4 ms·

> the only good non-Chinese printer that doesn’t cost 10-100x as much is Prusa They hardly have time to compete, busy as they are with foot-shooting practice.

by xorcist 3mo ago

dismalaf 3mo ago
Dunno, Prusa seems to have mostly forgotten about consumers as their industrial business is booming. Stuff like this: https://sensofusion.com/dronefactory/ https://sensofusion.com/dronefactory/
- rasz 3mo ago
  This is of course beyond stupid considering the pace of 3d printer vs one PET bottle blow molding machine that can produce same shape shells at thousand units /hour.
  - dismalaf 3mo ago
    Is it? With a 3d printer you can print any piece on demand, change design without changing tooling and make pieces that are semi-hollow inside for lightness. Edit - should add, early in the war Ukraine was crowd-sourcing drone parts from citizens with 3D printers at home. This likely grew from that.
    - rasz 3mo ago
      This isnt endurance contest, interceptor drones are half battery half explosive with miniscule weight taken by motors electronics and packaging. We are talking 10KW power draw for around a minute. You can rapid manufacture moulds too, cnc alu is good for 1K shots easily.
  - inigyou 3mo ago
    They're completely different niches. Blow molding helps you make a million of a thing, 3D printing helps you make a million different things. There's great for low volume items without significant strength requirements. That includes prototypes but also anything niche - like parts for blow molding machines.
    - inigyou 3mo ago
      Another comment mentioned you can CNC a blow mold. That's completely true and I'm not versed in it enough to know when you'd prefer subtractive or additive rapid prototyping. A 3D printer is a bit more flexible in the shapes it can make but it can only make them out of plastic, which is a huge tradeoff.
  - imtringued 3mo ago
    But blow moulding machines big enough to make a drone shell are massive. If you had suggested a more portable technology like vacuum forming maybe you would have a point, but blow moulding is definitely one of the more expensive and least portable ways of forming plastic.
    - rasz 3mo ago
      Massive is subjective, you can fit 10 packed or 5 set-up and running machines in one container https://cntaiso.en.made-in-china.com/product/iXYEPnyvhsUl/China-18-9L-20L-3gallon-5gallon-Water-Bottle-Blow-Molding-Machine-with-CE.html https://cntaiso.en.made-in-china.com/product/iXYEPnyvhsUl/Ch...
muro 3mo ago
Not sure what you mean. Had a mk 4 or what the last one was - excellent. Now on core one (or what the name is for the enclosed one), also great.

> the only good non-Chinese printer that doesn’t cost 10-100x as much is Prusa They hardly have time to compete, busy as they are with foot-shooting practice.

by xorcist 3mo ago

> the only good non-Chinese printer that doesn’t cost 10-100x as much is Prusa They hardly have time to compete, busy as they are with foot-shooting practice.

dismalaf 3mo ago

Dunno, Prusa seems to have mostly forgotten about consumers as their industrial business is booming. Stuff like this: https://sensofusion.com/dronefactory/ https://sensofusion.com/dronefactory/

rasz 3mo ago
This is of course beyond stupid considering the pace of 3d printer vs one PET bottle blow molding machine that can produce same shape shells at thousand units /hour.
- dismalaf 3mo ago
  Is it? With a 3d printer you can print any piece on demand, change design without changing tooling and make pieces that are semi-hollow inside for lightness. Edit - should add, early in the war Ukraine was crowd-sourcing drone parts from citizens with 3D printers at home. This likely grew from that.
  - rasz 3mo ago
    This isnt endurance contest, interceptor drones are half battery half explosive with miniscule weight taken by motors electronics and packaging. We are talking 10KW power draw for around a minute. You can rapid manufacture moulds too, cnc alu is good for 1K shots easily.
- inigyou 3mo ago
  They're completely different niches. Blow molding helps you make a million of a thing, 3D printing helps you make a million different things. There's great for low volume items without significant strength requirements. That includes prototypes but also anything niche - like parts for blow molding machines.
  - inigyou 3mo ago
    Another comment mentioned you can CNC a blow mold. That's completely true and I'm not versed in it enough to know when you'd prefer subtractive or additive rapid prototyping. A 3D printer is a bit more flexible in the shapes it can make but it can only make them out of plastic, which is a huge tradeoff.
- imtringued 3mo ago
  But blow moulding machines big enough to make a drone shell are massive. If you had suggested a more portable technology like vacuum forming maybe you would have a point, but blow moulding is definitely one of the more expensive and least portable ways of forming plastic.
  - rasz 3mo ago
    Massive is subjective, you can fit 10 packed or 5 set-up and running machines in one container https://cntaiso.en.made-in-china.com/product/iXYEPnyvhsUl/China-18-9L-20L-3gallon-5gallon-Water-Bottle-Blow-Molding-Machine-with-CE.html https://cntaiso.en.made-in-china.com/product/iXYEPnyvhsUl/Ch...

muro 3mo ago

Not sure what you mean. Had a mk 4 or what the last one was - excellent. Now on core one (or what the name is for the enclosed one), also great.