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General Tabletop Discussion
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How 3D Printing is Upending the Miniature Industry
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<blockquote data-quote="Cergorach" data-source="post: 7683355" data-attributes="member: 725"><p>This article, like many of it's kind, is very misleading. </p><p></p><p>Printer resolution isn't high enough on the 'budget' 3D printers, your getting essentially Lego-lized miniatures (blocky as hell, although far smaller blocks). Filament 3D printers will never get smooth 3D prints. The higher resolution printers that have been kickstarted cost $3,000 or more. These printers use resins which are quite a bit more expensive then a roll of filament.</p><p></p><p>Especially the 'cheap' 3D printers require quite some skill to use, these aren't your average low cost inkjet printers that are plug and play. The resin printers up the skill level even further.</p><p></p><p>High resolution printing isn't fast, that requires time and power. Add to that the material and the part cost (as the wear out), you might beat a $30 GW 28mm character model, but not a big tank or monster will still be cheaper to buy in plastic instead of printing it out yourself.</p><p></p><p>Then the biggest issue, the actual 3D model in a printable format (most 3D models used in games for example can't be printed without a LOT of work). Making it by hand costs a lot of time and skill, skill most folks don't have. Although if someone bothers with a perfectly printable model, chances are that it's going to be available on some pirate site somewhere...</p><p></p><p>As for 3D scanners, most provide models that can't be used for 3D printing, those that do generally have crap results. Even if someone made a 'perfect' 3D scanner, don't expect it to be cheap or small. The magical 3D copier is a long way off from anywhere but the multimillionaire's home...</p><p></p><p>Then your stuck with the high resolution material, that's some sort of resin, not as strong as injection molded plastic. Might not even be as strong as the Forgeworld or Finecast resins. And some of the resins paint horribly.</p><p></p><p>3D printing is an awesome technology, but something that won't be a replacement for actual high quality miniatures for quite a long time due to the factors mentioned above. It's perfect for prototypes and the high quality printers can even print resin masters for metal and resin production.</p><p></p><p>The copy box has always been available, people can easily make silicon molds and make many resin copies quite cheaply. But even with expensive GW plastics, very few people actually do that themselves (unless your located in a low labor cost country like China). Where I see it most often is in conversions parts folks made or made extensive changes to or unique parts the need a lot of and those parts are rare.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cergorach, post: 7683355, member: 725"] This article, like many of it's kind, is very misleading. Printer resolution isn't high enough on the 'budget' 3D printers, your getting essentially Lego-lized miniatures (blocky as hell, although far smaller blocks). Filament 3D printers will never get smooth 3D prints. The higher resolution printers that have been kickstarted cost $3,000 or more. These printers use resins which are quite a bit more expensive then a roll of filament. Especially the 'cheap' 3D printers require quite some skill to use, these aren't your average low cost inkjet printers that are plug and play. The resin printers up the skill level even further. High resolution printing isn't fast, that requires time and power. Add to that the material and the part cost (as the wear out), you might beat a $30 GW 28mm character model, but not a big tank or monster will still be cheaper to buy in plastic instead of printing it out yourself. Then the biggest issue, the actual 3D model in a printable format (most 3D models used in games for example can't be printed without a LOT of work). Making it by hand costs a lot of time and skill, skill most folks don't have. Although if someone bothers with a perfectly printable model, chances are that it's going to be available on some pirate site somewhere... As for 3D scanners, most provide models that can't be used for 3D printing, those that do generally have crap results. Even if someone made a 'perfect' 3D scanner, don't expect it to be cheap or small. The magical 3D copier is a long way off from anywhere but the multimillionaire's home... Then your stuck with the high resolution material, that's some sort of resin, not as strong as injection molded plastic. Might not even be as strong as the Forgeworld or Finecast resins. And some of the resins paint horribly. 3D printing is an awesome technology, but something that won't be a replacement for actual high quality miniatures for quite a long time due to the factors mentioned above. It's perfect for prototypes and the high quality printers can even print resin masters for metal and resin production. The copy box has always been available, people can easily make silicon molds and make many resin copies quite cheaply. But even with expensive GW plastics, very few people actually do that themselves (unless your located in a low labor cost country like China). Where I see it most often is in conversions parts folks made or made extensive changes to or unique parts the need a lot of and those parts are rare. [/QUOTE]
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