Staples to become 1st US retailer to sell 3D printers

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Breotan**

http://www.slashgear.com/staples-becomes-first-us-retailer-to-sell-3d-printers-03280524/

While 3D printers having been for sale for quite a while now, it seems they’re gaining enough popularity to begin selling in major retail stores. Office supplies retail chain Staples has announced that they will begin selling the Cube 3D Printer at its stores, becoming the first major US retail store to sell 3D printers.

The Cube is available now on Staples.com, and will eventually be available in a select number of Staples store by the end of June. The Cube costs $1,300, which is quite a bit less than MakerBot’s offerings, which usually start at around $2,000. The printer is able to print objects that are up to 5.5-inches wide and tall.

The Cube features WiFi and is compatible with both Mac and Windows. Plus, the printer comes with 25 free 3D templates to get you off to a quick start, with more templates available online. Staples is also selling ABS and PLA plastic cartridge refills, CubeSticks, and replacement Cube Print Pads. We heard late last year that Staples would be starting its own 3D-printing service, so perhaps this is the first baby step into that realm.

The 3D-printing community hasn’t gone quite mainstream yet, as it’s still very much a niche hobby at this point, but with the beginning of selling 3D printers in major retail chains, the awareness for 3D printing may go up, encouraging more people to get into the hobby and create an even larger community around it.

So, does anyone have any experience with this Cube 3D Printer? I'm just going to assume it isn't quite ready for 28mm detail but perhaps mods to tanks and such are possible with it?

**Ketara**

I think the first worrying question would be whether or not it can print the new 3D gun.

**nkelsch**

Personally, I would rather go to a '3D printer Kinkos' and have something rattled off as I needed them opposed to having a whole printer. And just like paper copies, the professional reproduction shop was higher quality that the home printer for over a decade.

The only problem is people can't get away with infringing on copyrighted materials when you go to a professional printer.

**Akula**

GW could get smart, and get in board with this whole thkng.
Have a 'Manufactorum' in their shops to let people buy and print single bits or models. Would be very cool.
Doubtful this would ever happen though, knowing GW.

**kronk**

Interesting. $1300? The prices are coming down quickly.

I don't think it will kill the modeling industry anymore than the CD writers didn't kill the music industry, but watch out for re-casters kiddos.

**Matney X**

Ketara wrote:
I think the first worrying question would be whether or not it can print the new 3D gun.

http://hackaday.com/2013/05/06/the-first-3d-printed-gun-has-been-fired-and-i-dont-care/

Read that.

TL;DR -- Anyone with access to a 3d printer and the skills to make a 3d printed gun probably already has access to equipment, and the skills required, to make a significantly better gun for a lot less money.

As for 3D printing -- until there's a repository of tabletop-quality 3d models available for cheap or free, 3D printing isn't going to become a regular thing at your FLGS.

**nkelsch**

Akula wrote:
GW could get smart, and get in board with this whole thkng.
Have a 'Manufactorum' in their shops to let people buy and print single bits or models. Would be very cool.
Doubtful this would ever happen though, knowing GW.

Build-A-bear workshop... except for licensed prints. I would continue to go to my FLGS and have them print stuff for me rather than buying a 3D printer.

**jason1977**

Ketara wrote:
I think the first worrying question would be whether or not it can print the new 3D gun.

scary. glocks changed the world when they came out in what ....1980?? Now you can make it at home. Yes you would still need permit to get ammo but paperwork hasnt stopped bad people now.

**Matney X**

Since when do you need a permit to get ammo?

**Breotan**

I think California has introduced something, or is wanting to at any rate. Outside that, I've not heard of needing any sort of permit to buy ammo.

**kronk**

jason1977 wrote:
Yes you would still need permit to get ammo but paperwork hasnt stopped bad people now.

You do not need a permit to buy ammo.

The "printable" gun was a one-bullet gun that eventually blew up from stress (if I recall the story on it correctly).

You can make a 1-bullet gun from crap you buy at a hardware store for much less than $1300 and no specialized equipment (still illegal).

I'm not really worried about the printable gun.

**RiTides**

The printed gun stuff is OT, imo, and belongs there...

Staples selling 3D printers is very interesting. Waiting on the Form 1 to hit, personally, as I think liquid resin is going to be a lot better than filament extruder-based printers.

**Cyporiean**

RiTides wrote:
Waiting on the Form 1 to hit, personally, as I think liquid resin is going to be a lot better than filament extruder-based printers.

Likeswise, it seems like the difference between a dot-matrix and a laser printer.

I'll likely pick up a Form1 when they become available.. anyone want to preorder a Kidney?

**12thRonin**

jason1977 wrote:
Ketara wrote:
I think the first worrying question would be whether or not it can print the new 3D gun.

scary. glocks changed the world when they came out in what ....1980?? Now you can make it at home. Yes you would still need permit to get ammo but paperwork hasnt stopped bad people now.

Only the Glock's frame is polymer. The slide and the internals are all metal. The gun fired about 10 380 ACP rounds before it failed and it was no Glock (or hell, even a Hi-Point). Nothing really to write home about. .380 struggles out of a "traditional" gun so any homebrew is going to likely suffer ballistically. As mentioned, there's no current law stating you need permits for ammo.

Paperwork to buy a gun does stop bad people. They have to go to other bad people to get a gun. Thanks for playing though.

