1 Topic by Heartlander

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Topic: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

Rant o th day.

Dear Mr. Spokes Guy. When you go on TV or anywhere really to show and tell about 3D, PLEASE stop with the Yodas and toys. No wonder the world thinks we're a bunch of comic store geeks. Display some more adult objects (no, not THAT kind of adult object) to get the idea across that, hey, you can use these for real important stuff too.

Gimme a heart valve, lend me an ear, no guns por favor or flower vases, an appliance part sure, go ahead with a Crescent wrench or pair of high heels or whatever. But leave Yoda and Klagon The Winged Warrior at home.

If businesses are to get the better talent, investment and grow to their immediate and full potential it's time to grow up the image, don't ya think?

I yield my soap box.

Robox printer, HICTOP (Prusa i3 variant) Model 3DP17 printer, ELEK 2.5W laser engraver, AutoDesk 123D Design, Windows 10

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2 Reply by IronMan

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

Heartlander,

While I use my SD2 for mostly utilitarian reasons (product development and home repair parts), and my initial sentiment is to agree with you; I do also believe that the Artistic element of 3D printing is very critical.  A lot of members here who focus on creating some very beautiful sculptures are the same folks who have developed significant improvements to the technology because of their commitment to high resolution and great surface finishing, etc.  Most of us would not be printing yet if it weren't for them...

I say to leave the sculptures (not the Yoda) as that is a category the public can appreciate, but agree to expand into the professional elements as well.

SD2 - Stock - Enclosure - Heated Bed - Glass Plate - Auto Fire Extinguisher
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Thanks for All of Your Help!

3 Reply by DePartedPrinter

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

user opinion pieces really don't belong in the "The Latest in 3D printing"...

SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
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4 Reply by Proteus

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

Why not guns? D:

But seriously the yodas, stupid looking shoes, and random pointless pieces of art are annoying. Not to mention they always make them look infinitly better than anything the printer can actually make (I mean YOU 3D Systens)

SD2 w/ Heated bed. Mods: E3D MK5, Lawsy MKV, Glass Bed, printed filament stand

5 Reply by Heartlander

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

We don't disagree Iron Man. Just like porn drove the development of the Internet. The demand for clarity and high definition, ease of use, etc.

Dear DeParted, well, okay. But my rant was sparked by a person doing a demo on TV under the aegis of Whats New in 3D Printing,so technically my shot qualifies as rebuttal and I should still get the point. But if I have offended or cluttered, please, accept my apologies.

BTW his presentation wasn't all bad, at all. In fact he had a cool life-like mini sculpture of himself sitting on a stool in living color. But see, that was not a toy it was really art.

Robox printer, HICTOP (Prusa i3 variant) Model 3DP17 printer, ELEK 2.5W laser engraver, AutoDesk 123D Design, Windows 10

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6 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

3D systems like to surround the cube with SLS prints, because they aren't just selling the Cube, they sell the whole Cubify ecosystem which includes a Shapeways - style printing service.  Of course most of the time that just means you see a picture of the Cube on a table at a tradeshow surrounded by high quality prints that it didn't make.

7 Reply by Heartlander

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

Guns are interesting to many of us as a technological exercise or challenge. But it is devisive and freaks out some folks and that could be a distraction. I recently had one of my products declined for inclusion in a display of innovative new crap only because it had something to do with firearms and "it might offend some". Yeah.

Actually, I think one of the smartest displays of state of 3D printing would be some of the creations of folks right here and on Thingiverse. It never ceases to impress me.

Rant stop.

Robox printer, HICTOP (Prusa i3 variant) Model 3DP17 printer, ELEK 2.5W laser engraver, AutoDesk 123D Design, Windows 10

Heartlander's Website

8 Reply by laird

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

IanJohnson wrote:

3D systems like to surround the cube with SLS prints, because they aren't just selling the Cube, they sell the whole Cubify ecosystem which includes a Shapeways - style printing service.  Of course most of the time that just means you see a picture of the Cube on a table at a tradeshow surrounded by high quality prints that it didn't make.

<rant>
Yea, I have met them at a bunch of shows, and I think that they do it intentionally. For example, they hold up a beautiful print from a $100K printer and talk about "our printers" knowing that people will think they're talking about the printers sitting right there. Really sleazy. I'm beginning to think that they want to get newbies excited about 3D printing and sell them a Cube, then have them get pissed off at the marginal print quality (Cube is easy, but not great quality) and since they're already in the Cube ecosystem they can upsell them to their print service. Admittedly when directly questioned they will admit that most of what they show printed can't be printed on the printer they're showing, but I think they know that most people won't know to ask that.

Of course, the DRM, proprietary content store, etc., all fit into the same "rip off newbies" attitude. Which I think is dangerous, because if they ensnare and rip off enough people they could discredit 3D printing.
</rant>

9 Reply by Proteus

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

http://i.imgur.com/yZgLJxj.png

That is how I feel about the Cube. They are one of the only companies that doesn't show legitimate prints from their own machine.

SD2 w/ Heated bed. Mods: E3D MK5, Lawsy MKV, Glass Bed, printed filament stand

10 Reply by solijohn

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Re: Dear 3D Printing Industry Spokepersons...

Proteus wrote:

http://i.imgur.com/yZgLJxj.png

That is how I feel about the Cube. They are one of the only companies that doesn't show legitimate prints from their own machine.

Ouch. People get excited enough about FDM prints, don't see a reason to hide em'

Former Solidoodle employee, no longer associated with the company.