M2 by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 05:12 · Score: 0

I haven't seen any reviews yet, but I may write one up when I get mine in August. (Just ordered today.) I love my Mosaic, so I believe the quality of the M2 will be just as good since it's a very similar design.

Hackerspace vrs Lowes Home Depot by ZombieBraintrust · 2012-07-02 02:33 · Score: 5, Interesting

I don't see people going to a hackerspace to print something out. This tech will take off when it gets adopted by home improvement stores. Then you can get your printed plastic at the same place you get your cut glass and timber.

Re:Hackerspace vrs Lowes Home Depot by WillAdams · 2012-07-02 02:47 · Score: 2

That's a very good point --- I've been surprised that 3D scanners, printers and CNC machines haven't showed up at hardware stores --- show up w/ a broken part --- the scanner scans it and if in stock, directs you to the correct aisle --- if not, it calculates a cost to either 3D print (if plastic) or mill (if wood or metal).
William

--
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
Re:Hackerspace vrs Lowes Home Depot by Smidge204 · 2012-07-02 03:25 · Score: 1

That's an interesting concept, but remember that some parts can take hours to finish. I can also envision a 3D model of some copyrighted thing causing problems with people coming in with their own models to print.
What I can more readily see is some types of items not needing to be stocked anymore, or stocked in very small quantities. Things like flower pots and little plastic mounting brackets and spacers and stuff. Stock the plastic instead and print more as needed. If the customer is willing to order ahead of time, then you can spend the time to print-to-order. Kind of like with paint... they don't stock every possible color - they mix to order.
=Smidge=
Re:Hackerspace vrs Lowes Home Depot by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 04:11 · Score: 0

Well, it just doesn't work in the real world yet. 3D printers are pretty much there, but the process from 3D scanner to print-ready model still requires substantial human input, and CNC machining not only requires more work to go from model to NC code, but also requires some measure of skilled labor for changing inserts, etc.
That said, as a competent CNC programmer and machinist, I have thought about getting a good 3D scanner and 3D printer, a small CNC mill, and opening a small shop doing exactly that. Trouble is I'm not in/near a big enough city to have an adequate customer base for full-time work, and it seems like the sort of shop that pretty much needs to be open regular hours so people can walk in whenever and get a quote.
Re:Hackerspace vrs Lowes Home Depot by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 04:31 · Score: 0

Nope, there are fablabs for printing something.
Re:Hackerspace vrs Lowes Home Depot by Thyrsus · 2012-07-02 04:49 · Score: 1

Suppose I want a quarter size replica of Hiram Power's bust of George Washington (completed 1844, so no copyright issues). I'd like to walk into the museum, innocuously wave around a small device, then go home and print. How close are we?
Re:Hackerspace vrs Lowes Home Depot by SpeedBump0619 · 2012-07-02 14:02 · Score: 1

This would be a better fit at a high end copy center like Kinkos. The people working there have some technical ability, they are used to dealing with consumables, and they are already in the reproduction business. Fee schedule would be some setup cost say, $20, and a per minute print cost (say $0.20). That's fairly expensive per part, but cheaper than buying your own, and much less hassle.
I'd guess a typical store would get a few customers a week printing for a few hours each. So somewhere around $5000 per year in business. Consumables are a question (color and type variety), but would probably be less than $500 per year (electricity, plastic and extruder nozzles). If labor there was $30/hour (way high) that should be less than a half hour of setup and cleanup time (so $1500/year). Break-even point is somewhere around 9 months. Then you are making money as long as the machine lasts. Move nearer a university or R&D business area and your usage rate probably rises fast.
Of course, if you are really going to offer this service these kinds of extrusion based printers aren't the best choice. They are just the cheapest. Higher end systems can print faster, higher tolerance parts with none of the part shape restrictions. Plus they are easier to operate and keep running.
I'm betting someone has run these kinds of numbers and it's a little to small-potatoes to risk it yet.
Re:Hackerspace vrs Lowes Home Depot by SpeedBump0619 · 2012-07-02 14:34 · Score: 1

The tech to do this exists today. Capturing 3D shapes from standard camera/video data: doable: there are Youtube videos of people doing this ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IquKgEyXo2g ). Generating the part files from the 3D model: difficult: there is a bit of art in turning 3D models into (efficiently) printable objects (hollowing out a bust to save material, or handling unsupported areas). Printing the part: moderate-easy: Depending on the type of printer you use (Fused Deposition Modeling is more challenging, Selective Laser Sintering is easier).
Now, it will probably be quite a while before anyone bothers to make it easy to go from one end to the other. I'm just saying that with a billion dollars you could go on your own personal crusade and make it happen this year.

