If you visit certain Home Depot stores in California, Illinois, or New York in the next few months, you may notice something new on sale that could prevent you from having to go back there for little widgets and such: they will be stocking three models of MakerBot 3D printers in those states soon! For Gadgeteers, this means there will be an easy place to see the units in action, purchase filament replacement spools and such.
According to The Verge, this is a pilot program, which will include in-store demos and give-away trinkets printed on the spot. They even theorize having a customer print out a replacement part for things that are not in stock or difficult to come by. And, hopefully, if things go well, this trend will grow to Home Depot stores across the country!
So, have any of you Gadgeteers used or purchased a 3D printer yet? Are you interested in picking one up next time you shop for a box of nails and some paint? Let us know in the comments!
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I’d love to play with a 3D printer. Not sure exactly what I’d make, but I want one ;o)
I would love to play with one of those printers also. The key though is having the software to build the thing you need. Just last week I had to run to Home Depot to get some slightly longer bolts for something I was installing on my motorcycle. They did not have exactly what I wanted. I wonder if a printer like that could be used to print something as sturdy as a bolt with the exact head and configuration I needed?
@Lynn
Check this out:
http://eikimartinson.com/engineering/3dparts/
@Sandee, thanks for the link. That is really cool. I think 3d printing has a long way to go. I one day envision files out there that will let you print out any standard or metric type bolt/screw at any length and with any type head including allen wrench heads (which is what I needed in my motorcycle’s case). I also have to wonder at the strength of the bolts once printed. Also, how would they do in high temp situations. Thank you for sharing the link.
Public library up here in NY has one: http://www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/techtools.asp