Anyone own a 3D printer?

I'm seeing lots of replacement parts for sale now that they've become more popular.

I have a 30 year old Boston electric pencil sharpener that finally quit and when I took it apart I found one of the main drive gears had a few broken teeth.

Quick search on the internet and I see several for sale at $5 each made from Nylon or PLA plastic which is much stronger and durable than the original material. It's very specific with helical cut teeth. So for the price of a Happy Meal I'll give it try.

Looking into it I see several people are using Fusion360 software - free download with restrictions for private use.

I don't know what the profit is at $5ea and free shipping but I see they've sold hundreds of them and that's just for an outdated pencil sharpener.

Fusion360. good to know if your Salas Spinner takes a dump. Good luck watching and staying awake.

https://youtu.be/vuJmWKsCYcU

I've used Fusion 360 for years. Both professionally and for prosumer stuff. Can't really tell these days.

What's a "pencil" and why does it need to be sharp?

@Gators1saidin@Gators1

What's a "pencil" and why does it need to be sharp?

It's a stick to poke others with and not really sharp but it needs to have a point to fit in the hole of a ruler so you can spin it like a Lithuecopter blade.

Both found in history books.

Don’t have a printer but I’ve always wanted one. They are so cheap now, it’s a lot more doable than it used to be. The problem has always been that I don’t know what I would use it for. Maybe every now and then trying to design and print a piece to fix something, but other than that I really don’t think I would use it much so I never pulled the trigger.

Yeah, that's what happens to me as well. I would probably try and design parts for airsoft guns, but I know I would get bored or either not have enough time for the design part, so I never bought one.

Capitalisms!!!

If you need a part because yours is broken or it simply doesn't exist then make them and sell them on eBay to the rest of the world!

Like this eyeglass invention...

@Blankssaidin@Blanks

Don’t have a printer but I’ve always wanted one. They are so cheap now, it’s a lot more doable than it used to be. The problem has always been that I don’t know what I would use it for. Maybe every now and then trying to design and print a piece to fix something, but other than that I really don’t think I would use it much so I never pulled the trigger.

You could use it to maybe give your hand a break now and then.

http://makerlove.com/

why do I click these links.

@Tazzsaidin@Tazz

why do I click these links.

Google has profiled you as a pervert.

Cool. My pencil sharpener is back in business. 3D printed gear came in and fits perfectly. Good as new.

I still don't own a 3D printer but I'm reading that moisture in the filament is a bad thing and the filament should be dry when printing. I see they sell ovens for this purpose.
How do you store or dry your filament Humidity here is a major issue.

Cool innovation with 3D printers. Linear motors

@Tazz My sister has one, and is obsessed with it

Every birthday my girls get sent a very pretty but very random object, just to because my sister wants to justify having it