Ghibli moment for 3D Printing

Source: Dev.to

Getting Started

I bought my first 3D printer this week to make parts for the robot I’m building. The print head moves slowly, laying down each thin line of plastic. It is strangely calming to watch. Friends who visit are equally fascinated.

Projects and Ideas

I keep thinking about all the little things I’ve wanted over the years—headphone stands, cable holders, desk gadgets—and making them real.

Cost Breakdown

What still surprises me is how affordable this has become. Before buying it, I reached out to more than 20 printing vendors to get my robot parts made. In the end, I bought the printer for about 15 k, spent around 5 k on filament, another 10 k on a few big parts I still outsourced, and finished everything for under 30 k.

Emerging Technologies

Now I keep noticing new machines that can even turn 2D photos into 3D models.

Outlook

For now, though, it still feels like a niche hobby. Most people I know have heard of 3D printing but have never actually used it. Someone just needs to make the whole experience a bit simpler, tell the right story, and this will explode.