Fighting 15s | 20 Jun 2013 2:24 a.m. PST |
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badwargamer | 20 Jun 2013 2:51 a.m. PST |
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Editor in Chief Bill | 20 Jun 2013 4:33 a.m. PST |
Precise enough for wargaming applications? |
IUsedToBeSomeone | 20 Jun 2013 4:53 a.m. PST |
And more expensive than the alternatives. You can buy a tricolour Reprap printer which will print in 3 colours for £730.00 GBP Or a single head Reprap for £499.00 GBP
Mike |
Fighting 15s | 20 Jun 2013 6:17 a.m. PST |
But you will be able to go into a Maplin on the high street and just walk out with one. Some shoppers may even pay for it
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GeoffQRF | 20 Jun 2013 6:19 a.m. PST |
We have two Maplin's in Southampton |
Fighting 15s | 20 Jun 2013 6:20 a.m. PST |
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IUsedToBeSomeone | 20 Jun 2013 6:59 a.m. PST |
I realise that it will appeal to some people to buy it on the high street, but it is still a kit to be put together so I can't see any major reason to buy that rather than a reprap or something similar. It'll be interesting if Maplin are running demos of it in use. Mike |
GeoffQRF | 20 Jun 2013 7:07 a.m. PST |
If you guys can just pick up one of each, put them together and tell me which one is the best quality, I will be very happy :-) |
Jerrod | 20 Jun 2013 7:14 a.m. PST |
Precise enough for wargaming applications? Nope. Tis junk. /Jed |
aegiscg47 | 20 Jun 2013 8:58 a.m. PST |
I had a chance recently to physically see what a $50,000 USD 3D printer can do compared to one of the under $2,000 USD versions. Unlike paper printing, where the more expensive printers with all of their bells and whistles produce only a marginally better version, the differences here were astounding. The level of detail, cuts, and production quality were night and day. I think we're still a long way from "wargames quality" 3D printing at home or in the garage for a few grand. |
Aidan Campbell | 20 Jun 2013 9:00 a.m. PST |
Precise enough for wargaming applications? 'Tis only a matter of time, once technology breaks free of big industries and techie labs and hits the high street then that rapid move down in price and up in specification begins. Now the basic crude 3D printers are reaching high street stores I reckon it'll be about three years time when better machines capable of printing decent miniatures will be affordable to home hobbiests! |
IUsedToBeSomeone | 20 Jun 2013 9:25 a.m. PST |
The major problem with the cost of the resin machines are the consumables. The plastic for the PLA, etc machines is about £30.00 GBP=£50 a kilo – resin is massively more. This and the Reprap are hobbyist machines aimed at early adopters and I wouldn't call them "junk", as they achieve what they are aiming to provide very well. Mike |
Fighting 15s | 20 Jun 2013 11:02 a.m. PST |
The major problem with the cost of the resin machines are the consumables. The plastic for the PLA, etc machines is about £30.00 GBP GBP=£50 a kilo – resin is massively more. In perspective, the price of ordinary printer ink per ml is, what, more than 60x that of a modest 18-year-old malt whisky? The 5p per gramme base material cost is not horrific bought in small quantities. How many 15mm soldiers can you run off with just 5g of plastic? Given what some wargamers are satisfied with in terms of quality (as some are clearly quite happy buying badly painted, badly cast knock-offs from Hong Kong and South Africa), then the quality of early 3D machines like this will be good enough for some people's wargaming purposes. |
mmitchell | 20 Jun 2013 1:52 p.m. PST |
I think we'll see some 3D printers just suitable for gaming in about 3 years. I think it will take 5 years for the real "break through" printer to arrive (that matches cost and quality). Of course, the real trick will be to get people who have the CAD skills necessary to run them. I already do 3D modeling for illustration and animation (mostly the former) and it's not an easy learning curve. I foresee model shops popping up that sell or license 3D models for a variety of figures, props, weapons and vehicles. Right now there are several shops like this devoted to the 3D market that uses Poser: Daz3d.com, renderosity.com, renderotica.com, contentparadise.com, etc. There are also some "general" 3D shops out there like TurboSquid.com that include a wide variety of 3D buildings, props and terrain. Like the shops I cited above, you'll go to this shop, purchase a 3D model, download it and it will include the right for you to use it for your own use, or to use it in derivative works (commercially or privately). What you don't buy is the right to resell the model itself. |
GeoffQRF | 21 Jun 2013 3:16 a.m. PST |
I think we'll see some 3D printers just suitable for gaming in about 3 years. I think it will take 5 years for the real "break through" printer to arrive (that matches cost and quality) I think you are looking at more of a 5-10 year timescale (minimum) What you don't buy is the right to resell the model itself. Well you don't get that now, but it doesn't seem to stop some people
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Fighting 15s | 21 Jun 2013 6:03 a.m. PST |
Although the printer head resolution of the Maplin printer is comparatively crude (0.2 to 0.25mm), the motor step movement is quite fine (0.015mm). I can see that if it were possible to upgrade the print head at some point, then the machine might well be capable of satisfactory work for a hobbyist. In the meantime early adopters can sharpen their 3D design skills. My learned friend Mike points out by phone that the real limitation is the ability, or lack thereof, to do undercuts. |
DHautpol | 21 Jun 2013 8:32 a.m. PST |
It may have a greater application for terrain manufacturers; items need never be out of stock and older items can be resurrected at the press of a switch. It seems to me that at this point it would work better with buildings and, maybe, AFVs rather than detailed figures. |
Petrov | 26 Dec 2013 12:03 p.m. PST |
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imrael | 01 Jan 2014 8:36 a.m. PST |
I looked at the Maplin one and ended up buying the UP Plus. Currently getting to know it. It certainly cant print figures to match commercial 28mm, but markers, scenery, accessories etc look achievable. From a manufacturing point of view speed is an issue. I printed a small wall section (like for modular dungeon crawl stuff) which took 20 mins. If you want 10 of them to post today to meet an order, cast resin is going to be hugely quicker. |
Lfseeney | 16 May 2014 4:00 a.m. PST |
The B9 Creator is the only low end at 3500 I have seen able to produce items for 15mm. It is a resin printer. Using liquid resin and a DLP projector. Jewelers are the main ones using ATM. Some of the rings coming out of it are amazing. Has some fiddley bits, but is very nice. I looked at a very nice 15k printer, using a powdered resin and lasers. The main issue was the mats, a 15mm fig would cost around 8usd to print. The B9 would be around 1.75 or so it looks like. I do not think any FDM printer will do figs well for our hobby. The resin printers are showing a level of detail that even 5k units can not match. Another thing as the B9 was made for jewelry it has a resin mix default for lost wax casting. So the fig can be dropped in a mold directly, and be cast. b9creator.com/getstarted |