3D printers - is it worth it?

[bobthehobbyguy]

To me it all boils down to the needs of the individual. As said it just another tool. A lathe has a lot of potential but as with anything it takes time to learn how to use it.

For me at this point I have a huge stash of parts and kits. Being able to make more parts doesn't make sense for me, i want to use what i have.  If you are starting out with a small stash and have the skills to draw and print parts then it might make sense when you look at what current kits cost rather than canabilize a bunch of kits to build one.

[Impalow]

19 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Where I feel like 3-D printing can hurt the hobby is by depriving the builder of actually learning how to build.

I understand that it might be much easier to print or buy an extremely highly detailed engine, or engine compartment, or whatever it might be, but at some point, it's going to become just a matter of printing up a show caliber model that will basically require little skill or thought outside of painting and assembly.

Old school modelers, like many of us, who have learned how to shape and mold plain old plastic into something tangible, will no longer have any relevance.

Not that I care, because I'm still going to do things as I always have, but at some point, nobody is going to have to go through the thought process, and the dexterity that it might take to build something yourself anymore, whether it be something as small as a power steering pump, or as large as a complete interior, or for that matter, an entire car, when they can just print up something that's going to be better anyway.

I personally struggle with this some myself, as someone who has "moderately decent" skills in both realms of the hobby. (3d modeling & printing/ traditional scratch-building)

For my current vintage showrod projects I have purposely chosen to exclude any 3d printed stuff to keep the model true to the vintage... now this is something only I would notice.  I still used cnc-cutting, photo-etch, LED lights... so in reality it doesn't even make sense, except to me in my head. 

Now simultaneously I have a more modern build on my bench,  and I've modeled and 3d printed almost every part with the exception of the body and chassis.

I do have a love/hate relationship with being able to make pretty much anything in my head, suddenly those kit seats that were 85% acceptable before are no longer acceptable when you can make exactly what you want and 3d print it... thus extending the projects completion for every little item like that.

Much like what @CabDriver said above, The 3d process really excels when you have multiple items...

model one firewall by hand? -  no big deal.
Scratch-build 8 coil packs or 4 wheels?  just model it once and print a ton of them.

I don't really have an answer, I am just here to say as someone who dabbles in both I am torn... 

Edited January 9, 2023 by Impalow

[bobthehobbyguy]

On 1/8/2023 at 3:18 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

I have had similar feelings over the years, as a "hands on" old-school visual artist, protographer, and draftsman.

Digital cameras made film and darkrooms obsolete, and allowed "everyman" to turn out wonderful photos...assuming he had an eye for composition and color, ect. But frankly, most people don't. And happily, there are still enthusiasts who shoot and develop and print from film.

Digital art made painting and drawing largely obsolete, and the techniques and eye-hand coordination traditional artists use aren't necessary to turn out beautiful pictures. I think that's sad too, but again, there are still artists who use traditional media, and probably always will be...and it still takes talent to make "art" with a computer interface between artist and product.

CAD made drafting tables and inked lines and lettering obsolete, and though I use CAD as a time-saving tool sometimes, I still do my rough and concept work the old ways. Unfortunately, I know "engineers" who are virtually incapable of doing a "napkin" concept sketch with a pencil...and "machinists" who can't make something unless they have a CNC program to tell the 5-axis mill what to do.

We lose a lot as a civilization when we allow manual skills to wither and die, but we gain from having time-saving TOOLS in the box, which is what, for ME, all the newfangled tech offers.

NEW TOOLS and techniques to augment OLD TOOLS and techniques...but not to replace them.

As far as model cars go, Bill Cunningham's spectacular 3D printed birdcage Maserati (for example) took at least as much fitting and finish and paint work as any plastic kit, and the result of his dedication to learning the new ways added to his mastery of the old ways (he's a scratch-building whiz too), produced a 1/24 scale model that was simply beyond what anyone in this hobby could do just a few short years ago.

I look forward to embracing 3D printing as soon as I have the time. I've wanted a model of this since I was about 5, and could have, of course, dedicated the requisite weeks to scratch one...but now, in the same time, I can have every Chrysler-Ghia concept car I could possibly desire...but I'll still need to take each one from raw print to finished model.

Well put. Just another tool in the toolbox. It's important to select the right tool for the job.

I think in the end the true craftsman will always shine through.

Although the model constructed below could be done with 3d printing would it be as impressive as being done from scratch with a minimum of tools?

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by bobthehobbyguy
Added thought

[Oldmopars]

As a modeler that enjoys models that are different than the aftermarket like to cater to, 3D design and printing has opened up a new world for me. For years I wanted to learn to do 3D Design, but never had a reason. I bought a 3D Printer and that left me with buying others designs, or learn to make them myself. So, I taught myself. I found that I really enjoy the process and because I travel every week, it gives me something to do other than watch the tube. 

I do agree with the statement made above, I now look at a kit differently. I see something and think "I can do that better". Now I have 10 kits, all part done because I get drawn to the design side, and very little build time. 

I figure its a hobby, as long as I am having fun with it, all is good.  

