Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year (Page 1 of 2)

**DePartedPrinter** · 2013-08-05 16:32:23

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Topic: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

http://gizmodo.com/household-3d-printer … -986593950

If you've been pondering over whether a 3D printer is a sound financial decision, here might be your answer: researchers have calculated that they can pay for themselves inside a single year.

The study, conducted at Michigan Technological University, considered 20 common household items—smartphone cases, a garlic press, a shower head, the list goes on—listed on Thingiverse, then used Google Shopping to work out the maximum and minimum cost of buying them online (not including shipping). Then, the researchers also calculated how much it would cost to make each using a household 3D printer.

The results are pretty amazing: it would cost between $312 to $1,944 to buy the items, but just $18 to make using the 3D printer. Clearly, the printers are expensive, but those figures suggest that they can pay for themselves in a time frame of months to years. The research is published in Mechatronics. Joshua Pearce, who led the research, explains:

“With the exponential growth of free designs and expansion of 3D printing, we are creating enormous potential wealth for everyone... [Y]ou don’t need to be an engineer or a professional technician to set up a 3D printer. Some can be set up in under half an hour, and even the RepRap can be built in a weekend by a reasonably handy do-it-yourselfer.”
Of course, there's a time investment involved in downloading designs, tweaking them, and experimenting with manufacturing—but that could be seen as part of the charm, too. If you weren't excited about 3D printing by now, this news might be just enough to tip you over the edge. [Mechatronics via MTU via Slashdot]

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**Charles_Xavier** · 2013-08-05 19:33:10

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

When you also factor in the entertainment value and the value of technical knowledge that comes along with it, it really becomes a no-brainer.

**RavensCrest** · 2013-08-05 19:51:18

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

I sitll can't believe $18 worth of filament can create $312, I mustve been printing out wrong items. :-(

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**timp610** · 2013-08-05 20:19:05

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Mine has paid for itself already and I havnt had it for a year. 2lbs of filament was making me about $800

**mikefree41** · 2013-08-06 01:11:01

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

If you happen to have a micro-brewer or brew pub near by find out if they have some kind of mascot or figure they use in advertising. Make earrings for the girls that work there, key fobs, Christmas decorations or just 3d models of their mascot. Free beer!!! I just delivered 5 pair of earrings and 15 key fobs, result, $25 food card and all of the beer I can drink. WIN, Win.

**Ecarots** · 2013-08-13 17:06:31

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Mine is used to make prototypes and pieces for games I manufacture along with special order parts and novelties. not to the high $ stage yet but it is growing. Not to mention a replacement thumb saftey for my Mossberg 20ga.

**Heartlander** · 2013-08-14 03:33:25

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Escarots, I'm pondering a custom tac stock for my little Ithaca 20. Hell, if a guy can print a full size car, why not?

Should be lighter too, built on shell carrier for an extra 6-8 shells, built in light and green laser (I know, why a laser on a shotgun, well since this is for home defense, at close quarters your pattern is tight, so you really do need to aim and since most mayhem happens in the dark... a light and laser).

I was thinking about a cup holder too, but nah.

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**ronsii** · 2013-08-14 05:42:22

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

cup holder.... naaahhhh.... but maybe a built in mini hydrater so you put a couple of ounces of just about any liquid in there

**Ecarots** · 2013-08-15 11:53:15

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Heartlander wrote:

Escarots, I'm pondering a custom tac stock for my little Ithaca 20. Hell, if a guy can print a full size car, why not?
Should be lighter too, built on shell carrier for an extra 6-8 shells, built in light and green laser (I know, why a laser on a shotgun, well since this is for home defense, at close quarters your pattern is tight, so you really do need to aim and since most mayhem happens in the dark... a light and laser).
I was thinking about a cup holder too, but nah.

If you want an intruder alive blind them with the laser then hit them with the barrel, otherwise .........

But really the laser is cool for aiming when the coyotes come into the back yard.

