Wow....Frys is preordering 3D printers for $799

[GoMachV]

http://www.frys.com/product/7725148?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Pretty affordable for a ready to use machine. I'm sure that its not as precise as many but for the home hobby dude it may suffice!

[fredswain]

I wonder how many people are going to buy those without realizing they need to learn a 3D CAD program? The one I'm getting allows for parts up to 11" in diameter and 14-1/2" in height and costs $1000. It also requires a bit of assembly.

[Coelacanth]

You mean you can't just take a crappy cellphone pic of the item you wish to make, put it on the tray and have it print a copy exactly the way you want??

[markbt73]

They're taking preorders, and they actually let you see a photo of the item you're preordering? What a concept...

[limestang]

Thats an amazing price. There's a cool demo of this printer on Youtube. Also, check out the video on the 2012 3D
Printer Convention held in London. It shows an amazing array of products that can be made by this technology.

Velleman Demo Video:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=MNEZLUXctf8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMNEZLUXctf8

2012 3-D Printer Convention:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S-E6vRfnijw

-Limestang

[fredswain]

Either that video is really sped up or the tolerances on it aren't terribly tight. The one I am buying doesn't have a moving base. The part stays stationary and isn't prone to moving on the base which is a concern with a moving base.

[trkneller]

You mean you can't just take a crappy cellphone pic of the item you wish to make, put it on the tray and have it print a copy exactly the way you want??

Not yet but it is coming. http://youtu.be/Nleclfgqn_U

[Orange]

As if cad programs are hard to figure out... A simple instructional video on YouTube is all you need. Hell, I needed to re-sew a seem on my boat cover and couldn't figure out how to thread the 1960's sewing machine my wife got handed down to her. I found the exact sewing machine and instruction on how to thread it on YouTube, plus they gave me tips on how to use it correctly.

[flipwils11]

Velleman Demo Video:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=MNEZLUXctf8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMNEZLUXctf8

I wonder which porno movie they sourced that music from?

[fredswain]

As if cad programs are hard to figure out... A simple instructional video on YouTube is all you need. Hell, I needed to re-sew a seem on my boat cover and couldn't figure out how to thread the 1960's sewing machine my wife got handed down to her. I found the exact sewing machine and instruction on how to thread it on YouTube, plus they gave me tips on how to use it correctly.

As a person who knows more than one 3D program I can attest to the fact that anyone can learn it. If you think it's as easy as watching a simple video on youtube then you are severely mistaken. A sewing machine is quite simple by comparison and not really a challenge on any level to anyone.

[GoMachV]

I am awesome with google sketch up, hmmm

[Orange]

As if cad programs are hard to figure out... A simple instructional video on YouTube is all you need. Hell, I needed to re-sew a seem on my boat cover and couldn't figure out how to thread the 1960's sewing machine my wife got handed down to her. I found the exact sewing machine and instruction on how to thread it on YouTube, plus they gave me tips on how to use it correctly.

As a person who knows more than one 3D program I can attest to the fact that anyone can learn it. If you think it's as easy as watching a simple video on youtube then you are severely mistaken. A sewing machine is quite simple by comparison and not really a challenge on any level to anyone.

I have learned many things from watching YouTube videos online including photoshop, 100's of "How to build" things, How to bake a cake, How to build a website, How to sew, and I have even learned how to make a hand grenade... All my life including school all I have had to do is see it once, and I have got it. I HAVE in fact gotten the basics of many CAD programs as well from watching YouTube videos. See it, do it and repetitive use is all it takes to learn anything. And believe it or not but people like me who always took math classes instead of something easy like shop or PE in High School have it extra easy. Programs, even the newer types are much easier than the programs I grew up with on my commodore 64 where it took basic HTML knowledge just to load a program. I used the sewing machine as a comparison only as I have found it to be one of the hardest things I have learned on YouTube. Go ahead and try it sometime. You might find it to be not quite as easy as you think.