**Devoted-to-the-machine**

Cyporiean wrote:
RiTides wrote:
Waiting on the Form 1 to hit, personally, as I think liquid resin is going to be a lot better than filament extruder-based printers.

Likeswise, it seems like the difference between a dot-matrix and a laser printer.

I'll likely pick up a Form1 when they become available.. anyone want to preorder a Kidney?

HA HA HA. You joke but I work for a hospital as an Inventory specialist and we have already been in discussion with several companies currently looking at production units that make printable replacement knee hip and ankle joints.

**12thRonin**

Can I send you the X-Rays for my new knee requirements?

**Cyporiean**

Devoted-to-the-machine wrote:
Cyporiean wrote:
RiTides wrote:
Waiting on the Form 1 to hit, personally, as I think liquid resin is going to be a lot better than filament extruder-based printers.

Likeswise, it seems like the difference between a dot-matrix and a laser printer.

I'll likely pick up a Form1 when they become available.. anyone want to preorder a Kidney?

HA HA HA. You joke but I work for a hospital as an Inventory specialist and we have already been in discussion with several companies currently looking at production units that make printable replacement knee hip and ankle joints.

No joking, the medical uses for 3D printers is amazing. At the TED Talks they had one printing a Kidney.

**ironicsilence**

Ketara wrote:
I think the first worrying question would be whether or not it can print the new 3D gun.

not to totally take this thread off topic but I think the 3D gun concept gets more attention then it really deserves. Its much easier / cheaper to make a non government traceable M16 then it is to make a 3D gun.

The 3D gun only has the added advantage right now because laws havent really caught up to them, but with news like this of a 3D printer becoming more easily attainable I wouldnt be shocked if the government was able to regulate it

**Grimstonefire**

What 3D software do people use for 3D printing?

**RiTides**

Well, Form 1 just put out an update and link to try out their new software

. You can model a 3D CAD file in a lot of programs, of course (like Solidworks, AutoCad Inventor, Blender...) and just save it as a .STL file format. But taking that file and slicing it up for printing is actually pretty involved, and having good software is critical.

I think the open source software I used with my MakerBot was OK, but I have a feeling that commercial software (like the above) will be a lot better. (MakerBot might have their own non-open-source software now, I'm not sure)

**Breotan**

Usually some sort of CAD software. I expect the printer will have proprietary software designed to import your CAD files for printing.

**Matney X**

Just about any 3D software can import / export Collada and obj files, and every 3D printing service I've looked into have easy ways to convert those files into formats that will work for their printer.

So, you can use Blender, Maya, AutoCAD, Google SketchUp, or virtually any other 3D modeling software to create objects for 3D printing.

**warboss**

I'd be more interested if the stores themselves invested in nice examples of the tech for each location so you could go there and get stuff printed ala color printing copying and printing 20 years ago.

**Matney X**

warboss wrote:
I'd be more interested if the stores themselves invested in nice examples of the tech for each location so you could go there and get stuff printed ala color printing copying and printing 20 years ago.

Just wait, someone will do it.

**silent25**

RiTides wrote:
Well, Form 1 just put out an update and link to try out their new software . You can model a 3D CAD file in a lot of programs, of course (like Solidworks, AutoCad Inventor, Blender...) and just save it as a .STL file format. But taking that file and slicing it up for printing is actually pretty involved, and having good software is critical.

I think the open source software I used with my MakerBot was OK, but I have a feeling that commercial software (like the above) will be a lot better. (MakerBot might have their own non-open-source software now, I'm not sure)

Have they resolved the 3D Systems lawsuit yet? Last I heard them mention back in November and there doesn't seem to be any new news since then.

Not too thrilled about the Staples printer. Is a plastic extrusion model like the Makerbot models and I believe has the same resolution. We've all seen examples of from Makerbot. Miniatures from desk printer to tabletop is still a while off. The Form1 is close, but not quite there.

**HisDivineShadow**

The Liberator is only to prove a point. You can't stop the signal. 3d printing will be a miniature tech singularity event.

The printers may not be up to infantry detail yet, but what about tank hulls? Print up an precise hull and detail to taste. Scratch builders dream.

**Jehan-reznor**

According the site its resolution is 0.2 mm maybe good for scenery but small detail?

http://cubify.com/cube/compare.aspx

**NickF509**

I have my own 3d built printer. For most of us the type of detail wanted wont be possible. They work great for scenery though and you can do some things such as an acetone bath to smooth out the models but don't expect injection modeled quality.

**TheLionOfTheForest**

Patience guys. Another year or two at the rate out tech is advancing and we will all be able to print out our own minis.

Has anyone used Rhino 3d to do mini design? I want to pick up some student software before i graduate from university next year and have to pay twice as much.

**puma713**

Matney X wrote:
Ketara wrote:
I think the first worrying question would be whether or not it can print the new 3D gun.

http://hackaday.com/2013/05/06/the-first-3d-printed-gun-has-been-fired-and-i-dont-care/

Read that.

TL;DR -- Anyone with access to a 3d printer and the skills to make a 3d printed gun probably already has access to equipment, and the skills required, to make a significantly better gun for a lot less money.

And would set off a metal detector in a heartbeat. A 3-D printed gun would not. To say that the bullets or the titanium pin (or whatever it is) can't be stashed somewhere else concealed on the body is naïve.

OT: I think this is great news. The steps being taken to make the technology more mainstream are positive ones. That being said, I'm sure Games Workshop is already drafting up its C&Ds.