HP molds itself an entry into the 3D printer market
By Ross Miller 
posted January 21st 2010 11:38AM
posted January 21st 2010 11:38AM
Don't let HP's involvement confuse you, there's a very good chance John Q. Consumer won't be able to afford a 3D printer anytime soon. But the company is dipping its toes into the industry thanks to a deal with Stratasys. The latter will produce an "exclusive line of 3D printers based on Stratasys' patented Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology." Those will be sold under HP branding targeted at the Mechanical Design (MCAD) market. The specific product details are still shrouded in mystery (that's just a quick Photoshop, left), but for perspective, Stratasys' cheapest printer is the uPrint, which can mold 8 x 6 x 6-inch models for a smidgen under $15,000. Still interested, despite price deterrent? Don't forget there's some DIY options for you out there for less than a grand.
Yes, but will Kodak make one that is cheaper?
Pay a talented african $100 and he'll 'print' anything in beautiful woodwork all week.
I never quite got those 3D printers, the material is too weak to use for anything but models that you don't touch, and for that it seems a it pointless and expensive.
I'd sooner advise to just buy a robotarm and have it carve out 3D stuff with a dremel, same pricerange but more useful device.
Or a CNC, can also do 3D when programmed right but it'll be quality metal parts.
@Wwhat
What you posted is simply not accurate.
I have parts in front of me right now that are strong enough to be functional - I've dropped them, hit them, squeezed them and they will take a good amount of force before they break. (not saying that they are indestructible - nothing is - but they can take a beating)
Also if more strength is needed, you can create a negative-mold with a 3D printer to use it to make parts out of even more sturdy materials.
Your comment about some "roboarm" and CNCs leads me to believe that you might not have much of a machining background - there are shapes that would be impossible to machine on a conventional CNC machine. And CNC time is not cheap. With a 3D printer, you can have a model printed in a few hours for a reasonable amount of money before taking the time and expense to have it machined out of metal.
Also, to clarify a few things for you - the term "CNC" is incredibly broad. It can mean pretty much anything that is controlled by a computer - including a 3D printer. There are CNC lathes, there are CNC saws, but most people use the term "CNC" when they really mean CNC milling machine. To cut some of the more complex parts with such a machine would require a 5-axis machine which is big bucks. I am not trying to imply that a 3D printer is "better" than a CNC-milling machine, but rather that they can complement each other and don't directly compete with each other.