3D Printing - Not for Everyone, but is it for Me?

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Last week I pitched the concept of a 3D printer in every home.

It's not that far fetched, given the super-low cost of a soon-to-be-released model... namely the printrbot Simple, which will retail for $299. Video.

Cost isn't everything, though.  I'd heard stories of upgrades and problems, of frustrations and abandoned kits.

Yes, Kits.

The first commercial version of the 3D printer (for home use), was the Makerbot Cupcake, which came in kit format.  I don't know if there was an assembly option.  Intimidating thought, that... assembling your own 3D printer.  But at the same time, empowering.  I'm sure it would be time consuming.

Even now, it seems that the majority of the 3D printers are offered in kit format, and some manufacturers will offer an assembly option.

A Case for Assembled

Learning to use your 3D printer is more than just a matter of which button to press.

There's the temperature setting of the nozzle, the temperature setting of the platen, the amount of time to get to that setting, the use of the software and the design techniques.

Why would anyone add the variances that a machine assembled by a novice (you, me) could bring?

There is the fact that you would be looking at the printer parts more closely, so that if some troubleshooting was required, it might be easier to perform.

Even if it's pre-assembled, there could be problems.

Eventually, there may be highly engineered, precision, pre-assembled machines distributed in the hundreds of thousands or millions, even.

But not yet.

The companies that manufacture these are relatively young.  They are constantly evolving their products and pushing them out to a growing consumer base.  The prices are also being pushed down, due to growing competition.  The companies are starting to find ways to differentiate their product.

It seems to me that, at this point, purchasing a 3D printer means you may have to go through a troubleshooting cycle.  The amount of troubleshooting and your success will vary by product.

So... everyone won't be willing to learn the skills needed to use a 3D printer.  Even if they are, they might be apprehensive of the frustrations that can come with owning a 3D printer. 

Still, I ask myself.  3D Printing.  Is it for me?

and... if it is for me, which 3D printer?

And a request to you: My hope is that you will share what you think/know in the comments and we can both benefit from our mutual experiences.

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