3D Printers?

[Andy Burns]

Supposedly from July there will be a million Pis/month available, until everyone who wants them has bought them ...

[Colin Bignell]

It is being used to create lower cost schools in Africa.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I looked in the Pi hut. They have Pi Zero-Ws but sadly that is NOT recommended for octoprint

I can wait till July then

[Brian]

Thank you everyone who has responded, some very useful comments.

I must admit, I really want one to ‘dabble’ - I keep seeing things on YouTube people have made, everything from adaptors for drill batteries to special clips / holders for power pole connectors, and thinking “ what a useful bit of kit” a 3D printer would be.

[Adrian]

In message <u5nkq7$peg6$ [e-mail], Brian [e-mail] writes

If you get one, you'll keep finding its a solution to problems that you didn't know you had.

Adrian

[The Natural Philosopher]

Indeed they are, Extremely useful, especially when plastic parts break on you. But getting good results takes time

[Joe]

“People believe certain stories because everyone important tells them, and people tell those stories because everyone important believes them. Indeed, when a conventional wisdom is at its fullest strength, one’s agreement with that conventional wisdom becomes almost a litmus test of one’s suitability to be taken seriously.”

Paul Krugman

“Does history record any case in which the majority was right?”

R A Heinlein

[Joe]

It's either that or you'll use it once and forget about it. But I tend to favour the former. I've been considering one, but I'll probably buy one when I have a particular need for it.

I inherited a bandsaw from the man who had lived next door for some years. I knew about them but didn't need one. I used it the day after it arrived, and I've put two new blades and a power switch on it since.

I bought a glue gun for a job I can't now remember, and use it at least three or four times a week and have done for years. It's basically a low resolution portable 3D printer.

On the other hand, I bought a table saw to build a pair of speakers and have hardly used it since. It was vital, as I have other power saws but I needed to cut bevels at, if I remember correctly, 13 degrees to the perpendicular.

[Rod Speed]

Dont believe that on the lower cost.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I don't have one, but have friends who do, and its getting embarassing how often I ask them for favours...

And not for anything exciting, either. See the latest episode of 'watch wes work', where he 3D prints a jig to accurately hold some parts in place before welding them...and manages not to melt the jig too.

If I had one I would use it to make or adapt a cradle for my mobile phone when used as a satnav in the car...

I have a scroll saw that is simply a waste of time.. But my dirt cheap cordless screwdriver/drill is one of my most used tools. You never really know...I have gear pullers I have only used once, but they paid for themselves that one time

[Andy Burns]

Here they are being made ...

[The Natural Philosopher]

Brilliant. It's come a long way from tag strips, aluminium chassis and valve holders hasn't it?