3d Printing useful things should be easier. Thoughts? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Josh McCoy
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 03:49:19 am
content: I'm considering the difficulty of using 3d printers to make useful things. The main challenge Id like to address is that most interesting things that can be made with a 3d printer require non-printable parts such as springs, motors or electronics, and gathering all the parts one at a time is time consuming and expensive due to small quantities and often needing to be shipped separately. I'm currently considering the viability of starting a tiny company to provide kits containing the unprintable parts needed for common projects, and would like to hear feedback about what kind of kits (if any) would be useful to the members of the community at large. Thanks in advance.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 04:08:54 am
content: Not something that I would want to get into. High time content orders for low $ value so you will need to load packing and shipping if you want to make it work. Just go into it and don't BS yourself into not looking at TIME as a cost.A local in Oz example to have a look at.https://www.smallparts.com.au/I keep a stash on hand like below plus some bulk quantities of some I use quantities of. Generally evilbay or Aliexpress sourced and I just top them up as I get low. That said I am 3-4 hours drive from any really large population centers so I carry more than I would given a different location. Locally when I get to 6mm for example the range available is much better so you will see the 6mm tray is no where near as diverse. There is also a spring, bearing, magnets, random catches and latches stash not shown too.Given a bit of preparation/pre planning over an almost certainly higher priced Western E-Store put your customer hat on and think about where you would go first?I have just ordered $1k worth of hardware and T slot fittings for a large format Laser Build I did some random price checks locally on physical and online and it would have run 2-3 times more expensive. I don't anticipate starting the job for a few months but the $ saved will go a long way toward other toys

author: ChristofferB
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 08:52:54 am
content: Yeah I'm sorry, but I litterally can't think of a standard ish mechanical component that can't be bought on ebay and shipped from China for no money at all.Furthermore, for me at least, the main advantage of owning a 3d printer is to allow for your own design criteria, functions and dimensions to be realized quickly. If all the nonprintable mechanical components are already bought as a kit, there is none of that left. At that stage you might as well ship the whole kit. It might be good for introductory projects though!

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 03:03:42 pm
content: you can (be a competitor) if you can live like chinese, work like chinese, eat like chinese, pay like chinese and.. source parts and courier like chinese.

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 05:51:30 pm
content: Quote from: Josh McCoy on April 24, 2020, 03:49:19 amFirst of all...I have a 3D printer and I use it all the time in a variety of ways.1) repairing things around the house--just this week I busted the handle on the fridge. One part of the handle had already been designed and on Thingiverse. I designed and printed the other. I also designed and printed a part to repair the foot on my treadmill. The list goes on and on...2) when mounting electronc board and things, I print brackets to attach one board to another...standoffs of the exact height I need3) custom boxes--generally of the small varietyThings I use to support the 3d printing? Screws, threaded inserts, battery clips, etc. All from China. I am reducing my Chinese purchases for now and would prefer to buy American and even pay a little more.

author: Josh McCoy
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 08:05:43 pm
content: Quote from: ChristofferB on April 24, 2020, 08:52:54 amA few other people mentioned introductory kits on another forum. Did you have any details in mind? are there any "intro projects" you would think are useful? Or perhaps something designed to introduce more complex parts or processes?