RE:
Industry does its best stirring that pot to sell but where would be the technology breakthrough? AI, sensing, usability and user experience - sure but I see the full magic unfolding only in the land of articulated dragons. "Serious" users may want to keep the strings in hand, manage their own workflow, process and and recipes.
With the way things are going, I would not be surprised if we soon saw a cheap multi-axis FDM machine (e.g. rotating nozzle) or (less likely) perhaps even a consumer-priced "polyjet". I agree that I don't think there will be much advancement in motion speeds, but we might see a significant improvement in precision. I can see someone getting a consumer-grade pellet extruder on the market, allowing the mixing of colours "on the fly" but that doesn't affect the printer itself. FDM seems to get a new material every 3 months, too, but tool changers (or a dual nozle tool changer if the materials are very different) are going to make it much easier to integrate new technology into FDM as they can swap out most of what they need on the fly.
Non-tool changers are not obsolete as such, but probably obsolescent; they will keep going making flexi-dragons like the vast majority of printers today. The old slow , low-temperature machines, those I would say are already obsolete.
Some people will buy an expensive machine and keep it for a decade. Some would buy a cheaper one and swap it out for the new model every 3 years. I don't think either approach is wrong.
I do, however, completely disagree that flexi-dragons are not "serious" use. It is a huge market that is directly driving sales and therefore innovation.
RE:
I am talking about my own experience. I have a Bambu that is two years old - P1P upgraded to P1S. It is two years oldish and is starting to show issues. It does have over 6000 hours of printing. Mild decrease in quality and increased downtime for maintenance. I have had two nozzle changes and replace 2 thermistors and a wifi unit. Three is you include replacign the original non-hardened but I did that when I switched to abrasives.
My original Mk3 is now a Core One. It has atleast 3 times the number of hours on it and has no issues and the same number parts replaced in 8 years. It is much more robust and reliabled.
I can go on. I have owned 3 other Bambus and a lot of other Prusas.
Prusa will never be a Bambu. Bambu is more of a 2-year and disposable printer.
Citation required? P1S is still running fine. Even p1p parts are still available because it's compatible with P1S.
Only bambu with issues is A1 that melts, through this is a very cheap machine.
Also these days a printer will probably be obsolete within a few years anyway. Buying a mark 3 now would be weird. Indx needs to be soon and working because of snapmaker u1.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE:
I have a Bambu that is two years old - P1P upgraded to P1S. It is two years oldish and is starting to show issues. It does have over 6000 hours of printing. Mild decrease in quality and increased downtime for maintenance. I have had two nozzle changes and replace 2 thermistors and a wifi unit. Three is you include replacign the original non-hardened but I did that when I switched to abrasives.
My original Mk3 is now a Core One. It has atleast 3 times the number of hours on it and has no issues and the same number parts replaced in 8 years. It is much more robust and reliabled.
Sounds like the cost (for purchasing the printers and upgrade kits) per print hour is in the same ballpark for both options. And the man-hours invested into conversions and repairs as well. For lighter hobby use, where physical wear is less of an issue, I would expect the Bambus to look more favorable.
RE:
I have a Bambu that is two years old - P1P upgraded to P1S. It is two years oldish and is starting to show issues. ... My original Mk3 is now a Core One. It has atleast 3 times the number of hours on it and has no issues and the same number parts replaced in 8 years. It is much more robust and reliabled.
Sounds like the cost (for purchasing the printers and upgrade kits) per print hour is in the same ballpark for both options. And the man-hours invested into conversions and repairs as well.
But they received a certificate from Theseus, that counts for something right?
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
I guess that depends on how you look at it. With the Prusa, I have contributed less to the landfill than my retired Bambus. I have zero retried Prusas. They just keep going.
I have a Bambu that is two years old - P1P upgraded to P1S. It is two years oldish and is starting to show issues. ... My original Mk3 is now a Core One. It has atleast 3 times the number of hours on it and has no issues and the same number parts replaced in 8 years. It is much more robust and reliabled.
Sounds like the cost (for purchasing the printers and upgrade kits) per print hour is in the same ballpark for both options. And the man-hours invested into conversions and repairs as well.
But they received a certificate from Theseus, that counts for something right?
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
With the Prusa, I have contributed less to the landfill than my retired Bambus. I have zero retried Prusas. They just keep going.
I'm buying that argument to some extent. Although with typical hobbyist (rather than print farm) use, I don't expect too many Bambu printers will be retired because they are worn out -- but rather because one wants the new shiny next-gen thing.
Historically Prusa printers have been at an advantage in that respect as well, with their ability to upgrade to the next generation, even repeatedly. But it looks like that strategy might be reaching the end of its rope now with the Core One and Core One L.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
I sort of agree with the Core Ones. Cost is prohibitive. I am upgrading two Mk3S to MK3.5. I bought the kits 6 months ago. I just now getting around to it.
I am not sure Prusa will ever produce a Core One L kit. It is on my next printer list. I could buy a H2 series, but want to try to stay in the ecosystem as much as possible.
With the Prusa, I have contributed less to the landfill than my retired Bambus. I have zero retried Prusas. They just keep going.
I'm buying that argument to some extent. Although with typical hobbyist (rather than print farm) use, I don't expect too many Bambu printers will be retired because they are worn out -- but rather because one wants the new shiny next-gen thing.
Historically Prusa printers have been at an advantage in that respect as well, with their ability to upgrade to the next generation, even repeatedly. But it looks like that strategy might be reaching the end of its rope now with the Core One and Core One L.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE:
Old printer parts sell well, particularly steppers, extruders, and circuit boards.
I am sure I could get maybe 30 euros for an old working neptune 2, but I know used steppers are 10 each and it has four of them. That's not counting the PCB and the 24V power suppy, plyus the 2020 V-wheels.
I suspect the real landfill isn't quite as landfilly as might be implied.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
That is what I do if I can confirm the parts still work. My name and reputation is worth more than the money.
My office is decorated with retired printer parts hanging on the wall. I have an old Prusa and Bear frame adding accents to the room.
Old printer parts sell well, particularly steppers, extruders, and circuit boards.
I am sure I could get maybe 30 euros for an old working neptune 2, but I know used steppers are 10 each and it has four of them. That's not counting the PCB and the 24V power suppy, plyus the 2020 V-wheels.
I suspect the real landfill isn't quite as landfilly as might be implied.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog