Home depot to Sell 3D printers (Page 1 of 2)

At least it is a better venue than Staples.  A 3D printer is a tool for making things, not a household or office appliance.  It should be positioned as a fantastic addition to the workshop, and not a magical workshop in a box.  There is one of these near downtown LA, maybe I'll go down there early Sat morning and see how it is actually playing out.  I might actually be willing to buy a roll of Makerbot filament for the novelty of buying off the shelf. 

I should be able to do that at Fry's, but they only ever have 3mm in stock.  They carry plenty of 3mm since they also sell the Velleman printer, but most people want 1.75 so there is usually only pink and florescent green left on the shelf.

A Home Depot thingiverse would be a great idea, with models of useful parts that might be used in projects, and customizable things as well.  For instance, you might need an angle bracket of some kind for something other than 90 degrees.  They could have several different types of brackets which could be dimensioned to fit what you need.  A step further would be a printing service that only prints the items in their catalog.  Once your bracket is designed, you could download the STL or get it printed in your local store.

I've printed washers, standoffs and angle brackets before rather than go to the store.  I would love a set of pipe fitting STLs for PVC so I wouldn't have to make a trip just to buy one 3/4" elbow.

I can't picture a Home Depot thingiverse until they can figure out a way to sell you a part file and them limit how many times you can print it.

If I go in and play dumb, I will have to ask the Home Depot guy if I can print a gun.

Hey mate, I'm one of those guys who slings hammers around all day long.  Those of us who make furniture and design spaces for people to live in aren't all neanderthals.

I didn't mean any offense. Seriously. I stated that regarding the retail side of things.
Not everyone understands this technology. Seems every week I have to explain to someone how a printer works. I can only imagine how those people would then turn around and try to sell one. Talk about catastrophic...

Well Home Depot are just  following the wave. It is no surprise that they sell Makerbot 3D printer, they are the most common 3D printer today.

Yeah.  "Intellectual Property" is an oxymoron which still makes me giggle when I hear someone say it and yet so many people take it seriously.

I, too, don't see Home Depot as a great venue for 3d printers.  Still a Fry's Electronics sort of thing.  Maybe the love child of Home Depot and Joann's could pull it off...

Market saturation for this class of product was nearly reached a while ago.  Now, manufacturers are getting creative as part of their desperation.  Soon, we will see 3d printers sold at Starbucks and Chase banks!

1) I have to agree that the market is expanding. As more folks learn of 3d printers  more will want and buy one.

2) it seems many retailers are selling 3d printers at least on line. Wal mart best buy and tiger direct to name a few. the only store I have actually see 3d printers is micro center. They carry print bots, DaVincis and maker bots. 

3) IMHO the micro center is a good fit as most customers are going to be computer literate and some will have the skill to build or repair a computer. 

4) I guess the question is at what point the 3d printer ready for the mass market or does the public need to learn to use a 3d printer ?  plug and play is nice but  what is wrong with knowing how to adjust and repair a machine.  Will 3-d printer repair shops pop up.  Fixit shops are few and far between.  There are a few computer repair shops around and some places repair TVs  .
The other concern  is that in the attempt to make a 3d printer user friendly and plug and play control is sacrificed.

Tin

"Can you use a CAD package" -> Yes -> Maybe
-> No -> You don't need a 3D printer

Hey tin I think the pproblem is with society as a whole. Here in the US and in most of the developed world, noone makes anymore. What i mena by that is that if wewant something we can goout to walmart or target and buy something that will fulfil a desired role. You can get a lamp that will easily take the place of any other lamp.

Mine was one of the last generations that had wood or metal shop in school. We had drafting classes. Now schools aren't geared to making kids smart and capable. They are there to make it so a kid can go to college and have just very basic skills in how to learn.

I never had auto shop but i can design furniture read blue prints and if i have the tools build it. I have the background of an artist in many different disciplines. And am still learning to print in 3d. But I understand how to make. I have a respect for it. Back at christmas time i painted 2 paintings for my soon to be inlaws and they were amazed and one goes man that must have taken hours and hours. And i was struck by the fact what i considered to be no time they look at with it being a huge mystery. (btw it may have taken 3 hours apiece to paint them) to someone who paints though thats not much time. But the average person doesn't know the time put in on all the other projects that come before.

The failed Ideas or the not quite right ones. Why because most people don't make anything and don't know how because walmart is just good enough.