I’ve read a bit about 3D printing over the last few years and have been intrigued, but not enough to get a printer or design anything to be printed. After Comic-Con, I saw some mention of Shapeways and decided to check it out. I looked through some of the pieces and saw some pieces for my quad copter, specifically a quick release for my GoPro camera and a monitor mount that attached to my transmitter.
I took a risk and ordered these pieces that some random people designed and uploaded. When I received the pieces, I was extremely impressed with the monitor mount as it was quite solid and fits well. I was a little apprehensive of the quick release as the material seemed a bit flimsy. However, comparing the bracket to the bracket that I already had, I realized it wasn’t that much thinner. I’ve used both pieces a number of times and am happy with what I ordered.
3D printing is still in its infancy and the future is quite bright. If parts can be made that are as solid as molded pieces at a fraction of the cost, there could be huge markets for it. While I don’t need any trinkets (many of the 3D pieces seem to be trinkets), I could see myself buying speciality pieces that people couldn’t afford to make any other way.