4 ms·

Raw materials aside, a tiny printer can go places a large printer cannot. Space? Deep sea? Inside other machines? Or on the tip of a robotic arm to do print lit

Raw materials aside, a tiny printer can go places a large printer cannot. Space? Deep sea? Inside other machines? Or on the tip of a robotic arm to do print little parts right onto their permanent place like a spider placing silk? Who knows!? 99% sure the "in your pocket" statement is more like "smaller than a breadbox", as in, it's plain-as-day comparisons of size, not use.

robust-cactus 2y ago
The size of the printing mechanism is an innovation for sure, but I think after you add up all the other components to make a functioning printer you end up at nearly the same size: a resin vat, space to print, various leveling mechanisms, filters, UV light shield etc - the form factor doesn't really change all that much.
- jvanderbot 2y ago
  If you think 3D printing is always going to be on a flat bed of the same size using the same amounts of material, then yeah, minimizing the printing mechanism sure seems like a non-necessary improvement. But that's not the intended use case anyway. It can only print small things. Maybe it can add tiny details or structures to large prints though
  - araes 2y ago
    > Maybe it can add tiny details or structures to large prints though Combine it with their rather enthusiastic article on printing your own children https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/elegoo-making-3d-printer-large-enough-to-print-a-toddler https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/elegoo-making-3d-pr... > Just imagine printing a piece of furniture, a near life-size statue, ... "Such a lifelike figurine, with real plastic spaceship accessory" https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zPi4gpbczzvoGR34Rds7D8-1200-80.jpg.webp https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zPi4gpbczzvoGR34Rds7D8-120... If the Galaxy Quest aliens happen to glance this way lately...
  - robust-cactus 2y ago
    Hmmmm interesting. I can see a use case for like a drone or small robot to have one of these attached to add details all over the place. Ok you've convinced me it's cool lol
- dgacmu 2y ago
  Imagine the equivalent of endoscopy: being able to insert a small tube inside of an object and print structures larger than the tube inside of them. Obviously, that requires a lot more than just this, but it's intriguing to think about being able to perform internal repairs of nearly-sealed objects. Or print a kitten inside a bottle, for those old enough to catch the bonsai kitten reference. ;)

robust-cactus 2y ago

The size of the printing mechanism is an innovation for sure, but I think after you add up all the other components to make a functioning printer you end up at nearly the same size: a resin vat, space to print, various leveling mechanisms, filters, UV light shield etc - the form factor doesn't really change all that much.

jvanderbot 2y ago
If you think 3D printing is always going to be on a flat bed of the same size using the same amounts of material, then yeah, minimizing the printing mechanism sure seems like a non-necessary improvement. But that's not the intended use case anyway. It can only print small things. Maybe it can add tiny details or structures to large prints though
- araes 2y ago
  > Maybe it can add tiny details or structures to large prints though Combine it with their rather enthusiastic article on printing your own children https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/elegoo-making-3d-printer-large-enough-to-print-a-toddler https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/elegoo-making-3d-pr... > Just imagine printing a piece of furniture, a near life-size statue, ... "Such a lifelike figurine, with real plastic spaceship accessory" https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zPi4gpbczzvoGR34Rds7D8-1200-80.jpg.webp https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zPi4gpbczzvoGR34Rds7D8-120... If the Galaxy Quest aliens happen to glance this way lately...
- robust-cactus 2y ago
  Hmmmm interesting. I can see a use case for like a drone or small robot to have one of these attached to add details all over the place. Ok you've convinced me it's cool lol
dgacmu 2y ago
Imagine the equivalent of endoscopy: being able to insert a small tube inside of an object and print structures larger than the tube inside of them. Obviously, that requires a lot more than just this, but it's intriguing to think about being able to perform internal repairs of nearly-sealed objects. Or print a kitten inside a bottle, for those old enough to catch the bonsai kitten reference. ;)