"Wounded board/s???" Topic

Just comparing the 3d printing boards last posts dates.

Last year has many more topics than this year.

Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, all with loads more.

As a note, I believe these were from many people, not just one person, although I haven't actually checked.

I haven't counted the posts either, but topics are definitely down, less than half at glance.

Covid was a while ago, so why the dramatic change?

It's easy to suspect 3d printing has/had reached its peak, but I'd assume most topic creators and posters here are quite dedicated.

Any other boards losing topics/posts (except where it's a great mercy)?

Any ideas why?

Newbies have questions, thus more are more experiense ?

Well there were a few printers that were posting all sorts of posts of their latests prints and custom paint jobs. That filled up a lot of space.

Also there are a number of nay sayers here making it a negative exp. to post here for printers as well. You all know who you are don't you :(

Finally if you are a legit printer that advertises here we tend to get slammed by the admin if we mention our products or services.

Interesting observation!

You'd have to look and see if overall posts are down. You'd have to ask if a disproportionate number of 3DP posts were from a few people who have left TMP.

The printers have gotten better, maybe people have less to say now they've figured out how to use their machines, where to get STLs, etc.

Certainly STL files are quite common in the new products posts.

On YouTube I've noticed that artists have 3D printers now. Once 3D printers were featured on 3D printing channels. Now art channels have 3D printers in the background. They're used and barely mentioned, they're now just part or the background. Rogue Hobbies is the example that springs to mind.

I wonder if other sites have the same issue, it might just be that TMP has a certain membership which is less inclined to 3DP than the general gaming population or the general art population.

I don't know that posts (here, there or anywhere) necessarily reflect the mass of the membership opinion, rather than specifically the opion of those who feel a need to post.

On the Internet, that often includes a disproportionate number of people who feel the urgent need to post about how much they dislike a specific thing. Over and over and over. And over.

And over, and over and it's dying . it's really dead……No, I'm being serious……I just know it's dead…….What do you mean sales of printers are up and the market continues to grow?????????? I'm not listening……..Nah nah nah nah……………

Thanks.

John

Well, it seems to be shrinking around here.

Juvenile behaviour aside.

"Well there were a few printers that were posting all sorts of posts of their latests prints and custom paint jobs. That filled up a lot of space."

"You'd have to ask if a disproportionate number of 3DP posts were from a few people who have left TMP."

Yes. There is that. One in particular. From 100-0. From one extreme to the next. Now others are unhappy. Has to be the centre of attention. Even when they're not here. Can't just post a sensible number of topics. Moving on…

"Newbies have questions, thus more are more experiense ?"

I think this hits the nail.

It's likely less new people are getting into it.

Many kids are probably viewing 3d printing as school work, as so many schools have jumped on the band wagon.

Who wants to do school work for fun?

Also, people have dabbled, gotten burnt, returned to simply buying things.

Those that remain have sorted themselves out, likely the industry too.

Tech heads have moved on through Bitcoin to AI.

There have been a lot of new releases and editions of games since 3d printing has had its peak. They seem unaffected.

Taking a further look.

It does at this point appear it was just our, former, serial spammer.

Rest assured, the board is in balance.

All is good with the world.

Just goes to show the extent of the mischief.

I hadn't realised how much was posted/cross posted here.

Any way, old news.

PS

At least 25+ obvious ones in the last 100 topics.

For those who care.

I would expect the 3D printing to have a lot of cross-posts.

Most 3D prints are done for a specific (or set of) wargame milieux, so it would make sense to cross-post there.

Same goes for other ones about common factors like terrain, painting, sculpting, etc. If I want to show WIP of my 28mm gnome scuplt, it would make sense to cross-post to 28mm fantasy…

Sure.

It was just the volume, instead of simply posting follow ups under the same topic, endless new topics were being made (part 10, part 11, part 12.., for example), and once a few people comment they're all mixed up.

And with cross posting, the issue only grows.

Posting follow ups to the same topic is best.

But your correct, cross posting can be done wisely.

PS

They're back.

Sweet.

As it should be.

part 10, part 11, part 12

That is, as you say, a differnt thing than cross-posting.

There is not necessarily a firm boundary between what contitutes "new project" and "old project, part II". But message hygiene is important.

If the previous post is still "active", say had a post within the last week, it's probably more prudent to continue the same thread. If it's been dormant for months or there is a substantive change (not expected progression), then a new thread is probably warranted.

YMMV.

That sounds fair.

It was perhaps a week or so between, but with over all new topics every couple of days mostly.

Accounting for a substantial share of the boards.

You'd keep trying to click to find someone else, but kept getting the same person.

Eventually you figure out how to, usually, tell it was them without clicking.

All just reposts from their blog on another site, or at least with a link to to.

They vanished when I brought it up for the third time.

Now they are back.

Obviously, hopefully events won't repeat.

But it's good they are contributing again.

