Staples Now Offering 3D Printers for Sale

CommanderFrank

CommanderFrank

Cat Can't Scratch It
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Staples announced that 3D printers are available for sale now through Staples website and will be in selected US stores by the end of June. Along with the printer, Staples will also carry accessories and cartridge refills.

Selling 3D printer at Staples will likely help the technology to reach more of a mass market, although the printers may end up losing some of their cool factor when placed in the same store that sells fax machines and surge protectors.
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Very cool. Normal consumers will eat this stuff up!
 
Seeing as I just paid 3D systems $1172 to print out a part for me, $1299 is a steal..
 
I have the CubeX printer it is great.

I print all my 3d studio max and maya models with it.
 
that's pretty sweet. I'm curious, did you pay the full price of $2500 and what made you go with the CubeX?

I'm in the market for one is the reason I ask.
 
What possible purpose does this serve? The examples on their website are just decorative plastic doohickeys; there are plenty of places to get those made for cheaper that don't require spending $1300 on a printer.

In addition, there are plenty of cheaper 3D printers that are open-source, come with the specifications, and do not require the use of DRM-infested proprietary software. If I'm going to buy a 3D printer, it is going to be one that works with any program, not one that is locked to one specific program.
 
$50 per refill cartridge?

So this thing certainly isn't made to be cost effective at all. To print your kid a toy would cost more money from the plastic used than to just go to the store and buy one.

Meh...whatever...
 
Did you really think a home built system would be more cost effective than mass production?
 
looks to work well, but any other printer that has the same specs but doesn't use a cartridge will be superior in costs.
 
Blazestorm said:
Did you really think a home built system would be more cost effective than mass production?
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No but that doesn't change the fact this is still over priced. I mean, how much do you think a spool of ABS plastic with a cheap plastic housing costs? Not $50, that's for damn sure. No where near that.
 
JoeUser said:
No but that doesn't change the fact this is still over priced. I mean, how much do you think a spool of ABS plastic with a cheap plastic housing costs? Not $50, that's for damn sure. No where near that.
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The same can be said for the ink in home printers. 8-10ML of ink and some plastic shouldn't cost $50.

Try pricing a part out on their printing/prototyping website here: http://www.quickparts.com You'll find out quickly that 3D printing isn't cheap by any means.

What I hope we'll see is that companies start selling spools of ~5-10KG of filament and a holder, or a way to refill their cartridges from a bulk spool, like what happened with the inkjet market. :)
 
pissboy said:
The same can be said for the ink in home printers. 8-10ML of ink and some plastic shouldn't cost $50.

Try pricing a part out on their printing/prototyping website here: http://www.quickparts.com You'll find out quickly that 3D printing isn't cheap by any means.

What I hope we'll see is that companies start selling spools of ~5-10KG of filament and a holder, or a way to refill their cartridges from a bulk spool, like what happened with the inkjet market. :)
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but ink is far more expensive to put in a cartridge compared to plastic.
 
JoeUser said:
$50 per refill cartridge?

So this thing certainly isn't made to be cost effective at all. To print your kid a toy would cost more money from the plastic used than to just go to the store and buy one.

Meh...whatever...
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you're paying for creativity not just for another unit off the assembly line that was just punched out of a mold

i'm meh on the price but its nice to hear of something else instead of another makerbot story
 
If enough people buy them the price goes down (hopefully), if its more in mainstream peoples eyes, the cost will go down too (hopefully). Though it is very specialist needs, until someone comes out with a reason for people to want them.
 
Printing your own computer case or laptop would be fun.
 
One of the users comments on that article state:

"the Cube has a DRM chip so that it only prints from proprietary cartridges"

Now thats shitty.
 
I'm holding out for the 3D printer they used in "The Fifth Element" to print Milla Jovovich ... I don't care how much those modules cost they would be worth it :D
 
Not interested in an overpriced 3d printer that has a build area of 0.00000000000000000001cm^3. Can get better for cheaper. Don't care if it involves Staples or not.
 
I would probably use it to print custom game tokens, mini figures (if the resolution was good enough), etc.

Still, a lot of money for something like this. I imagine the technology will only get better/cheaper so I think I can wait until it's more reasonably priced. :cool:
 
powertower said:
One of the users comments on that article state:

"the Cube has a DRM chip so that it only prints from proprietary cartridges"

Now thats shitty.
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No it is not. They are trying to protect themselves from knock products that will damage the equipment.

Xerox fought this fight years ago with their solid ink printers. A company quasi reverse engineered the ink formula but the problem was it damaged the print head after a while, which rendered the expensive color printer a door stop. Xerox sued the company for patent violations and LOST. The judge threw out the legal claim Xerox had and ruled the a customer had the right to buy any ink they wanted, not just the OEM. This opened the flood gates for ANYONE to sell junk quality consumables for printers. People THINK they are saving money but it COST THEM MORE because many of them will damage the printers long term.
I'm in the printer business and the majority of the service incidences I see are related to knock off consumables causing problems.
 
I am still waiting to see if the DOJ and FBI try to monitor all 3D printers, a while back was an article how they wanted a way to log what people print on 3D printers since people were already making working weapons.
 
Dr. Righteous said:
No it is not. They are trying to protect themselves from knock products that will damage the equipment.

