I don’t think that you could recommend that the average person should get a 3D printer yet, its just not ready for mainstream yet
http://www.improvides.com/2013/11/28/3d-printers-useless-dont-know-use
I’m not sure what an “average person” is, but the only person I wouldn’t recommend a 3d printer to is anyone who doesn’t want to learn something.
The majority of people aren’t necessarily as computer literate as the people in this group, and currently its not yet simple enough to produce the 3D software models to be printed. Until that is made a lot easier, 3D printing will still be out of reach for the layman.
I’m in basic agreement. Until CAD can be “brought down” to a consumer level a lot of people could be buying 3d Printers that will become boat anchors.
@Jason_Gullickson
This is in my eyes the exact definition of an “average person” 
Just look around. For the most people the interest stops at soccer, football and/or “what can I eat today”.
I bought my first printer around thanksgiving. I was sort of an average person, I do have a background in support desk and networking. Nothing I have done in years tho. Mine was bought because I had the drive to build a 3d printed hand for my son based on what the @e-NABLE community was doing. I am working with Repetier, slic3r, Netfabb and trying out Blender, learning with help. So I agree completely with all of you. If you only want one because the media says they’re great or to jump on a bandwagon, you will have no idea what you are getting yourself in to. I never thought there could be so many things to learn.
@Gregg_Dennison I appreciate your “can do” attitude.
This brings up a number of issues that I think we overlook because we’re so close to the subject (and also busy just making it happen :). I was going to launch into an extended explanation, but I think I’ll put it in a blog post with hopes of keeping the thoughts more organized…
On the point about CAD, Tinkercad is about as easy as it gets. If one can’t make anything at all from tinkercad, they may not have the aptitude of a maker. Or at least be able to use Doodle3d for the fun of it. But my guess is that the average person can use an etch-a-sketch to some degree. But if they don’t want too, well, their mileage may vary. And finally, one need not create the things they print but select items they would like to print for any one of the share-a-like sites. We won’t tell if they won’t sell and claim as their own.
Hrm. I think it’s the learning curve that needs to be adjusted to fit, not the tech in general. VCRs are useless if you don’t know how to use them, too. And game consoles. Wood planes. Hammers.
@Cliff_Bramlett
Ehm, I think there is a small difference between a hammer and a 3d printer. Even a monkey can use a hammer. But could a monkey ever use a 3d printer. And the other thing is the maintenance of the printer. There is still a really big difference between normal 2d printers and the newest 3d desktop printer. I use a replicator 2x and even this printer needs a lot of maintenance!
@Sven_Eric_Nielsen , it was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek / satirical example. However, since you brought it up, I’ve never seen a monkey use a hammer well. Do you disagree that the learning curve is the primary obstacle to making 3D printers more accessible?
Personally, I do disagree. Yes, people need to learn the system, but currently the tools available will always be too complicated for non-techies / people with real dedication to use.
The best comparison I have is with image manipulation and web design. I know most of my friends / mother / family wouldn’t know what to do with Photoshop, let alone what things like opacity filters are. But then you have tools like Instagram / iPhoto / Windows Photo Gallery which are so obvious to use that people aren’t scared off.
In coding, if you wanted to create a website, you previously needed to know at least a bit about html / wordpress to be able to set one up. Now drag-and-drop editors like Wix make it much more visual and intuitive so small business owners who don’t like computers can still figure out how to use them.
Once a system has a tool which is so easy to use that someone who does not like Excel can play with it, then its ready for mainstream.
If the definition “learning curve” includes the overall knowledge than yes, this is the main problem. And I think the most people are very impressed of the possibilities of 3d printer. At least until they notice how much they need to know about it to do the maintenance for example.
Oh, I’ve seen a monkey using a hammer well. Not to build a house of course. But he was able to hit and sink every nail at the first try. And btw, I’ve also seen an elephant painting good pictures.
Let’s bring it to the point. 3d printers are for nerds. And maybe in 1-2 years the development made them accessible for people with some free time and basic knowledge about physics. But to bring 3d printers to a point where they as easy as ink printer will take maybe 10 additional years. And maybe this will never happen because of patents.
But I think I shouldn’t be the first target to bring them to that level. We are still far away from the point where small startups can use 3d printer to make prototypes fast and easy without thinking about “which hot end should I use” or “why is my nozzle clogged” or “why are the dimensions of my part far away from the drawing” or (and this is my favorite) “why is the hole smaller then in the drawing”.
The new series from makerbot is a big step forward. But from a view of a German engineer they are still bad engineered. They made a lot of mistakes again. And they should have learned that with the replicator 2/2x.
@Nick_Skillicorn_Inno
Good example. And here is the problem. There are already relatively easy programs outside to manipulate pictures. OK, not on Photoshop level, but the most people don’t use them anyways. To know how to use a tool is one thing. But make something that is in your head with this tool is a completely different point. Brushes and colours are existing since 3000 years or more. And how many people have painted good pictures?
Saws, hammers, screws and nails are existing since thousands of years. But how many people are building something?
And even if they would try it, the most the people are never able to make a thing that is exactly what they had in their head.
Look at Google sketchup for example. It damn easy to use. But my neighbors would never be able to make something useful. And even if they could they would stop with the second or third print.
Maybe it would be interesting again if they could download something and print it. But how often would they find something that could be interesting?
I would say that Printershops are closer to reality than a personal printer. Like the development of 2d printers.
Ah, I see the sticking point. You’re including the ability to create the file to be printed as well as the printing process. I was speaking only about the printing process, expecting that most non-tech users would download the object to be printed or have it modified by a friend or service.
Yup, but this is only one point. My experience with 3d printers is that it’s still a long way until they are stable enough (just hit a button and print something) for printer shops. As I said, even the newest generation of makerbot printer or the new ultimaker are far away from “reliable enough”. Yes, they are on a good way. And that’s the point at your op. You need to know how to use them. And today this means “you need to know how to adjust everything, how to slice perfectly, with or without raft and/or support, which material, what to do if you have a airprint etc…” (and min 100 additional points)
Too much for a printer shop to work profitably atm. And way too much for a private printer.
When I bought prototyping parts in 2008-09 I had to spent thousands of euros. And I bought a lot of parts
Now I try to print what’s possible. But I still need to invest too much time to get a good part. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy the prototype from a supplier (sls or sla parts with better quality) than spending my work time on the slice and print process. And I have already nearly 1000 hours experience with the printer. And yes, and I count my time with printer. Or let’s say, I have to count the time
@Sven_Eric_Nielsen I agree with you.
My view is that 3D printing is like cooking. Most people will never design their own recipes (design from scratch). And even if they have the tools, ingredients, and recipes, there are too many variables for many people to cope with and too much time involved in getting good at it. The majority of people are better off buying fast food.
Cooking. Haven’t thought about that example. But it fit perfectly. And if I think about that example then there comes something in my mind :
Even if they can do it, and even if they could spent the time they hate it. Because there is a way which is much easier and not much more expansive.
The most people would never think about cooking like I do (and of course they don’t need to do that :D) : “it is very interesting how you can combine things to have an influence on the taste and to your health”
And I would also spent more time in the kitchen if I could waste less time with the 3d printer
True. I’m a geek (20+ years in the software industry). I like computers and building things. I bought a Rostock MAX kit last year and built it. That was fun. What’s not fun is that I don’t have as much time as I thought to work on it, and I still haven’t even gotten a good calibration print out of it 