Makerwise: comparing 3d printers

3D printing is a great tool. However, I still don’t recommend buying your own 3D printer. Use a service instead (e.g., Ponoko, Shapeways, or Quickparts). Here’s why:

1. The technology moves fast.

What you buy today will be primitive technology in very short order.

2. Individual machines are limited in what materials they can use.

Want to try out 3D printed metal? And plastic? You’ll probably need two different machines.

3. Maintenance & materials.

The materials aren’t free, and there’s a lot that can go wrong with these machines. Their reliability isn’t typically amazing.

That said, if you have one material you can commit to, and you have a lot of tinkering to do that requires a short turnaround time, then maybe buying your own machine makes sense. At that point, Makerwise, a site that compares 3D printers, might come in handy.