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Getting Started with 3D Printing?

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I got my first printer back in October 2012.  I’d been left some money by my dad, which was a pity because he would have loved this technology.  He always loved gadgets and, when I started, he would have been over to see it before I’d put it together.

It was a Printrbot Plus (www.printrbot.com).  Lasercut birch ply, metal bits, wires.  I loved putting it together and the first time it printed… that was it, I was hooked.

That printer is now half way through being converted to a dual extruder model.  Two colours or different materials.  Sounds geeky, those who know would love the tech.

I also have a Printrbot Simple.  It started as a Beta and now is upgraded to the latest Simple production model.  Brook Drumm from Printrbot is very good to his Beta testers and as soon as the beta moves to production, he makes sure that the testers get the production stuff.  The same as happened with the dual extruder, beta to production.

If you wanted to get started now, you can still grab a Printrbot Simple, for £300 in the UK or less if you’re in the US.  The build area isn’t as big as some, but to get started, you can’t beat it.

If you want to see what it’s all about, before spending the money, pop along to the 3D printer meetup, every other Monday at the London Hackspace.  Next meeting is the 3rd Feb and then every two weeks.