Xerox fought this fight years ago with their solid ink printers. A company quasi reverse engineered the ink formula but the problem was it damaged the print head after a while, which rendered the expensive color printer a door stop. Xerox sued the company for patent violations and LOST. The judge threw out the legal claim Xerox had and ruled the a customer had the right to buy any ink they wanted, not just the OEM. This opened the flood gates for ANYONE to sell junk quality consumables for printers. People THINK they are saving money but it COST THEM MORE because many of them will damage the printers long term.
I'm in the printer business and the majority of the service incidences I see are related to knock off consumables causing problems.
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But that's what the OEM warranty is for!

/s

:)
 
Dr. Righteous said:
No it is not. They are trying to protect themselves from knock products that will damage the equipment.

Xerox fought this fight years ago with their solid ink printers. A company quasi reverse engineered the ink formula but the problem was it damaged the print head after a while, which rendered the expensive color printer a door stop. Xerox sued the company for patent violations and LOST. The judge threw out the legal claim Xerox had and ruled the a customer had the right to buy any ink they wanted, not just the OEM. This opened the flood gates for ANYONE to sell junk quality consumables for printers. People THINK they are saving money but it COST THEM MORE because many of them will damage the printers long term.
I'm in the printer business and the majority of the service incidences I see are related to knock off consumables causing problems.
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Neither I nor anyone else gives a crap. By your same logic, aftermarket car parts should not be sold because who knows if they're as good as OEM?
 
dandragonrage said:
Neither I nor anyone else gives a crap. By your same logic, aftermarket car parts should not be sold because who knows if they're as good as OEM?
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Perhaps, but Xerox should at least be allowed to put in a clause in their TOS that says if you use an aftermarket cartridge or parts, your warranty is null and void. Why should Xerox pay for other manufacturer's blunders?
 
Azhar said:
Perhaps, but Xerox should at least be allowed to put in a clause in their TOS that says if you use an aftermarket cartridge or parts, your warranty is null and void. Why should Xerox pay for other manufacturer's blunders?
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Yes, sure, they should be able to do that. But they shouldn't be able to prevent aftermarket parts from being made/used at all.
 
Dr. Righteous said:
No it is not. They are trying to protect themselves from knock products that will damage the equipment.

Xerox fought this fight years ago with their solid ink printers. A company quasi reverse engineered the ink formula but the problem was it damaged the print head after a while, which rendered the expensive color printer a door stop. Xerox sued the company for patent violations and LOST. The judge threw out the legal claim Xerox had and ruled the a customer had the right to buy any ink they wanted, not just the OEM. This opened the flood gates for ANYONE to sell junk quality consumables for printers. People THINK they are saving money but it COST THEM MORE because many of them will damage the printers long term.
I'm in the printer business and the majority of the service incidences I see are related to knock off consumables causing problems.
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Not saying you're wrong necessarily but I have never in my life had issues with refilling my own inkjet cartridges or buying "non-OEM" cartridges.
 
powertower said:
One of the users comments on that article state:

"the Cube has a DRM chip so that it only prints from proprietary cartridges"

Now thats shitty.
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That is the same as nearly every inkjet and laser printer out there now though. :)
 
MavericK96 said:
Not saying you're wrong necessarily but I have never in my life had issues with refilling my own inkjet cartridges or buying "non-OEM" cartridges.
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Not specifically talking about inkjets.
More business calls laser printers and equivalents.
 
What would be the first thing you would print with that? I really can't think of anything interesting or useful.

Garden gnomes perhaps?
 
dandragonrage said:
Neither I nor anyone else gives a crap.
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You would if your $2500 printer was totaled because you used inferior non oem consumables.

By your same logic, aftermarket car parts should not be sold because who knows if they're as good as OEM?[/QUOTE]
dandragonrage said:
BS.
The quality of aftermarket auto parts very from exceeding OEM quality to absolute garbage.
The same things holds true; you get what you pay for.
For example you can purchase a $40 pair of Moog tie rod ends or a $15 pair of #1 Good Best tie rod ends.
Who do you blame when your car is in the ditch?



My points is if you don't spend the extra money of guaranteed OEM quality it will cost you more in the long run.
Printer manufactures will not honor warranties if you buy non OEM toner carts simply because the quality is often so poor it causes the printer to fail. Point being don't expect them to foot the bill for something you caused.
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dandragonrage said:
Neither I nor anyone else gives a crap.
Click to expand...
You would if your $2500 printer was totaled because you used inferior non oem consumables.
dandragonrage said:
By your same logic, aftermarket car parts should not be sold because who knows if they're as good as OEM?
Click to expand...

BS.
The quality of aftermarket auto parts very from exceeding OEM quality to absolute garbage.

The same things holds true; you get what you pay for.
For example you can purchase a $40 pair of Moog tie rod ends or a $15 pair of #1 Good Best tie rod ends.
Who do you blame when your car is in the ditch?



My points is if you don't spend the extra money of guaranteed OEM quality it will cost you more in the long run.
Printer manufactures will not honor warranties if you buy non OEM toner carts simply because the quality is often so poor it causes the printer to fail. Point being don't expect them to foot the bill for something you caused.
 
Most common use?

People making their own "marital aids" who don't want to be embarrassed buying them.

Just like the first Video Cams and Instamatic Camera, home made pron will drive the tech.
 
Qinsp said:
Most common use?

People making their own "marital aids" who don't want to be embarrassed buying them.

Just like the first Video Cams and Instamatic Camera, home made pron will drive the tech.
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Man is your mind in the gutter. :rolleyes:

My first thought was all the things that end up in the junk pile because a rinky-dink plastic part breaks and you cannot get the part anywhere.
Here you can make it yourself; and there is a business opportunity supplying these parts.
 
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