[OldNYJim]

11 hours ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

Well put. Just another tool in the toolbox. It's important to select the right tool for the job.

I think in the end the true craftsman will always shine through.

Although the model constructed below could be done with 3d printing would it be as impressive as being done from scratch with a minimum of tools?

 

More impressive if it was scratchbuilt for sure!  

Which is funny to me, in a way - it makes me think of those guys who can build an amazing brass frame for a project rather than modify a kit piece, or print one.  Clay Kemp, for example, does this a lot…and yet, when the build is done they’re painted and you might never know the difference compared to if he had made it out of styrene.  It’s impressive because he did it a HARDER way…and, luckily for aspiring craftsmen, a 3D printer will rarely be the hardest way to do something.  

[majel]

I received an Anycubic Kobra Plus from my kids for Christmas this year, it's an FDM printer so not as useful for parts as a resin printer.  I'm 63 years old and never really wanted a printer, but i must say, just like building models,  it's very cool and frustrating!  I have a lot to learn with it (just like building) but it's a new and exciting hobby for me.  I think after i figure it out i will definitely look into purchasing a resin printer and be able to make my own parts.  For now I'm practicing with little things for my granddaughters.  If nothing else it's a relatively inexpensive hobby to get into and gives you great satisfaction when the print is successful.

[Still learning]

I’m looking into buying a 3D printer. The money I have spent over the years on wheels and tires would be enough to pay for it by now. All I want is to be able to pick out tires and wheels that I see for my vision, print and install. But I also need a computer, so now it’s a matter of getting the right computer? I’m reading that for printing and using slice programs I don’t need a high end computer?
  Anyone have some pointers on what to buy and perhaps what not to buy?

 TYIA.

[stitchdup]

35 minutes ago, Still learning said:

I’m looking into buying a 3D printer. The money I have spent over the years on wheels and tires would be enough to pay for it by now. All I want is to be able to pick out tires and wheels that I see for my vision, print and install. But I also need a computer, so now it’s a matter of getting the right computer? I’m reading that for printing and using slice programs I don’t need a high end computer?
  Anyone have some pointers on what to buy and perhaps what not to buy?

 TYIA.

most of the slicer programs need at least an 8 gig processor to run. i have an 8 gig and it does the job but it can occaisonally hang so i should have gone bigger. if you can hold on until january you can get better deals than you would now as the computer is the most expensive part of printing

[Bugatti Fan]

Horses for courses as always. It depends on what the individual either needs of desires.

Considering the cost of a decent 3D printer, material used in it and a learning curve to become proficient in 3D design one has to consider if it is really worth it or not. Yes I know that previously drawn up design files can be bought as downloads ready to use, but even so, would the cost outweigh the usage if very minimal?

Don't get me wrong, as I appreciate that 3D printing has opened up possibilities for model makers hitherto unavailable before. The short run resin kit and after market companies have very quickly latched on to this technology by not having to produce masters to take moulds from are a testament to this.

The perennial argument will probably keep rearing its ugly head where some consider 3D printing is scratch building and others disagree. I fall into the latter category as in my view 3D printing is the result of a computer kit or part design exercise downloaded for a machine to fully make for the end user.

Is 3D printing worth it?      That was the original question, and my short answer is that it depends on overall usage.

[peteski]

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, 3D printer is *NOT* just another modeling tool to improve your modeling - it is a complete new hobby in itself. Lots of new skills to learn (even if you use existing files and just want to print the parts). Depending on the printing technology chosen it can also be messy and require a lot of experimentation to achieve successful prints.

[Bugatti Fan]

If one can afford a 3D printer and the time to learn how to use it, then it can become a hobby in itself.

3D printer technology was NOT originally developed for hobby use it has to be remembered.  It was actually primarily developed for the RAPID PROTOTYPING of parts for industry.

That said though, as Pete has intimated, it can be a hobby in itself now that many have become affordable.  It really depends on how one wants to use it.

If one just likes to make things on it for the sake of it then it can be used as a creative hobby in itself.

On the other hand if one is making parts on it to create a kit, or parts thereof to rectify or improve a model, then to my way of thinking as an engineer it is really another tool.

Very sophisticated, but still just another tool, like any other machine that is used to produce things.

[Ace-Garageguy]

2 minutes ago, Bugatti Fan said:

...On the other hand if one is making parts on it to create a kit, or parts thereof to rectify or improve a model, then to my way of thinking as an engineer it is really another tool.

Very sophisticated, but still just another tool, like any other machine that is used to produce things.

Exactly.

And when combined with "traditional" modeling skills, it's pretty much the only game in town to build something like this...

 

[Zippi]

I've been looking into 3D printers a lot lately and really like the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra.  I've been doing my research on what resin, how to clean parts, and how to cure parts.  Also I've been ready on forums about printing in a cold environment ans using an onboard heater.  I'm seeing a lot of failed prints in the cold environment settings.  Anyone printing in a cold environment and having success?

[peteski]

You might get better response in a dedicated thread about 3D printing (not in a thread asking if it is worth it).