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The Da Vinci is _not_ a Makerbot knockoff. Its a printer based on open source designs of Reprap. Makerbot should never get credit for it after they chose to le

The Da Vinci is _not_ a Makerbot knockoff. Its a printer based on open source designs of Reprap. Makerbot should never get credit for it after they chose to leave the community. Markerbot is actually a Reprap ripoff! That said, I will be waiting for the next set of articles. This is good! :)

vpontis 10y ago
Ha you are clearly more knowledgeable about 3D printers than I am :). Reprap for anyone reading this is totally awesome. I didn't include it in my post but Reprap is an open source 3D-printer that can make itself... It's basically the hardware version of the singularity: http://reprap.org/ http://reprap.org/
- marcosdumay 10y ago
  Well, it can kinda "make itself". Electronics and strong materials (steel mostly) are not included, and it takes quite a bit of assembly. But yes, it awesome.
  - marianov 10y ago
    Lathes had been making themselves for ages before 3D printers.
    - vpontis 10y ago
      That's a good point! I guess the iteration cycle has gotten an order of magnitude quicker and cheaper with 3D printers.
  - marianov 10y ago
    Lathes had been making themselves for ages before 3D printers.
- juliendorra 10y ago
  The most interesting thing about reprap is that it is a long lasting community who does (real) open innovation. There open innovation is not a buzzword. The reprap community didn't invent 3D printing, but they lowered the price and access and are the single (ahem, multiple) cause of the present flood of low cost, reliable 3D printers. They experimented, took many false paths, and continue to push in new direction. They also are the origin of many growing companies : Aleph, Prusa, even the French Dagoma…
- Negative1 10y ago
  Not to be overly pedantic but the Singularity is defined as the point at which AI has reached runaway growth during which it would improve itself beyond anything imaginable by humans. I think you're just talking about a self-replicating machine like a Von Neumann Probe. (check out the show Lexx if you want to see the hilarious end result of this)
- ShirsenduK 10y ago
  Ha Ha! I have spent way too much time staring at 3D printers to get a good print! :)
outworlder 10y ago
If I don't have the time to build a reprap myself, what would be a good version to buy?
- jakewins 10y ago
  If I were replacing my Prusa with something off-the-shelf, I'd buy Ultimaker. My previous maker space had four of them, and they ran those things constantly with minimal fuss. They are a bit pricey, but there's the option of buying used - lots of people buy 3d printers, and then realize they don't use 'em and so sell them second hand.
- patrickg_zill 10y ago
  Flashforge, about 700 to 800 on Amazon. qidi clone is 400. Monoprice.com has a basic one for 349. Parts cost about 200 if you diy, I am told.
- mch82 10y ago
  If you can afford one, the Ultimaker 3 is fantastic and extremely easy to use! I've been using one for two weeks. It was pre-built and after unboxing I began a complex print with water-soluble PVA support material in about 20 minutes. Ultimaker is a supporter of open source hardware: https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/17799-releasing-our-source-files-the-ultimaker-2-go-and-extended-are-now-available https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/17799-releasing-our-source-fil...
- ShirsenduK 10y ago
  Let me first apologise for the late response. I am sorry I had forgotten about this thread. The best 3D printer IMO is the Original Prusa sold by Josef Prusa himself. shop.prusa3d.com 3D Hubs also has a great section on 3D Printer reviews and ratings.

vpontis 10y ago

Ha you are clearly more knowledgeable about 3D printers than I am :). Reprap for anyone reading this is totally awesome. I didn't include it in my post but Reprap is an open source 3D-printer that can make itself... It's basically the hardware version of the singularity: http://reprap.org/ http://reprap.org/

marcosdumay 10y ago
Well, it can kinda "make itself". Electronics and strong materials (steel mostly) are not included, and it takes quite a bit of assembly. But yes, it awesome.
- marianov 10y ago
  Lathes had been making themselves for ages before 3D printers.
  - vpontis 10y ago
    That's a good point! I guess the iteration cycle has gotten an order of magnitude quicker and cheaper with 3D printers.
- marianov 10y ago
  Lathes had been making themselves for ages before 3D printers.
juliendorra 10y ago
The most interesting thing about reprap is that it is a long lasting community who does (real) open innovation. There open innovation is not a buzzword. The reprap community didn't invent 3D printing, but they lowered the price and access and are the single (ahem, multiple) cause of the present flood of low cost, reliable 3D printers. They experimented, took many false paths, and continue to push in new direction. They also are the origin of many growing companies : Aleph, Prusa, even the French Dagoma…
Negative1 10y ago
Not to be overly pedantic but the Singularity is defined as the point at which AI has reached runaway growth during which it would improve itself beyond anything imaginable by humans. I think you're just talking about a self-replicating machine like a Von Neumann Probe. (check out the show Lexx if you want to see the hilarious end result of this)
ShirsenduK 10y ago
Ha Ha! I have spent way too much time staring at 3D printers to get a good print! :)

outworlder 10y ago

If I don't have the time to build a reprap myself, what would be a good version to buy?

jakewins 10y ago
If I were replacing my Prusa with something off-the-shelf, I'd buy Ultimaker. My previous maker space had four of them, and they ran those things constantly with minimal fuss. They are a bit pricey, but there's the option of buying used - lots of people buy 3d printers, and then realize they don't use 'em and so sell them second hand.
patrickg_zill 10y ago
Flashforge, about 700 to 800 on Amazon. qidi clone is 400. Monoprice.com has a basic one for 349. Parts cost about 200 if you diy, I am told.
mch82 10y ago
If you can afford one, the Ultimaker 3 is fantastic and extremely easy to use! I've been using one for two weeks. It was pre-built and after unboxing I began a complex print with water-soluble PVA support material in about 20 minutes. Ultimaker is a supporter of open source hardware: https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/17799-releasing-our-source-files-the-ultimaker-2-go-and-extended-are-now-available https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/17799-releasing-our-source-fil...
ShirsenduK 10y ago
Let me first apologise for the late response. I am sorry I had forgotten about this thread. The best 3D printer IMO is the Original Prusa sold by Josef Prusa himself. shop.prusa3d.com 3D Hubs also has a great section on 3D Printer reviews and ratings.