Quote3D printer manufacturer MakerBot is making its biggest effort yet to target the consumer market with the release of a new low-cost model and the opening of a New York store.

The $2,199 Replicator 2 features 100-micron layer resolution - and can make bigger objects than its predecessors, of up to 410 cubic inches in volume. Maximum dimensions are 11.2 by 6.0 by 6.1 inches.

- http://www.slashgear.com/makerbot-replicator-2-desktop-3-d-printer-debuts-20248650/

Has anyone taken the plunge?  Lots of cool stuff here: http://www.thingiverse.com/

I have been looking at it but not really had one of those epiphany moments yet.

But have come across a decent site dedicated to 3D printing - http://www.3ders.org/

Also, a fair few people are looking for funding in the industry:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/b9creations/b9creator-a-high-resolution-3d-printer?ref=category
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/printrbot/printrbot-your-first-3d-printer?ref=category
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deezmaker/buko-3d-printer-raising-the-bar-of-open-source-3d?ref=category
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1874396831/eventorbot-open-source-3d-printer?ref=live
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wjsteele/ultra-bot-3d-printer?ref=live
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/25111729/hyrel-3d-printer?ref=live

So it's a matter of time before it erupts

Take a look at this:
http://www.thingiverse.com/

...when I saw that, I had a flashback of myself looking at a cell phone and saying to myself, "Yeah, it might come in handy, but if I want to make a call, I'll just use a payphone or the (corded) phone at my house." 

Thirteen years later, I only have a cell phone, I havent seen a payphone (except in an airport) for years, and I use my phone for things I could have never imagined back then.

It will be like microwaves all over again

Just need to make em go quicker and bobs your uncle fannys your aunt

I have a friend in Japan who is into the whole 3D printing scene. He has MakerBots and other printers. They're still too damn expensive for me. I'll wait till they get down a bit in price.

Quote from: bill on September 21, 2012, 09:01:00 AM
I'll wait till they get down a bit in price.

By that time they will have tri colour printing, quick drying super strong ABS and be able to bang out objects in under 5mins flat

>I'll wait till they get down a bit in price.

Yeah, I hear you.  I was thinking that half of it was just figuring out the software.  Once you got that down, you might be able just send the diagram to a printer and just pay them to print it, like you'd have a nice bound color doc printed at kinkos.


>quick drying super strong ABS
That seems to be the rub, no MIL-SPEC epoxy capable of a making iron man costume.

It's just a matter of time before the price drops. All they need are a few more idiots...er...enthusiasts to buy the existing equipment. 

The 3D printing community is small but prolific. There are tons of ready-made designs out there now. Almost anything out there with a CAD/CAM drawing available can simply be printed now.

If dogboy gets his MIL-SPEC epoxy I fear he's going to end up in a place where he'll be wanting to print a shiv...

>The 3D printing community

MakerBot owns thingiverse.com ...that must help with advertising costs:)

add wood (composite) to the materials list

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:30552

A guy might be able to make himself a custom gun stock out of something like that...