Transcript by QuasiSteve · 2012-07-02 03:00 · Score: 2

Title: Cubify 3D Printers Aren't Just for Squares
Description: There are other 3D printers out there, but Cubify claims theirs is easier to use, has easier cartridge changes, and is all-around nicer and cooler than their competition.

00:00 TITLE
A shot of a 3D printer printing an object is shown, with the SlashdotTV logo bar reading "The Cubify 3-D Printer at Google I/O 2012"

00:03 TITLE
Timothy Lord is shown standing in a hallway

00:03 Timothy
Here's another intriguing product on display at Google I/O, mostly because it can be controlled from an Android tablet, although it can also be fed data from a wireless network or from a USB stick plugged into the side.

00:12 TITLE
Another shot of the 3D printer printing an object is shows.

00:18 TITLE
Back to the shot of Timothy

00:18 Timothy
It's a 3D printer that tries to emulate the easy-of-use of a laser printer, rather than a typical 3D printer where you have to feed it rolls of continuous stock.

00:27 TITLE
The view changes to Adam of cubify.com in front of their booth at Google I/O.
At the booth there are 3 Cube printers set up that are shown behind Adam.

00:27 Adam
Hey, this is Adam with cubify.com , part of 3D Systems, and we're here with the Cube, just having an opportunity to take a quick little demo.
Just finished printing up a little Android right now, so if you wanna take a look a little bit closer...

00:42 TITLE
The view zooms in on the Cube printer

00:43 Adam
There are a couple of things here that are actually unique to this particular 3D printer.
Where there are several other printers that exist out there, at a similar price point, that are a little bit more open - instead what we opted to do was, rather than having to worry about "how hot does the extruder need to be?", "is my plastic gonna be too hot or too cold?", "If it's too cold is it gonna jam the head, possibly unhinge something?", "if my bed is too hot or too cold causing any kind of warping", "do I have to worry about in-fill pattern?", Support material designs?" - our 26 years of engineering experience have automated that for us.
So this way all I need to do is to be able to hit 'build', and I'm able to get my parts.
For our support materials, what we actually did was created some perforated supports, so this way [...]

01:24 TITLE
Adam reaches over to the printed Android robot and pokes at some support structures

01:24 Adam
[...] they snap right off - no big deal at all, doesn't take any heavy lifting, doesn't damage the part.

01:32 Adam
Now, from what I heard, you guys were interested in changing out some cartridges.
Before we go ahead and do that..
You can take any STL format, pop it into our software, hit 'import', hit 'build' - from there you're ready to go.
Everything is automated for you as far as support structures, everything is ready as far as build times and fill patterns.
You can either do it via USB, or via WiFi, no problem at all.

01:56 Adam
We're gonna do a really quick demo right now as far as how to input and change out a cartridge, so come on over.

02:00 TITLE
Adam inputs a few commands on the control panel.

02:03 Adam
We have two screens between 'print' and 'setup'.
We're just gonna go to 'setup', and our first option is to 'load cartridge'.
So as we hit that, what's going on now is we're heating up the extruder, and we're actually gonna reverse out the plastic material right here.
And in a matter of seconds what's gonna happen next minute, minute and a half, is the material is actually gonna eject.
We're gonna pull it out, we're gonna pop in another cartridge, and from there we're just gonna feed it right back in.
Really simple.
Now it says right here to replace the cartridge and press the button.
Hit that.
Now I'm just gonna insert the filament right in here, like so, and right now you can see it pulling in.
Now another 5, 10 seconds you're gonna see a little bit of excess material

Make your own wargaming miniatures! by Viewsonic · 2012-07-02 03:08 · Score: 1

Considering it costs thousands just to buy a standing army for a lot of these war games, I think these printers will make it much more cost effective just to have everyone print up their own guys. Need 10 tanks? $50 in plastic compared to $500 buying them in the store from some company.

Re:Make your own wargaming miniatures! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 04:00 · Score: 1

There's an Open Source 3D printing wargame already out there! It's called Seej, and it looks pretty cool. http://www.s33j.net
None of the nasty proprietary problems with Games Workshop designs.
Re:Make your own wargaming miniatures! by Bieeanda · 2012-07-02 05:38 · Score: 1

For Games Workshop armies, it won't work unless you're just playing out of your basement. GW nerds are notoriously anal about the play-legality of models, and homegrown stuff certainly won't be welcome at store-based battle-tables or official tournament play sites.
Other outfits are wising up about the ludicrous expense of model warfare, at least. I've seen two Kickstarters, one which was basically rules for LEGO mecha combat, and another offering its own line of related minis at a fraction of regular costs.
And apart from tanks, most wargaming minis are fairly complicated 3D structures, and/or roughly an inch through their longest axis, which is probably a challenge for most consumer plastic extruders. At that point, you're probably better off ordering a bulk bag of meeples or a crate of old-fashioned army men for far less than fifty bucks.

