3D printers-anyone have one?

[Lestat]

So...I've been looking on ebay, and saw a 3d printer at a reasonable price.

Anyone here got one? I fancy one for the lab...would be absolutely perfect for rapid prototyping of lab equipment that doesn't need heat, such as the likes of electrophoresis, electroporators, northern/southern blotting chambers, etc. for genetics work.

[Semicolon]

There is controversy here over these printers being used to make guns. Recently, a company in Texas printed a metal M1911 and successfully fired it. Link

[skyblue1]

There is controversy here over these printers being used to make guns. Recently, a company in Texas printed a metal M1911 and successfully fired it. Link

some of the plastics ones will blow up in your hands. ~ dunno ~

[TheoK]

Unfortunately I don't have one. Going to make some guns, Lestat? 

[Pyraxis]

I don't have one, but if you get it, I'd be curious how it works for you.

[Lestat]

Yeah, I am aware of those goings on. Nice. Destruction of the means of access control to weapons exerted upon the citizenry of many countries.

The printer I'm looking at is just an ordinary one using ABS, but there are models available that can print in metal, or even ceramics.

If I wanted more firearms, it wouldn't be difficult for me to either buy one, or to go the DIY route and build a coil- or railgun. Actually, I fancy having a crack at the latter some time, when I can get suitable capacitors for a marx generator bank big enough. Perhaps a hundred electrolytic caps of the likes of this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Voltage-Capacitor-40-mfd-2-5-kv-DC-rated-for-Energy-Storage-Pulse-/301012541942?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4615bee1f6


Only 2.5Kv per cap, but that s where the marx generator configuration comes in
40mfd per, that s pretty nice.I just need to find a source auctioning such things in multiple lots rather than singly.

[Icequeen]

They have some builds scattered across the web, a couple in kit form too.

Only way I'd be able to afford one for now.

[Lestat]

Yeah I've seen those.

This is a cheap deal coming from eastern europe. At least if it turns out to be duff, assuming my use of bid sniping software plays off, paypal will cover it.

[Semicolon]

There is controversy here over these printers being used to make guns. Recently, a company in Texas printed a metal M1911 and successfully fired it. Link

some of the plastics ones will blow up in your hands. ~ dunno ~

We'll let Lestat test it.

[renaeden]

Wow, just looked at images of 3D printers. They don't all look the same. I guess it depends on what you want to print?

Hope replicators are next.

[odeon]

I'd love to test one but currently they are too expensive for me.

[Lestat]

I'm thinking of using one for mainly building the likes of genetic engineering equipment, electrophoresis chambers, electroporator, ultra-microcentrifuges powered via electric drill motors etc. Small to moderate-sized plasticware that doesn't need to encounter any significant heat.

[odeon]

If you do get hold of one, post pictures.

[El]

So...I've been looking on ebay, and saw a 3d printer at a reasonable price.

Anyone here got one? I fancy one for the lab...would be absolutely perfect for rapid prototyping of lab equipment that doesn't need heat, such as the likes of electrophoresis, electroporators, northern/southern blotting chambers, etc. for genetics work.

My ex had one- a makerbot cupcake, I think it was (this was several years ago; I don't think they make that model any more).  The damn thing didn't work even half-right most of the time, but he was also kind of flaky about putting effort into figuring out how to make it work better.  For the money he pissed away on it, I think it should have worked better, but it was much newer technology then, so maybe it was about as good as he would be able to get fr the price at the time.