To be honest its because now its like a pencil board, what can you say about a pencil it works prett ymuch rteliably so there is nothing to say. The technoligy is now so reliable and understood, be it Resin or FDM.

No real new stuff comming. For FDM it would be multi material (soluable supports) but noboady seems to have such machines. Like my FDM printer it's so reliable I can't justify a new one just for multi material so nothing new to post.

Figures I tend to put on the relevant board not on the 3D printing board.

There are less begginers now, we see it at UK conventions, more often its folk now who have and use them many more than a few years ago. Any discussions are on STL sources and again that not 3D printing board fare.

So unless folk have bits of new technologhy or more rarely a begginer posts, there is less content to share.

I can see that, yes.

Perhaps, regardless of any popularity, people into it treat it like anything else, so don't think to post on a specialist board.

Its odd though, as you would think people looking specifically for print files would check here, thus people selling would post here. Even if not as direct marketing.

Perhaps people who want them already know where to get them?

And as they would usually be sold directly from the designi/company, there aren't any resellers trying to get the upper hand, like with sprues.

This all creates a false level of perceived interest from the look of the board.

But, again, it looks to one person that was posting more than anyone, by a lot.

They are back with a fresh plan, from what I'm seeing.

Boards should now be more realistically balanced in relation to topic and user numbers, due to this.

The look of the board now is basically as it otherwise would/should have been.

So the data is more accurate.

But you'd have to check topic by topic for an exact breakdown of things.

To be honest 3D printed figures are now at the level where they can be compared to other figure manufactures. We don't have individual figure manufacturer boards so one for 3D figures to me sets an unecessery precedent.

It does beg the question at least in the UK, there is no casting machine baord or injection moulding board so a 3D board is looking incresingly un-necessry as the technology has matured.

There is a plastic figures board.

The moulding and casting board as well.

Resin and metal are not as supported.

We now have even more materials, none perfect, yet good old plastic and metal are the closest, also from a manufacturing standpoint.

"You don't have to be better, just different."

Metal only changed due to health scares, but leads still in use.

Its interesting, and perhaps 3d printings main downfall, is that people buy based on brand.

I find it surprising that it is as popular as it is, but I guess the appeal was in the "new technology" hype.

After that, and without big brands, other than the machines themselves, there is nothing to hold people.

If you want GW, your not buying 3d prints (last I checked, masters aside).

Most companies realise one person with a file is 10 people with prints.

More likely companies would print them themselves to sell, but that's what casting machines are for.

3d prints will always loose out to the convenience of buying something off the rack, or ordering it.

Most people plan ahead and don't need some new troop in less than a week, or can proxy it from their collection if they do.

Like AI, its a ground breaking technology, with little actual use.

PS

I'll add that it's like electric cars.

They don't burn fuel.

Its all burnt in a Powerstation instead, requiring more power due to loss on the lines to reach charging stations/homes, and creating more fumes in one spot than regular cars evenly distribute.

Solar, wind?

Made in factories, hard to recycle, containing dangerous materials.

All new tech does is simply shuffle things around, yet fixes nothing.

The new Neo robot, remote controlled.

Get rid of slavery, and what do we get, slaves.

But China and other countries have been our slaves for decades.

Just shuffling it around and fixing nothing.

3d printing means you can print whatever you want at home.

Truth is people want to buy things, so at best companies will use it to produce masters or small runs for you to buy.

Shuffling it around, fixing nothing.

@ The H Man

I wouldn't judge the state of 3D printing by posts on TMP. Only members can post and those numbers are steadily declining. In 2012 there was an average of 2955 members visiting each day, today that number averages 685.

Along with dwindling member number you must allow for advancing age, a large number of those 685 visitors are in their late 60s/early 70s.

3D printing is thriving outside of TMP. Prints are common on the various Facebook wargame pages I frequent, 10mm/6mm/2mm. New machines appear every year. New designers appear weekly.

MMF is a designer's marketplace, selling individual files or monthly subscriptions. Archvillain Games have 4320 subscribers paying $5 USD or $10 USD a month. A business where designers can get $20 USDk guaranteed per month is not a dying one.

You're 100% correct that folk want to buy things, they also don't want to wait for delivery. That's where 3D printing wipes the floor with the traditional wargames market.

Late Sunday night I'd gathered together all my 2mm Roman era buildings, resin casts/metal/3D prints, and found too great a difference in size between the 4 manufacturers. Solution was buy more from Korhyl Miniatures, lovely resin cast pieces from Italy; with a minimum 3 week delivery window.

Then I remembered that not only had Marco made his resin pieces available as .stl files a few years ago but I'd bought them.

Loaded files into slicing software, on to a flash drive and started printing Monday. As of last night I'd 30 city tiles 150mm x 75mm and 2.4 metre of city wall.

Alongside the 3 week delivery the resin pieces would have cost me $500 USD inc shipping.

