Staples becomes first major US retailer to sell 3D printers

[techbeck]

The day you'll be able to walk into a national retail chain and leave with a 3D printer is almost here. Staples today announced that it's begun selling 3D Systems' Cube 3D Printer for $1,299. The device won't be in stores until the end of June, and even then it will only be available from a "limited number" of locations. But online orders kick off immediately, so you can order one from the Staples website and have it shipped to your door starting today.

3D Systems started shipping the Cube 3D Printer to consumers just over a year ago. It's not quite as feature-rich or capable as some competing printers, though you'll be able to create items up to 5.5 inches square. Designs are also limited to one of 16 different colors (Staples says it plans to stock replacement cartridges and other accessories). Once owners print out all 25 included templates, they'll need to hunt down additional designs online ? thankfully Cubify doesn't make it a hard process.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/3/4297612/staples-first-major-us-retailer-sell-3d-printers-cube-3d-printer

[M_Lyons10]

Awesome. I want one! :)

[Azusa]

If only they sold the parts that can't be printed separately.

[Tigurinn]

I think that 3d printing will have a pretty serious effect on many manufacturing industries - so it's pretty baffling that many don't know about it's existance

Let's just hope that no companies that make, and will make, 3d printers will have this guy as their quality manager :laugh:

[Evolution]

I think that 3d printing will have a pretty serious effect on many manufacturing industries - so it's pretty baffling that many don't know about it's existance

Let's just hope that no companies that make, and will make, 3d printers will have this guy as their quality manager :laugh:

3D printing is rarely ever used for mass-production. Casting, extruding, etc. will probably always be cheaper and produced faster. However, I agree about businesses that have low volume or don't need to produce items that fast.

[Buttus]

3D printing is rarely ever used for mass-production. Casting, extruding, etc. will probably always be cheaper and produced faster. However, I agree about businesses that have low volume or don't need to produce items that fast.

yea, i feel the same way... i bet places like the disney parks will get a bunch of them tho, to print out little toys and stuff, kind of like those plastic mold things that they used to have in the rest areas and theme parks here in south florida. I know i had a few of the little things, stick 50 cents in and watch the mold close, see the plastic go into it, it was pretty cool back in the day

[Tigurinn]

3D printing is rarely ever used for mass-production. Casting, extruding, etc. will probably always be cheaper and produced faster. However, I agree about businesses that have low volume or don't need to produce items that fast.

I was mainly thinking this from a consumer perspective; there was an article (on Neowin if I remember correctly) about how 3d printers were being used for printing cases, like on the good ol' Nokia phones, which brought 3d printing to my attention.

It's amazing that printing medicine could "could be used by the public in around two decades" (source: http://www.techspins...s-and-medicine/) and that a house could be constructed by 3d printing in 2014 (source: http://blog.icoreglo...to-real-estate/)

Granted - neither which are general consumer products; but I think many companies will go out of business, if the consumer can print the stuff cheaper than they can manufacture it.

If anyone has an article about the future of 3d printing on manufacturing industries, I would love to know about it

[Growled Member]

It's amazing technology but I'm gonna wait until the price comes down before I get one.

[+hedleigh Subscriber²]

Well, that's only $100 more than the first colour inkjet I purchased in 1990, Epson Colour Stylus. :D

Also was reading this earlier. Printing body parts.

[Hum]

I'm not sure what I'd do with one.

[exotoxic]

I'm not sure what I'd do with one.

print a... penis...

[Motoko.]

Are we headed toward a Star Trek future?

I'd like to see replicators in my lifetime.

[Richteralan]

I think that 3d printing will have a pretty serious effect on many manufacturing industries -

No. Simply no.

Your hobby, yes.

Manufacturing Industries? No. Not in the foreseeable future.

[+Xinok Subscriber²]

I don't see 3D printers becoming mainstream for a looooooooooooooooooooooong time. 2D printers have very practical applications (printing for school or work, pictures, directions, recipes, to-do lists, etc.). 3D printers simply don't have that same practicality. I'm not saying that 3D printers are useless, far from it. But I don't see the majority of the public taking much interest in the technology. What I find more likely is that it will become commonplace for shops to provide specialty services using these devices, including some major retailers (the ones with photo labs).

[Evolution]

I'm not sure what I'd do with one.

Wait till they make one that can assembly nearly any food product e.g. cakes :D Or maybe if you had an xbox 360 and wanted a new customized case you could print that... or picture frames, coat hangers, storage containers, puzzles, parts for toys e.g. create a propeller blade for a toy then polish it.

[soldier1st]

$1300 bucks for a 3d printer? they must be insane as that's way too pricey for me. I bet linux will support these or at least support these things.