Check out our highly informative and entertaining video about 3D Printing!

What is the best 3D Printer for its price?

This post will explore three 3D Printers that are the most accessible, basic and most importantly affordable. All of these can be purchased on Amazon.ca or even Best Buy and Staples. Lets take a look at the most affordable 3D Printing Price for you:

(1)  Maki Box – This entry-level printer is open sourced and comes mostly assembled out of the box. It was created for people who want to try their hand at 3D printing but don’t want to make a huge commitment right off the bat. Because of that it has a limited build space of 150mm x 110mm x 90mm tall. Price: $300

(2)  Phoenix 3D Printer – The Phoenix is closed-source and comes with their designed proprietary software. This allows for more built-in functions like pausing during a build and gives the user more overall control with a simpler interface. Price: $500

(3)  Deezmaker Bukito Mini – Say that 5 times fast! The mini prides itself not only on size and weight (~6 pounds) but it also prints with startling accuracy, even when being moved around during the build. It is a tad pricier than 1 and 2 but with a build size of 5 x 6 x 5 it makes for a solid case. Price: $699

All in all there have been many barriers in the consumer markets including learning curves, materials, uses and of course cost. Fortunately, with increased competition and interest 3D printers are becoming more viable for consumers. I hope this list helps to answer Which 3D Printer to Buy when primarily focusing on cost.

Post Type: List Post

Keywords: 3D Printing Industry (880), 3D Printing Applications (320), Cool Things to 3D print (590)

What’s next for the 3D printing industry

Now that I am becoming more knowledgeable with 3D printing and what its been used for I always try to think about what could be next for 3D printing. There are so many possibilities and to think that anything is possible is quite intriguing. Being in a business program and constantly thinking about what’s next in my career path I am now considering how I can put 3D printing to use effectively and with meaning. Create some sort of niche.

Its always been in my blood to be an entrepreneur and this might just be the key. I think about the advancements that 3D printing has taken on from heading to space, to helping solve medical wonders/surgeries to creating one of a kind artwork. After looking extensively into it and gaining the knowledge that 3D printing will be the next “big thing” or the “it” thing, it would definitely be a path worth exploring. If I were to create a business around it, I would do something practical and get kids involved. I am a trained teacher and the idea that kids learn best with hands on experiences would be beneficial, especially in this case. . Growing up I started in Montessori based learning and it was all about exploring with touching, feeling, doing, creating and I was able to self teach myself as many kids do what works and what doesn’t. Bringing this to the business world of creating a store that people can come in and print or create their own projects and explore with creative ideas and having them print in actual 3D objects would be something unusual and new. Kids and adults alike would have the ability to create objects that they could use in every day life.—designing new bowls, plates, games, objects, knickknacks,  tools, anything that they could possibly imagine. If people could walk into a local place and design, create and actually print a working and functional game or toy that’s one of a kind they could feel like they are the next Einstein.  To answer the questions what’s next for the 3D printing industry, I personally believe the consumer is going to have more control in what is created. They will have the ability to create things that they can imagine with a simple click of a button. Other industries will be hurt because people will be content with creating personalized objects that they can have a story behind rather that buying a dish or game at places like Wal-Mart they will be able to just print new plates and replicas of games that they know of.

As our world progresses and this industry becomes more popular in the westernized culture, I hope that children become more involved in the creative process rather than sitting at the TV screen. Our society will change and hopefully become less materialistic wanting brand name items and turn to the personalized items. The future is endless with 3D printing and exploring the different items that can be printed cause when it comes right down to it anything can be made with the right coding of a computer program.

If you could choose one thing to make today with a 3D printer, what would it be? I can assure you that within my lifetime it will probably happen!

Stereolithography VS Deposition

The 3D Printing Industry as whole encompasses a vast umbrella of technology however; when you narrow it down to a specific section like consumer printers’ the options become less daunting. This section will review the two basic methods that 3D Printers use to build their structures and will help guide you in your decision of Which Printer To Buy.

	Stereolithography (SLA)	Deposition (FDM)
Cost	High	Low
Resolution	High	Medium
Mechanical Strength	Medium	Medium
Speed	High	Low

*FDM shown on left and SLA shown on the right

(Flickr Creative Commons)

As you can see in the table shown above SLA excels in most categories, which unfortunately includes the price. While its competition FDM method may not achieve a high ranking in any category it is quite well rounded and is budget friendly. However, each consumer is different will have their own preferences. For me personally the two key factors are price and resolution. On that basis FDM appears to be the better value.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the review!

Which 3D Printer are the most affordable in the market today?

Did you ever wonder if you overpaid for your own 3D printer? Or are you looking for an affordable 3D printer for sale?

The list I’m about to provide you is fitted for all 3D printing hobbyist that are only looking for self-fulfilment, to provide accustom element of replacement when needing to substitute or create 3D printed objects. The 3D printer price is distributed from prices $100.00 to $500.00 North American company base.

•  LIx 3D pen is the smallest 3D printer machine $140.00
•  MOD-t 3D printer a one-click printing ecosystem that beginners or enthusiasts will love $249.00
•  Cobblebot 3D Printer an outsized build area (15x15x15) consumer 3D printer $299.00
•  M3D micro 3D printer a truly consumer 3D printer cost efficient $349.00
•  Mix G1 Plus Kit a Canadian made printer $420.00
•  RigidBot a truly beginners printer engineered for everyday users $447.00

© Creative Tools Creative Commons 2012

There are plenty more to survey, so you can distinguish the difference between my lists of top made consumer inexpensive 3D printers vs. your own list. Also for all my Canadian readers out there, 3D printers does not fix themselves and wondering where you want to get your printer fix, here are list of top 3D printers services around the GTA.