**Hunter Green** · 2013-08-15 13:10:03

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

That's funny, my most recent design and print was in fact a cup holder.

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**Antron007** · 2014-02-18 01:27:47

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Im getting a 3d printer because I'm also into personal robotics. It will pay for itself in a few months just in servo brackets alone

**Serin** · 2014-02-18 08:42:25

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Mines almost paid for itself already in only a few months.
Though that includes my work on models for home printing that I've sold through shapeways.
Maximise that potential etc etc...

This is a crowd funding thing that I'm running: http://www.gofundme.com/bvi140 It's for pretty selfish reasons

**2n2r5** · 2014-02-18 19:17:57

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Mine paid for itself in cabinet handles and pulls. These are some early ones that I made as a quick fix.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:80428

I am now in the middle of a major renovation and have custom handles being made from some other designs that I have made. I am able to print out and test fit the new custom add-ons. I even went so far as getting metallic paints and tried different "materials" before choosing what I liked best.

Along with some other 'round-the-house items, the printer has been great even though I don't use it for work purposes. I have a couple side projects/inventions that I have been working on that the printer has been invaluable for.

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**Antron007** · 2014-02-19 03:00:41

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

That's what I'm talking about. I have 4 people already willing to pay me a few bucks to demo print some stuff for them and I don't even have the printer yet. This is going to be my first hobby that actually pays for it's self. I'm happy to see that people appreciate the real value of being part of the 3d printed community.

**solijohn** · 2014-02-19 14:53:18

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

DePartedPrinter wrote:

http://gizmodo.com/household-3d-printer … -986593950
If you've been pondering over whether a 3D printer is a sound financial decision, here might be your answer: researchers have calculated that they can pay for themselves inside a single year.
The study, conducted at Michigan Technological University, considered 20 common household items—smartphone cases, a garlic press, a shower head, the list goes on—listed on Thingiverse, then used Google Shopping to work out the maximum and minimum cost of buying them online (not including shipping). Then, the researchers also calculated how much it would cost to make each using a household 3D printer.
The results are pretty amazing: it would cost between $312 to $1,944 to buy the items, but just $18 to make using the 3D printer. Clearly, the printers are expensive, but those figures suggest that they can pay for themselves in a time frame of months to years. The research is published in Mechatronics. Joshua Pearce, who led the research, explains:
“With the exponential growth of free designs and expansion of 3D printing, we are creating enormous potential wealth for everyone... [Y]ou don’t need to be an engineer or a professional technician to set up a 3D printer. Some can be set up in under half an hour, and even the RepRap can be built in a weekend by a reasonably handy do-it-yourselfer.”
Of course, there's a time investment involved in downloading designs, tweaking them, and experimenting with manufacturing—but that could be seen as part of the charm, too. If you weren't excited about 3D printing by now, this news might be just enough to tip you over the edge. [Mechatronics via MTU via Slashdot]

Good to see people are getting good value out of the printers.

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**MolecularConcept** · 2014-02-23 03:44:59

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Mines basically an expensive toy but i really enjoy it! i spend all day tinkering with it. i really want to learn more CAD stuff to get more out if it, but thingiverse has so much stuff it keeps me pretty busy

**ITman496** · 2014-02-25 01:50:03

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Mine's more then 4x paid for itself in the less then a year that I've had it. Best purchase ever.

**Antron007** · 2014-02-25 23:34:44

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

@ITMan496- Would you mind sharing some examples? I'm still waiting for my SD2 to be shipped but I'm very interested in how people are using their 3d printers to save themselves money.

**cervantja** · 2014-02-26 00:28:21

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Mine paid for themselves by giving so much fun, I not spending as money on a dozen hobbies like I used to. Designed over hundred items just for the fun of it.
Did not really earn me money, but was more of a cost avoidance.
Some designers save money, by printing intermediate prototypes on an inexpensive Solidoodle without having to pay someplace like Shapeways to print the prototypes and waiting a couple of weeks.
One item I printing was a "goniometer " to measure joint movement when my daughter broke her leg. Someone said this would have cost $500 at a medical supply store. Designed it in Google (now Trimble) Sketchup (free) and printed it.

