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The size of the printing mechanism is an innovation for sure, but I think after you add up all the other components to make a functioning printer you end up at

The size of the printing mechanism is an innovation for sure, but I think after you add up all the other components to make a functioning printer you end up at nearly the same size: a resin vat, space to print, various leveling mechanisms, filters, UV light shield etc - the form factor doesn't really change all that much.

jvanderbot 2y ago
If you think 3D printing is always going to be on a flat bed of the same size using the same amounts of material, then yeah, minimizing the printing mechanism sure seems like a non-necessary improvement. But that's not the intended use case anyway. It can only print small things. Maybe it can add tiny details or structures to large prints though
- robust-cactus 2y ago
  Hmmmm interesting. I can see a use case for like a drone or small robot to have one of these attached to add details all over the place. Ok you've convinced me it's cool lol
- araes 2y ago
  > Maybe it can add tiny details or structures to large prints though Combine it with their rather enthusiastic article on printing your own children https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/elegoo-making-3d-printer-large-enough-to-print-a-toddler https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/elegoo-making-3d-pr... > Just imagine printing a piece of furniture, a near life-size statue, ... "Such a lifelike figurine, with real plastic spaceship accessory" https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zPi4gpbczzvoGR34Rds7D8-1200-80.jpg.webp https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zPi4gpbczzvoGR34Rds7D8-120... If the Galaxy Quest aliens happen to glance this way lately...
dgacmu 2y ago
Imagine the equivalent of endoscopy: being able to insert a small tube inside of an object and print structures larger than the tube inside of them. Obviously, that requires a lot more than just this, but it's intriguing to think about being able to perform internal repairs of nearly-sealed objects. Or print a kitten inside a bottle, for those old enough to catch the bonsai kitten reference. ;)

jvanderbot 2y ago

If you think 3D printing is always going to be on a flat bed of the same size using the same amounts of material, then yeah, minimizing the printing mechanism sure seems like a non-necessary improvement. But that's not the intended use case anyway. It can only print small things. Maybe it can add tiny details or structures to large prints though

robust-cactus 2y ago
Hmmmm interesting. I can see a use case for like a drone or small robot to have one of these attached to add details all over the place. Ok you've convinced me it's cool lol
araes 2y ago
> Maybe it can add tiny details or structures to large prints though Combine it with their rather enthusiastic article on printing your own children https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/elegoo-making-3d-printer-large-enough-to-print-a-toddler https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/elegoo-making-3d-pr... > Just imagine printing a piece of furniture, a near life-size statue, ... "Such a lifelike figurine, with real plastic spaceship accessory" https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zPi4gpbczzvoGR34Rds7D8-1200-80.jpg.webp https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zPi4gpbczzvoGR34Rds7D8-120... If the Galaxy Quest aliens happen to glance this way lately...

dgacmu 2y ago

Imagine the equivalent of endoscopy: being able to insert a small tube inside of an object and print structures larger than the tube inside of them. Obviously, that requires a lot more than just this, but it's intriguing to think about being able to perform internal repairs of nearly-sealed objects. Or print a kitten inside a bottle, for those old enough to catch the bonsai kitten reference. ;)