3D Printing

[themoneycollector]

I've been playing around with a Replicator 2 3D printer for about a week.

So far I have mixed feelings. It was the first time I ever used one or saw the outputs in person.

They have some serious flaws that I think ruin them and from what I've read, almost all models have these problems, not just this one.

They print onto an acrylic base, but the design gets stuck to the base when it's done. You have to pry it off and that results in a lot of broken or warped designs. Most people recommend using blue painters tape to help the design peel right off, but then you have a problem of the design not adhering well and that results in even more warping problems.

I'm on my 4th try for a case for an RPi and each one has had its problems.

This one prints down to 100 microns, so I thought that would be pretty small, but the finished result has that ugly "layered" look. And you get tons of filament whiskers and blobs. I expected a lot more refinement from a $2k+ machine. I understand that it's quick to make rapid prototypes and such, but I can't see how anyone could do any precision work with it for prototyping or any type of mass production that could compete with injection plastic.

Anyone have any experience with current 3D printers and find anything "fun" to print?

[Blak Smyth]

Would love to see some pictures of your work.

[AdamJoshua]

I'm surprised by this as well, of course when they are pimping them out you never hear about the actual issues, pretty sure most of the hardcore prototyping is done on the 10K machines so not as many of these kind of issues.

It's a shame because I figured it would be fun to play with those and make cool like things out of them. Hopefully it get's better for you, I would dig seeing some pics as well.

[bobarian]

https://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f487/

[themoneycollector]

Originally Posted by bobarian

https://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f487/

Awesome, if you can cure playdoh to make it hard would be even better

[AdamJoshua]

Originally Posted by themoneycollector

Awesome, if you can cure playdoh to make it hard would be even better

Add two crushed up Viagra?

[The Poet]

Once you get the bugs out, I want you to print me a lifesized 20-year-old Jessica Alba please.

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by The Poet

Once you get the bugs out, I want you to print me a lifesized 20-year-old Jessica Alba please.

You afraid of a few sharp edges?

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

You afraid of a few sharp edges?

God no, as I've yet to meet a woman who didn't have a few.

[cmitch]

An inkjet will print 3 D if you have the right software. My coworker experimented with Photoshop and a technique he used to select what he wanted in 3D. We were going to print some childrens posters but I thought it was a lot of trouble for so-so results.