are 3d printers worth it right now?

[DarkEnergy]

They look cool. But for right now I think I might wait and see how much more advanced they can try to get them

[bob345]

I really hate how people keep saying "wait a few years, the tech will get better". Obviously it will get better, but it will be at least 10+ years before we get a consumer printer that can do something like the expensive stratasys machines can do. The way most hobbyist 3d printers work has not changed for a very long time, and i am talking 20+years. The technology is nothing new, it is only more recently that we have had things like arduino pop up everywhere which is what makes 3d printers much more accessible now because of the cheap processing power. Right now i believe is one of the best times to get on board because of all the affordable options there are that can get very high quality prints. Personally, i have a rostock max v2 which has been amazing.   http://seemecnc.com/products/rostock-max-complete-kit

 

and some things i have printed with it

 

 

 

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

Watch Barnacules Nerdgasm's youtube channel and see what you can do with a 3D printer.

[Builder]

at one point, your are gonna spend more on your 3d printing supplies than the 3d printer. I would wait for the 3d printing supplies to get cheaper first then buy a good printer.

At one point, that's true about everything that uses consumables.

 

Just browsing one site a 1kg spool of filament  was anywhere from $29 - $45.

1KG is a lot. That's two pounds. Printing nothing but hollow plastic trinkets that would last you at least a year.

[bob345]

At one point, that's true about everything that uses consumables.

 

1KG is a lot. That's two pounds. Printing nothing but hollow plastic trinkets that would last you at least a year.

yep, I have about 13 days of combined print time and have yet to finish a roll

[Builder]

yep, I have about 13 days of combined print time and have yet to finish a roll

It's much more than one might imagine.