Let me know what you think? Are you an enthusiast of 3D printing? Will you now purchase your first 3D printer of your liking?

When was the first 3D printer was made and how has it evolved?

Did you know when the first 3D was made and how the 3D printing industry is maybe one of the key in tech evolution that will help the economy?

©Canadian Film Centre Creative Commons 2013

For starter the first 3D printer was made in the late 1980’s, however and answer of who invented it is another story. The first 3D printer was called rapid prototypes this is due it is one of the cost effective way to create prototype. In year 1988 the first 3D printer/Rapid prototypes was first commercially released to the public. Since then numinous amount of 3D printers are released year after year. The effect that this has cost in the industry has been somewhat unsettled, this is the effect of increasingly new development of 3D printers i.e. fast new prototyping software, advance robotics, and stereolithography apparatus have not had the breakthrough companies have anticipated. As of now 3D printing solutions in the idea for the 3D printer hobbyists that the technology is up for grabs that the average joe can create their own homemade 3D printer.

Right now 3D printing hasn’t established what they should have accomplished a long time ago. I believe this is due intense competition and fast developments of this apparatus. As a result let me know what you think? Do you believe in a couple of years 3D printers will be the it…thing?

Things to make with a 3D printer for the everyday person

Ever wonder what you could make at home with a 3D printer? Have your kids been bugging you about buying one for a Christmas or birthday gift because they want one and you wonder how handy it really is? Well here is a list of items that are simple and convenient to make with a little help from a computer program and a 3D printer.

Top 15 items that you could print from a 3D printer:

1.  A lamp- you could design a funky shape or replicate a simpler model and make it the exact colour and size you would like

2.  Make kitchen tools

           a) Plastic cutlery for kids

           b) Plates

                    c) Garlic press

                    d) Missing knob (dial) for an oven

                    e) Measuring cups

 3. Smoke? Make individual cigarette cases

 4. Design a clock and print it

5. Wine Holder-balancing wine rack

6. Container to hold all your office supplies-staplers, pens, paper

 7. arden hose flow controller  

8. Drink Coasters and Placemats

9. Windshield scraper

10. Toothpaste Tube Squeezer and soap dish

11. Game pieces (Chess pieces)

12. Tweezers

13. Phone case (Iphone, Samsung, Tablet, Computer)

 14. DVD case

 15. Jewelry

Anything that could be made out of plastic and thought of can be made. If you have a little imagination and a lot of time on your hands come or a little time on your hands and a lot of imagination then create something unique that is all your own. Good for gifts and inexpensive don’t have to buy it when you can just print it. And it will be one of a kind that will mean more to the person then a regular cookie cutter item purchases at a box store.

What have you made? Share helpful ideas on what has worked for you or what you have created. Love to see some pictures 

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3D printing art-Is it possible with children’s imaginations?

Throughout these blog posts I have talked about printing objects and creative ideas to make one of a kind items and there is no doubt in my mind that printing children’s artwork and what they think of wouldn’t be anything new or different. Of course you can print children’s artwork. And what a creative outlet for a child to have but seeing their imagination become a tangible hand held item that they can play with.

Creative Commons 2012

Now not all artwork can be created into a 3D image if it isn’t 3D to begin with. For instance you cant take an abstract geometric shaped painting and expect to turn it something. But many kids young and old are able to colour in pictures of what could be a 3D image. For example take an outline of a horse and colour it in. Then print it in a 3D printer and you will have a toy horse coloured with what that child has come up with. This technique is really able to expand into getting children excited about art. Instead of sitting in front of a computer screen or Xbox all day long they can draw and colour pictures and then watch it come to life if you will be printing it into a hold-able object that they can play with and create stories with. They could even create different shapes to add to their Lego collection to make their building experience unique to that of their friends. When I was a kid Id want to create a far off land of make believe that would be in our world and I could play with it. The possibilities are endless.

What can be printed using a 3D printer?

3D printing seems to be all the rage these days. They’re showing up in your city libraries, they’re one the news and they’ve even been featured on the comedy website Funny Or Die. So what’s the big deal all about? What 3D printing applications can be used on the consumer and industrial level? Below I have compiled a consumer list of “Cool things to 3D Print” as well as an Industry list entitled, “3D Printing Industry Innovations”.

Top 3 Cool Things to 3D Print

1.    Customized iPhone5 case

(Flickr Creative Commons)

2.    Did someone loose a Rook? No worries! Print a new castle.

(Flickr Creative Commons)

3. Fractals are cool right? Well, you can print them! Let’s hear it for the Golden Ratio! 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584, 4181, 6765 … Coool RIGHT?

(Flickr Creative Commons)

Top 3 3D Printing Industry Innovations

1.    A Car: Yes, the people at Local Motors have actually printed a car and it took them only 44 hours to do so. Is this car awesome? Perhaps not, but you wouldn’t find me aboard the Wright Brothers first Airplane either.

(Flickr Creative Commons)

2.    A Heart: In 2014 scientists used an MRI scan to print a replica heart of a two-week old baby. Using the model they were able to identify the issues and map out a procedure before operating and saved the child’s life.

(Flickr Creative Commons)

3. Spinal Disk: A customized porous spinal disk optimized for osteointegration.

(Flickr Creative Commons)

Does anything on this list surprise you? Do you think that 3D printing is a fad or here to stay?

Let us know in the comments below!