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**Antron007** · 2014-02-26 02:10:02

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

@cervantja- Now that, is a great story. $500 saved is $500 earned my friend. I trust your daughter is well now?

**ITman496** · 2014-02-26 23:10:27

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Mine has paid for itself by being used to fix and create various things. I've printed the parts necessary for several commissions to build UAV aircraft that I would not have been able to build without the parts, and it also printed the parts to fix a laser cutter.

**auslander68** · 2014-02-27 05:10:23

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

In the 80's my dad got a commodore computer and made me learn to type on it. I didn't realize at the time how far ahead of the curve he was or how much of a leg up that exposure would be worth down the road. Now I've got a 14 and 11 year old. Seeing their interest in my printer and that they are getting their heads wrapped around the possibilities has been worth every penny by itself. The enjoyment I get out of it is just a bonus.

**Serin** · 2014-02-27 06:03:58

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

auslander68 wrote:

In the 80's my dad got a commodore computer and made me learn to type on it. I didn't realize at the time how far ahead of the curve he was or how much of a leg up that exposure would be worth down the road. Now I've got a 14 and 11 year old. Seeing their interest in my printer and that they are getting their heads wrapped around the possibilities has been worth every penny by itself. The enjoyment I get out of it is just a bonus.

That's our future as a race! Right there!
Man.. I wish more parents thought like that...

This is a crowd funding thing that I'm running: http://www.gofundme.com/bvi140 It's for pretty selfish reasons

**cervantja** · 2014-03-01 00:59:51

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Antron 007. yes my daughter is fine and playing soccer again.

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**SykoDJ** · 2014-03-01 11:16:41

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Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

I've saved money and made about half the cost back so far best investment ive made

Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year (Page 1 of 2)

Posts: 1 to 25 of 35

1 Topic by DePartedPrinter 2013-08-05 16:32:23

Topic: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

2 Reply by Charles_Xavier 2013-08-05 19:33:10

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

3 Reply by RavensCrest 2013-08-05 19:51:18

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

4 Reply by timp610 2013-08-05 20:19:05

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

5 Reply by mikefree41 2013-08-06 01:11:01

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

6 Reply by Ecarots 2013-08-13 17:06:31 (edited by Ecarots 2013-08-13 17:07:41)

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

7 Reply by Heartlander 2013-08-14 03:33:25

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

8 Reply by ronsii 2013-08-14 05:42:22

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

9 Reply by Ecarots 2013-08-15 11:53:15

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

10 Reply by Hunter Green 2013-08-15 13:10:03

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

11 Reply by Antron007 2014-02-18 01:27:47

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

12 Reply by Serin 2014-02-18 08:42:25

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

13 Reply by 2n2r5 2014-02-18 19:17:57

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

14 Reply by Antron007 2014-02-19 03:00:41

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

15 Reply by solijohn 2014-02-19 14:53:18

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

16 Reply by MolecularConcept 2014-02-23 03:44:59

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

17 Reply by ITman496 2014-02-25 01:50:03

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

18 Reply by Antron007 2014-02-25 23:34:44

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

19 Reply by cervantja 2014-02-26 00:28:21

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

20 Reply by Antron007 2014-02-26 02:10:02

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

21 Reply by ITman496 2014-02-26 23:10:27

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

22 Reply by auslander68 2014-02-27 05:10:23

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

23 Reply by Serin 2014-02-27 06:03:58

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

24 Reply by cervantja 2014-03-01 00:59:51

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

25 Reply by SykoDJ 2014-03-01 11:16:41

Re: Household 3D printers can pay for themselves in a year

Posts: 1 to 25 of 35