Didn't miss your point, But I think you missed mine (and the overall joking tone of my post) There are free cad systems out there, the slicer software is free. Just an investment in time to learn it all. I didn't know you didn't have a computer. Don't think I could be faulted for that. I honestly assumed you were typing from one, but perhaps you're relaying your messages to someone that has one using a horse messenger, tin cans on a string or carrier pigeons?
I'm not saying they're free, I'm not saying they will cure world hunger. Just saying they're pretty cool tech for the amount of money you need to lay out.
Sorry Steven, I'll stop wrecking your into thread trying to get you to spend your money on stuff
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So, my humour sucks. Too dry to get the humour without being there I guess. Certainly not meant to be argumentative.
I really didn't miss your point Dan. Nor did I miss your joking tone. In fact I laughed out loud. Especially at getting three!
My choice of humour was dry because it did have a serious side to it. I realize that most of my problems are self imposed. So I like to laugh at myself.
Believe it or not, I've been using rapid prototyping systems (that's what they used to call 3D printing back when it was prohibitively expensive for hobbiests) for something like 30 years. Starting with paper layered glue systems, then stereo lithography (laser activated resin layers) to ABS wire/thread systems (sort of the fore-runner to modern 3D printers). I even worked on the development of a sintered metal system that we hoped could make production parts.
It's hard to get my head around how the prices have tumbled. Back when we were pioneering them, nobody could have ever guessed they would become so cheap or so ubiquitous. You are absolutely right about how cheap 3D printers are today.
When industry started doing real-time global collaborative design, rapid prototyping really took off. It provided a way for team members on the other side of the world to build prototypes and develop solutions to their part of the big picture without flying back and forth for meetings and lab visits.
I'm glad I don't have to do that kind of stuff any more. And I am REALLY glad prices have crashed to the point where you can actually call a 3D printer cheap!
For the most part I was using dry humour to complain about the current situation for me personally. You are allowed to laugh at me.
Yes I have a computer. I used to have 5 of them. The only one I have right now is dedicated to MS Flight Simulator. That's the only game I play (if you can call it a game). Loading other software onto it screws up flight Simulator so I keep it clean and don't run any other software on it. As phones have become more powerful, I've more or less stopped using computers. Thus from a fellow who designed, built, and programmed his own computer before there were any!
Instead, I do ALL my forum and other on-line stuff like banking, wordprocessing, shopping, etc on my smartphone. I run my home automation, my security system, my farm gps guidance system, diagnose my car, listen to music, calculate machining parameters, do stress analysis, and a million other things on my smart phone. Believe it or not, we also have two network file servers here and two networked laser printers that my wife and I print to from our phones as needed.
But Sadly, ...... Unless I'm mistaken, my smartphone isn't gunna run a 3D printer. At least not yet anyway. Next month maybe. At least I hope so. There is no good reason that it couldn't. Just that nobody is doing it yet (that I know of).
I always assumed 3D Cad was huge bucks. I'm surprised to hear there is anything free out there that is actually worth using. I had a 2D Cad program on my old computer but I really hated using it. I used Catia on a super-workstation before I retired so I was spoiled rotten. Everything else I have tried seems like riding a kids tricycle compared to flying a fighter jet. I can accept that for hobby use but again, everything seems to cost way too much for too little. I also know that there are 3D Cad programs that will let you design things free as long as you don't save them. Seems like a really stupid way to con people into buying/leasing the full version.
So ya, I want a 3D printer, but I really don't want to have to buy another computer let alone be tied down to one spot and have to use a keyboard on a desk again. I love the freedom and portability my phone gives me.
I'm also annoyed at the annual licensing system the Cad companies have started adopting. I want to buy it and own it. I don't want to rent it.
Lastly, I worry about getting stranded by a CAD company that baits me into using their software and then suddenly changes horses and wants big bucks to keep using it!
So that's my story Dan. I'd love to know what free Cad software you use and why you like it. And I'd like to hear your thoughts about its future viability too.
I'd also like to know what printer you would recommend and why.
