My first 100% successful 3D print!
The above is a hex connector for my PolyPandora Geodesic Domes. Mini-domees are one of the things you can build with PolyPandora building sets you cannot do with LEGO or any other building toy on the market. One of the nuumerous novel aspects of the system that allows the budding architects and engineers to build quality models at home of pretty much any real world structures. Well, not everything, I haven't figured out everything I need for Suspension Bridges yet. Those were a favorite of mine when I was teaching. having kids design and build model bridges.
Now the negatives, which are minor. The thing takes forever just to print one tiny part. The connector you see in the pic is about 2" in diameter at the very end of the spokes. It took almost 1.5 hours to print. A dome takes about 60 of these connectors, so just one demo model would take close to a week if I could keep the machine running 24/7. lol. These connectors though are just one of numerous parts and pieces. So you can pretty much forget about doing much bizness with a 3D printer. Looking at all the parts for the Ghost Glock, one of those has to take a few days to print up for sure. At least with guns though you have a big profit margin, you can sell it for say $500.
Most things though you won't be able to sell for nearly that much.
However, while not good for any type of retail biz, it can be used to make custom parts for old stuff that would work if you just had this or that part that is no longer available. Also good for making the molds to use with a roto or injection molding apparatus.
Best use I think is if you have kids, you can make just about any kind of toy, and they can make stuff for themselves too, if they are say 10 or so and like to tinker. I would have been in heaven if I had one as a kid. Not too bad now either, now that I got it working.
RE