I was thinking about this question today as someone used our work printer for some personal stuff.
As for me, I am printing little things that I would say make it worth it. I’ve printed lens adapters for my camera for example. That’s worth a good 14 to 30 bucks per print. My most favorite photo was with an adapted lens that came from a projector. I also printed IEMs and those things are worth it. Listening to music is second to none on those things. Plus I printed the same shell but for ear protection and again the fit is perfect and sure there’s post processing to get smooth surfaces but in the end it looks like a professional made it. So I think 3d printers are worth it.
financially worth it?
Probably not.
Did it give me brief respites of light against the clawing, ever encroaching abyssal darkness of life and misery?
Yes.
Define “worth it”??
For many, it’s a hobby. For many more, it’s an adjunct to whatever hobby they do have. Hobby’s don’t have to save you money; and I’m militantly opposed to monetizing hobbies as a way to “justify” them.
Personally, I’m mostly 3d printing custom components (that I’ve designed), for R/C aircraft of various sorts. (Like, my cyclogyros, or the flying saucer powered by a 3d printed ducted fan; which is, more or less, a scaled model of the saucer from the OG Day The Earth Stood Still. or the thermal airship using toaster wire that has taken on a lot of different forms, ranging from 20’ star destroyers to whale sharks to a robot named Buoyant Bob that hands out candy on Halloween.)
I also enjoy 3d printing as a hobby, in of itself, too. (and spend waaayyyyy too much tinkering on the printer. its fun.) But it doesn’t have to save me money, and I feel no need to compare it to other forms of hobbies. It’s what I enjoy.
edit: lets put this in perspective. This would be like asking a golfer if they found golf worth it. the only real questions are “Do I enjoy it” and “can I afford it”. not “can it save me a buck”.
Buying a 3d printer and learning CAD is unlocking a super power. You can put something from your brain into the real world. It’s great for hyper specific parts.
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That was blowing my mind the first time I printed a prototype. Still kinda does.
That and sharing models is great. Like I can literally download a physical object. Sure the printing is an extra step, but that’s still amazing to me 10 years after firing up my first printer.deleted by creator
Yea I know, it’s great.
I didn’t because I didn’t need one, but printing bridging features in zero-G must be something else.Resin printing in space would be such a mess though.
Depends on how you define “worth it.” Have I spent less money on the printer than I would have buying things I printed? Probably not. However, it has been a blast and great learning experience. Most recently printed landing skids and a camera shroud for a friend’s dji drone which is pretty cool.
That sounds pretty cool. I would say the same, it’s a expenditure like any other. We get to have fun from it.
100%. I’ve printed some cool stuff and some stupid stuff, as well as a bunch of functional parts that have improved my life around my house. More importantly it’s given me a huge creative outlet to get more and more outlandish with my CAD designs and push my experience limits, which is great because that helps me be a lot more efficient at work.
Financially it was a total waste of money but that doesn’t matter when it’s a hobby. A hobby with practical marketable skills, and also the ability to let me prototype some independent ideas I’ve been brewing for a while to maybe sell for some side cash…
Financially? Definitely not
But it’s an enjoyable (and occasionally frustrating) hobby, so I’d say it’s worth it.
Hell yes! I make a lot of things and having this ability really expanded on that.
I should point out that anyone interested in anything more than printing trinkets found on the Internet will also have to learn 3d drafting, at least to some extent. Bear that in mind.
My 3D printer does occasionally prove itself useful. I print stuff to help me out in the shop, adapters for shop vacs, tool holders, stuff like that. I could do without it but it is a useful tool to have.
Learn to model things in CAD. That’s what is limiting me from getting real use out of my printer. It’s fun to print models you find online, but the real value is in printing your own designs.
Yes. I’ve spent far more money than I will ever save but I’ve had a lot of fun with it.
Also I printed a nerf blaster. Enough said.
Wow! Cool print!
Yes, in the same way a kayak, PS5, or e-reader are worth it. I learned so much and had a great time learning to use it with my kids. We occasionally made useful items, but never turned a profit or saved a life.
Still totally worth it.
Though, to be fair, we bought a basic Anet machine on Ali followed by a second hand knock-off so it wasn’t the thousands you can spend today.
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I’m on my third upgrade machine after getting my first printer years ago. Very rewarding hobby, much recommend.
Absolutely. If you learn Freecad.
- Radar detector mount
- Furniture pieces
- Pegboard holders
- Custom vent for indoor fireplace
Just a few of the things I’ve designed and made recently.
I think you shouldn’t forget that we’re here at c/3dprinting, where only enthusiasts join together. Of course everyone here is a huge fan of 3D printers, those who got frustrated and sold their device aren’t here anymore.
First of all, I’m very happy about having a printer, but more onto that later.
I had two ones yet, and both sucked.
The first was older, shitty and way too big. I wasted many weekends tinkering with that crap, until I accidentally destroyed it and sold it. My second one is the one I still use. It’s a device from China, and the company doesn’t exist anymore. So, if I want to buy replacement parts, I can just pray generic ones fit. And the customer support has always been shit, and the whole company and products seem very wonky in hindsight.
If I would have to buy another printer, it would definitely be something popular, like a Prusa one. It should be very small, silent and easily repairable. I don’t care anymore about fancy features (maybe except auto leveling), it should just not annoy me.
Having a printer is like having a drill or soldering iron. You don’t need it daily, but you’re glad that you have it when you need it. And my friends are too! I’m printing more for my family, neighbours and friends than for myself.
Having a printer without CAD skills is nonsense. But once you can create your own stuff, you have endless capabilities.
I couldn’t live without one by now.