Why would anyone need more than one? by John+Bresnahan · 2012-07-02 03:24 · Score: 1

Once you have one, you should be able to make as many more as you want.

It reminds me of Willy Wonka's Everlasting Gobstopper. Nobody needs more than one.

Fuck your Ad by Osgeld · 2012-07-02 04:07 · Score: 1

and who is going to pay 1300 bucks for that little bitty toy which requires proprietary print material?

ignorant question by sckeener · 2012-07-02 04:18 · Score: 1

Since I don't have the $ just to try it out, can someone explain to me where the designs come from that the printer prints? Are the patterns printer specific? Are there standard formats used, like autocad or something? Everyone understands how a 2d printer works. 99% (grabbed out of thin air) of the net is 2d, but I'd love to print 3d objects. I play D&D. Even though it would be expensive, I'd to be able to print 3d versions of monsters mini's. I know it would kill wotc's miniture market, but I'm tired of using at best pictures on cardboard stock taking up the same amount of space. It'd be sweet to print up the # of missing minis for what the encounter called for or print up the dungeon/village/or terran where the fight was taking place.

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Re:ignorant question by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 05:42 · Score: 0

There are some free repositories and places where you can buy them, but I think generally you create the designs yourself.
Re:ignorant question by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 23:24 · Score: 0

There are a number of different formats, which all end up as gcode.
Gcode is a platform independent description of the toolpath (start at X,Y,Z, move to X,Y,Z and extrude E amount of plastic).
Most formats can be "sliced" into gcode. You can use tools like OpenSCAD (mathmatical, programmatic), or Blender (artistic), or Google Sketchup, or AutoCAD, or or or. All of these formats are usually saved and shared, so you can use the program to make derivatives (adjustments) to the original model.
The usual path is your_tool_of_choice -> STL Format -> gcode.
With each step you lose editability, so in the STL format you are only aware of th surfaces of the object and where the edges are. Check out thingiverse.com, which is where you can download different things to print. There you can find all sorts of STL files, as well as their originating files sometimes.
Note that gcode is tuned to your printer, in terms of how "fast" it moves, how the extruder works, etc etc.

Vegas Bet by ThatsNotPudding · 2012-07-02 05:15 · Score: 1

I'd still put down $100 in Las Vegas that within 4 years (regardless if the prez election is rigged or not), 'open-source' 3D printers will be made illegal, justified by BS allegations of IP piracy.

Of course, HP will be allowed to offer their tawdry wares with an average print cost somewhere around $500 per cubic centimeter...

Nice Slashdvertisement by wiedzmin · 2012-07-02 05:42 · Score: 1

Wow, you don't even try to pretend that these are articles anymore... features, price, everything... only thing missing is a "Click to buy" link.

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Bought one by Tyndmyr · 2012-07-02 06:50 · Score: 1

Well, just ordered one. Says they're backed up for six weeks...but that's acceptable. Built in wi-fi support and the generally finished nature of the printer are certainly worth a good bit, and the print cartridges are somewhat cheaper if purchased in bulk. Overall, it seems like a decently polished gadget to actually use, as opposed to spending a comparable amount of cash and a great deal of time building one. Reprap and the like look wonderful for those inclined to tinker with such things, but frankly, time is a commodity I never seem to have enough of. I'd rather get a finished one and jump straight into building crazy things. I do plan to post a review of it to slashdot after it arrives and I've had a minute to play with it.

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Thriller by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 08:18 · Score: 0

I like his Michael Jackson glove.

He should have grabbed his crotch at least once.

Scuse me. I already got my ad time on Google by axlr8or · 2012-07-02 14:00 · Score: 1

Thanx but no thanx.

There are cheaper printers that are as good by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 14:42 · Score: 0

Solidoodle (google it) costs $500, or $600 with the addons. Comes fully built, not in kit form, works with open source software and feature-wise it's similar to this.

And for a bit more, as others have mentioned, there are a bunch of kits such as the Bukobot and Reprap, some offered in prebuilt form even, that cost around $1000 and have larger build area, better resolution and are faster.

Other than software being more polished, what is special about this? Are the printed objects of higher quality? I'd be interested to see a comparison between objects printed with this and those printed by one of the kit printers or Solidoodle.

Re:There are cheaper printers that are as good by teaserX · 2012-07-02 17:58 · Score: 1

That's just what we need. A full on 3D printer roundup and jamboree. Judge them all for build quality, cost, reliability, cost of material, scope of products, speed....you name it. Best 3d Pinter gets to be the King of Ars Tecnicha for a day. We can even give out 3D printed printers to everyone who attends.

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ultimaker beat them all by Gunstick · 2012-07-02 19:10 · Score: 1

For the same price (or less) you get this beast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2cgGTLMeCQ

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Atari rules... ermm... ruled.

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