I was $30 USD in resin to print and my printer + wash/cure station cost $400. USD

One printing project. Two weeks saved in time, printer, wash/cure station, resin costs all covered and money to spare.

Then he loses money when you print them for anyone who asks,plus those you give away as presents.

Also most people don't want or need the hassle of a 3d printer.

For decades you can buy moulds to cast metal/resin. Most people didn't/don't.

Range may be greater, but it's the same thing, actually metal casting would even be quicker.

I see a lot of 3d printed tat at markets, much like candles and such like.

I don't think businesses have much to worry about. If it was going to take over, it would have. Now it's just a nuisance.

"Then he loses money when you print them for anyone who asks, plus those you give away as presents"

Why would I print for anyone who asks or give them away? 2mm is still an overlooked scale, anyone designing products for the scale deserves support.

"Also most people don't want or need the hassle of a 3d printer."

Really ? 3D printer sales went from $20.37 USD billion USD in 2023 to $24.4 USD billion in 2024. As for hassle, if you can print a document then you print with resin.

3D printing is just another piece of technology, same as computers or mobile phones were. Young folks will grow up accepting it as part of life, business will find new avenues to use it.

"For decades you can buy moulds to cast metal/resin. Most people didn't/don't."

That's true. I remember the Prince August moulds well. Basic figures, very limited range and much hassle. I was never surprised when the few fellas I knew with moulds gave it up as a bad idea after a couple of casts.

"Range may be greater, but it's the same thing, actually metal casting would even be quicker."

Now that is nonsense.

I just put this to the test. 14 files of Warmaster 10mm halberdiers, 132Mb of data, took 4 minutes to download; using my mobile phone as the modem. Arranging them in the software took 1 minute, adding supports 5 seconds, slicing another 5 seconds, saving to flash drive 5 seconds.

To print 234 figures will take 1 hour 46 minutes and cost £1.20 GBP in ABS resin.

Also the nearest GW shop to me is Edinburgh or Glasgow, both an hour away.

"I see a lot of 3d printed tat at markets, much like candles and such like."

I see none of that but then I don't frequent markets. As a carpenter, with a side line in building electric bass guitar, what I do frequent are tool forums and tool sites. There I encounter 3D printed router templates, jigs, tool spares, tool attachments.

"I don't think businesses have much to worry about. If it was going to take over, it would have."

Who said it wants to take over ? The gaming world didn't end when GW moved to plastic nor did it end when plastic appeared for historical periods. This is not a "Them or Us" situation, only another option.

"Now it's just a nuisance."

How on Earth can that be the case ?

From your previous posts it's a safe bet you don't own a 3D printer and have no intention of buying one or buying files or have models printed for you. In short 3D printing is not a part of your life nor does it need to be, you could easily spent the rest of your days blissfully ignoring it exists.

No-one is forcing you to scrap your metal figures or stop painting them, pushing them across the table. Nobody is trying to make you a 3D convert.

This "nuisance" is entirely of your own making.

You could be enjoying the hobby the way you want to enjoy the hobby, instead you choose to waste time and energy railing against something which need not affect you.

"Why would I print for anyone who asks or give them away?"

Why does anybody do anything?

Piracy is a thing.

Most companies try not give away their plans or secret sauce recipe.

"Really ? 3D printer sales went from $20.37 USD USD billion USD in 2023 to $24.40 USD USD billion in 2024"

Mostly people upgrading to more expensive machines, I'd suggest.

Likely covering for those who have baled out.

"As for hassle, if you can print a document then you print with resin."

Now everyone know the level of knowledge on display.

"Young folks will grow up accepting it as part of life,"

Yeah, like antisocial media! (Australia, so far)

There is a history of gubbins no longer supported, if anyone actually wants to do the research.

Not sure why 3d printers are protected from being any different?

Prince August are still going strong, ruining it with cg designs, probably more up your alley.

"Now that is nonsense."

I'm not the one spouting nonsense.

28mm figures don't take long to cast. Faster than any printer I've seen.

Plus you don't need to worry about washing or curing.

Quality is more important anyway.

Also, GW do mail order.

"How on Earth can that be the case ?"

Read the post above.

"This "nuisance" is entirely of your own making."

I don't recall inventing 3d printing.

"instead you choose to waste time and energy railing against something which need not affect you."

Is that from a WW2 German speach, or current Russian? Or the Road Warrior?

"Just walk away…"

Yeah, I think that was it.

TMP link

People mention they upgraded to new machines here.

With "better" printers always coming out, and companies dropping lines or going in/out of business, people replacing older printers would definitely account for a lot of sales.

@ The H Man

"Just walk away…"

We both know you won't do that.

Think it's best I just place you and your impotent* raging about 3D prints on the "stifle" list.

'*'

Just to be clear. That is the Cambridge definition not an accusation of ED.

A level of maturity on all levels that does not surprise me.

Have a long-winded rant, not get ones way, so stick one's head in the sand.

Beats me.