Quote Originally Posted by vinnie View Post
Does anyone else feel the same way as I do? 3D printers in general are not really improving much. We see a bunch of new ones coming out but they are all basically the same. We need to see improvements in speed and resolution on fff printers and we aren't.
I have felt this way for a while, it's now pretty much 2 years since I got mine and I look at the new models, they are the same with nicer cases (and seem to have more problems!!!)

What's sadder, Makerbot's new flagship model, the Makerbot Mini, costs twice as much as my machine did, (2 years ago.. now it's nearly 3 x the price) can't print ABS and prints an area about half my print bed, only has a single extruder... etc etc..

Why would I 'upgrade' yes it's small in size, but it's also super small in features (but large in price!) Ok it's sexy black and red, but that's not enough sorry Bre.

Form 1 and resin based printers? still not in the 'consumer' price range. I think something needs to be bewteen $600 and $1000 to be considered a consumer item. Not everyone can design 3D models, if they want to have a 3D printer sitting in everyones house, it won't happen at that price.

I live in a reasonably stable country as far as the economy goes, and I worked in Retail for a decade so I know how flushed with cash the average Joe is in say, Sydney Australia. Your medium to high income earner with 3.5 kids and a mortgage isn't really going to go and spend $3000 on a printer. they might spend that on a 60" LCD TV for the loungeroom, but not a printer, not unless they are into some form of design or engineering, or like me just a big hobby nut. So yes, people will buy them but not the average consumer like they are aiming for.

If they want a printer in everyones house and everyone lapping up their 'makerbot' filament they need to make it more affordable and more accessible.