Comments on: Affordable 3D Printing Is Now Closer Than Ever http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/06/25/affordable-3d-printing-is-now-closer-than-ever/ Deliciously Geeky... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:25:08 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: edgarjpublius http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/06/25/affordable-3d-printing-is-now-closer-than-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-396525 edgarjpublius Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:57:30 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=26607#comment-396525 Low cost, desktop 3d printing has been around for a while now if you were willing to 'build-it yourself.<br>A rep-rap (gotta plug them first, 'cause I'm building one :D) machine can be built for about a fifth of the cost of this thing, and prints in much more durable and inexpensive ABS and HDPE plastics (between five and ten dollars a pound). the rep-rap site also has links to a bunch of 'boot-strap' designs that are cheaper and have vary-ing dificulty curves and capabilities. (<a href="http://reprap.org" rel="nofollow">reprap.org</a>)<br><br>Makerbot has an even cheaper option in their Cupcake CNC machine for $750-950, with similar capabilities but a much smaller volume. Though it also comes as a full kit, whereas rep-rap is just a design and you have to source the parts your self. (<a href="http://makerbot.com" rel="nofollow">makerbot.com</a>)<br><br>On the more expensive side of things, Fab@home sells pre-built machines, kits and parts with similar capabilities to the above machines and a decent sized usable volume.<br>It's still cheaper than the desktop factory though, their most expensive pre-built unit is still only $4100, while cheaper units are available for around $3700, and full kits for $2700<br>(<a href="http://fabathome.org" rel="nofollow">fabathome.org</a>)<br><br>And there are plenty of other options out there, the last year or so has seen a bit of an explosion with regards to desktop rapid-prototyping. No need to wait, the future is now! Low cost, desktop 3d printing has been around for a while now if you were willing to 'build-it yourself.
A rep-rap (gotta plug them first, 'cause I'm building one :D ) machine can be built for about a fifth of the cost of this thing, and prints in much more durable and inexpensive ABS and HDPE plastics (between five and ten dollars a pound). the rep-rap site also has links to a bunch of 'boot-strap' designs that are cheaper and have vary-ing dificulty curves and capabilities. (reprap.org)

Makerbot has an even cheaper option in their Cupcake CNC machine for $750-950, with similar capabilities but a much smaller volume. Though it also comes as a full kit, whereas rep-rap is just a design and you have to source the parts your self. (makerbot.com)

On the more expensive side of things, Fab@home sells pre-built machines, kits and parts with similar capabilities to the above machines and a decent sized usable volume.
It's still cheaper than the desktop factory though, their most expensive pre-built unit is still only $4100, while cheaper units are available for around $3700, and full kits for $2700
(fabathome.org)

And there are plenty of other options out there, the last year or so has seen a bit of an explosion with regards to desktop rapid-prototyping. No need to wait, the future is now!

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