3D Printer Technology

[rjshae]

In an interesting sign of things to come, there was a (now cancelled) Kickstarter project to build modular parts for a castle using a 3D printer. The level of detail on this already looks pretty good. So... assuming somebody does decide to move forward on this, would dungeon parts be next? Followed by print-your-own figurines?

 

Just one slight problem though: purchasing a 3D printer and the "print" cartridges. Perhaps instead it will start at local hobby shops where they print your parts to order?

[melkathi]

By "your own figurines" you mean that someone else has made a 3D modell and you just print it, or that you create a 3D model yourself and then print that?

 

(I haven't looked into the 3D printing thing too much yet)

Edited December 5, 2012 by melkathi

[Gorth]

It's sort of CAD/CAM in for hobbyists. You you need to create 3D models in a modelling app. The printer will then "print" a 3D plastic model from the design.

[melkathi]

So for figurines you'd need some pretty good 3D skills, understanding of scale and enough common sense to understand what bits will be too thin and break.

[Gorth]

That sums it up pretty nicely. I'm fairly sure there is going to be an online market (both legit and not) for printable stuff. Some fun already arose in the US from gun designs you could print (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22323-diy-gun-project-misfires-as-3d-printer-is-seized.html)

[melkathi]

Yeah I read about that one. Made a dreary day more fun