List of Practical Consumer Based 3D Prints

[atoff]

[QUOTE=PhotoSteve;9165]

Nothing on Thingverse is actually "practical" for consumers.

Well if you would have looked at the link the first couple it shows are
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44328 Citrus Juicer
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:26767 bag holder
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:112117 custom screen for open holes

And yet still not practical in terms of justifying the cost. I can pick up a citrus juicer from the 99cent store for example.

[hercemer]

[QUOTE=atoff;9166]

And yet still not practical in terms of justifying the cost. I can pick up a citrus juicer from the 99cent store for example.

My printer estimates that I can print the juicer at normal settings for $1.44 in 5 hours and 33 minutes.

That’s over your estimate of $0.99 but I can have it right now in any color I want.

Imagine browsing a website like Amazon, but you can simply print whatever you buy. No shipping, no handling, no angry calls to UPS… just a juicer sitting on your print bed.

We’re already there with sites like thingiverse.

I can drive to Target and buy a toothbrush holder, or I can go here http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:265761 and print one for nearly nothing.

I had assumed that all my prints would cost more than the same item could be mass produced in China. As I tally the cost of my prints, it’s a lot closer than I thought. Combine that with the incredible convince of being able to just “click” on an item and watch it print in front of you… I’d say it’s already practical, or at least desirable.

[atoff]

[QUOTE=hercemer;9295]

My printer estimates that I can print the juicer at normal settings for $1.44 in 5 hours and 33 minutes.

That’s over your estimate of $0.99 but I can have it right now in any color I want.

Imagine browsing a website like Amazon, but you can simply print whatever you buy. No shipping, no handling, no angry calls to UPS… just a juicer sitting on your print bed.

We’re already there with sites like thingiverse.

I can drive to Target and buy a toothbrush holder, or I can go here http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:265761 and print one for nearly nothing.

I had assumed that all my prints would cost more than the same item could be mass produced in China. As I tally the cost of my prints, it’s a lot closer than I thought. Combine that with the incredible convince of being able to just “click” on an item and watch it print in front of you… I’d say it’s already practical, or at least desirable.

I stand by what I said, it's not at all practical for the every day consumer. You're considering only the cost of the filament, what about energy cost, your time, cost of the printer, etc.etc. If your goal to purchase a printer is to print 99cent object all day I'm pretty sure by the end of the day you'd have spent over $1k at minimum for $10 worth of "useful" items. Lets be real, is that crappy plastic hair brush you printed on Thingiverse comparable to what you could have purchased? In the future? Sure, absolutely... right now? No, not practical.

It's very useful for tinkerers, hobbyists... but the average consumer isn't going to spend the time to learn to model decent items and spend hours modeling the object, then wait for it to print. The items on Thingiverse are for the most part nothing more than novelty. I've browsed and browsed, and I can't find a single thing that interests me on that site. Let me print a worthless gear heart or two why don't I? lol

It might sound like I'm against 3D printing, but that's not at all the case, I think it's fantastic... just not "PRACTICAL" for the every day average Joe right now.

[Bradley]

[QUOTE=atoff;9297]

It might sound like I'm against 3D printing, but that's not at all the case, I think it's fantastic... just not "PRACTICAL" for the every day average Joe right now.

I agree with you completely in terms of the 'average joe right now'.

Improved ease of use, material options, and material costs will obviously start to change that. But so will demand for complexity and customization. Consumers don't think in terms of personal products just like they don't think in terms of personalized medication. We compromise by purchasing cheap mass produced stuff. If people want to use 3D printers to replace coat hangers it's an easy calculation.

On the other hand, something that might turn that around is printing custom foot orthotics. Custom orthotics are extremely expensive. I think they run around $400/pair. If people start thinking in terms of customization then an $800 printer (RepRap) that can print one pair of orthotics in several hours starts to look practical. 3D printed orthotics can't happen now because we also need the scanner and the software. But it is an example of how demand for customization can make a 3D printer practical for average joes.

[atoff]

[QUOTE=Bradley;9369]

I agree with you completely in terms of the 'average joe right now'.

Improved ease of use, material options, and material costs will obviously start to change that. But so will demand for complexity and customization. Consumers don't think in terms of personal products just like they don't think in terms of personalized medication. We compromise by purchasing cheap mass produced stuff. If people want to use 3D printers to replace coat hangers it's an easy calculation.

On the other hand, something that might turn that around is printing custom foot orthotics. Custom orthotics are extremely expensive. I think they run around $400/pair. If people start thinking in terms of customization then an $800 printer (RepRap) that can print one pair of orthotics in several hours starts to look practical. 3D printed orthotics can't happen now because we also need the scanner and the software. But it is an example of how demand for customization can make a 3D printer practical for average joes.

Definitely, things like this will be very possible soon... http://gizmodo.com/a-new-flexible-fi...ake-1541334417
But I can see it being even better. Perfectly custom fit shoes that actually wrap around and give support on an individual basis, clothing and jewelry that's user designed, watch bands (I have thin wrists, watches typically look foolish on me, but if they fit snugly and were as thin as I'd prefer...), belts... all things I can see being easy to print once quality, speed, and software improve. Future's bright! It's why I want to get into the 3D printing world while it's young. I don't actually have very good design skills, in fact, they're quite garbage, but I do have ideas I'd like to see come to light.

[Bradley]

[QUOTE=atoff;9387]

Definitely, things like this will be very possible soon... http://gizmodo.com/a-new-flexible-fi...ake-1541334417
But I can see it being even better. Perfectly custom fit shoes that actually wrap around and give support on an individual basis, clothing and jewelry that's user designed, watch bands (I have thin wrists, watches typically look foolish on me, but if they fit snugly and were as thin as I'd prefer...), belts... all things I can see being easy to print once quality, speed, and software improve. Future's bright! It's why I want to get into the 3D printing world while it's young. I don't actually have very good design skills, in fact, they're quite garbage, but I do have ideas I'd like to see come to light.

My design skills are terrible too. But your watch idea is an example of good application. And finding good applications is pretty key right now.

[LambdaFF]

Well, replacement stuff or parts of new stuff. My dad broke some things on his boat recently so I came up with those 2. Haven't printed them yet though.
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