Not another 3D printing thread!!!

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15365&cl=res&utm_source=161102_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=15365&utm_campaign=161102_wednesday

Okay I know there are some other threads out their, but I found this one on Monoprice for $200. With Christmas and my B-day around the corner I thought this might check the boxes. It seems to be ready to go, the only question I have is what sofware would I use to actually design the products?

We have been rocking the little $800 unit for two years now; paid for itself on day one. Just for E36 M3s and giggles, I want to see how useful a high(er) end printer can be. Ordered up a Formlabs SLA system.

I'm Not familiar with that one, but except the small build area (in me opinion) it seems like a great first printer.
My printer pid for itself 75% with its first print. As far as designing software, google sketchup is what I use, but there are other free 3D CAD type programs out there that folks love.

NOHOME wrote: We have been rocking the little $800 unit for two years now; paid for itself on day one. Just for E36 M3s and giggles, I want to see how useful a high(er) end printer can be. Ordered up a Formlabs SLA system.

We have a MEGA MEGA MEGA expensive commercial machine that operates the same way at work. It kinda sucks.

I'm building this one right now: Folgertech FT-5 large format printer The kit is $500 and it has a 300mm x 300mm x 400mm build area. One of my friends at work finished his kit and it works great.

We were at the Miniatures Museum (yes, thats a thing) and they were printing interiors for a doll house with one right inside the front door. Lots of pretty awesome things you can do with them; most less creepy than doll house interiors....

There is a Maker Bot Replicator and a Wanhao Duplicator at my local makerspace (that work).

The Maker Bot is dead simple to use, but I think it lacks in print quality. The Wanhao prints better but isn't quite as easy to use.

Not knowing CAD myself I've had pretty good luck using OpenSCAD for designing parts. Sli3er works well for generating the g code.

chandlerGTi wrote: We were at the Miniatures Museum (yes, thats a thing) and they were printing interiors for a doll house with one right inside the front door. Lots of pretty awesome things you can do with them; most less creepy than doll house interiors....

My 8 year old wanted to stay there and watch the printing. I almost felt bad about pulling him out of there.