Nov.21, 2014 | By Alec
Many people will have seen the many commercials for 'Build your own…' or 'Collect…' partworks, or have even done one or two of them. In an exchange for a commitment of several months or even a year, those magazines will send you a part of a scale model or a part of a collection once a week, along with information and a guide to assemble it.
Usually, these involve model ships, galaxies or rock collectibles, but now UK publisher Eaglemoss Collections have announced a partwork for building your own, actually workable 3D printer. Could this be the definitive proof that 3D printing has reached mainstream society?
Now you might think that a 3D printer is everything but suitable for such a partwork guide, but their website assures us that it will result in an actually workable 3D printer capable of making figurines, mobile phone cases, and many other objects. Obviously, it will need a lot of parts, which have been spread out over a 90 week period.
Looking at their promised specifics, this FDM printer actually looks quite typical. This printer has been designed by Sebastian Conran, who called it a typical home use 3D printer. It can print PLA and ABS filament, produces a layer thickness of 0.20 mm and can print objects up to a size of 140mm x 140mm x 135mm. Interestingly enough, this printer will feature a safety hood, unlike just about every other printer out there. The printer will also come with a customised version of Repetier-Host software and its producers are even promising to create a website where users can share designs.
Senior vice president of Eaglemoss, Maggie Calmels, reportedly said that their company felt it was time to make this technology available for everyone. 'It's offering people the opportunity to purchase and build their own printer at small weekly costs, while the accompanying magazine is aimed at engaging readers and giving them the chance to learn more about the science behind the product.'
But obviously, this comes with a price. The printer will be available in the UK and Ireland started 26 December, for £6.99 per issue (though two premium issues will be more expensive). While this might not sound like much, this means your 3D printer will cost you approximately £700, or more than $1000. For that money, it might be better to purchase a ready-made one, and avoid waiting more than 18 months to start printing.
But the very fact that this patchwork is becoming available is telling. Is 3D printing finally becoming something for everyone?
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
Maybe you also like:
- 3D printed heart replicas used to save lives of babies with congenital heart defects
- 3D printed self-learning, self-repairing robots can adapt to extreme environments
- Daniel Norée launches OpenRailway project for 3D printed miniature trains
- OPM receives $150K to improve treatment of infections related to implanted devices
- Japanese artist collaboration XSENSE develop gorgeous and artistic 3D printed artificial limbs
- Photographers design a cheap 3D printed filter holder for a Nikon 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens
- Fan 3D prints very cool table top terrain for Warhammer 40k battles
- Go back to the basics with the 3D printable Sundial Watch Collection
58 and 59 missing
Robert Handyside wrote at 8/24/2016 12:11:46 AM:
My newsagent didn't receive Issue No. 50 and still hasn't, even after calling the distributor a few times. Now I am at a loss as to what to to do.
Alan Robson wrote at 7/23/2016 10:21:31 PM:
Very poor customer service have waited 3 week for new password to be sent to unlock my account and still waiting after phone calls and emails to them I like to thing the printer will work when finsh if its like the customer service ?
Zeido Zeido wrote at 9/16/2015 3:42:20 PM:
3D Print Expo in Turkey Dear Sir/Madam Our company Demos Exhibition, a specialized company in organizing Fairs would like to suggest a media partnership where both parties can benefit and work together. Demos can offer you the chance to distribute your Magazine in 3D print Expo and add your logo on the Fair’s website. In exchange your magazine can write an article about 3D print Expo and add the news about the fair on your website. Other forms and suggestion for this partnership can be discussed if you are interested. http://3dexpoturkey.com/ Looking forward to hear back from you. Best Regards Zeido Zeido - Exhibition Coordinator Mobile/Viber: +905388606717 zeido@demosfuar.com.tr www.demosfuar.com.tr
mother tigz wrote at 3/27/2015 12:18:08 PM:
I'm getting this for my child and I as a summer project was hoping for a good start up by August then to follow on with next summer don't care about it being out of date as such. The weekly payments are good as most kids go thou money like its going out of fashion so it teaches them that they can do something with it than waste it on there usually out of this world spending ( persons you now what I'm saying right) and to top it off if you don't wont it and you can get it some place else the fine quit going on about it and go buy it but there are people out here that love this idea and the chance to build it ourselves leading the parts so if something dose go wrong we can fix it, its amazing and self learning at its best. Thank you
CarmelBracken@designwise.ie wrote at 2/26/2015 7:55:05 PM:
I have started to collect this Mag but unfortunately missed Issue 5. My newsagent is not interested in ordering for me and I need to visit shop every week to get one off the shelf. If it is possible I would like to get Issue 5 and place an Order for the remaining mags. Looking forward to hearing from you. ( I managed to get Issue 6 today and would be so greatful to get issue 5 )
Andy wrote at 2/19/2015 9:02:51 AM:
Hi I ordered this and am happy so far. The parts seem very good quality and it is starting to form a very solid printer. I know people who spent similar amounts on 3D printers and the quality has bot been so good. I realize I could just buy an printer outright for less money but I like the fact that I am gradually being educated and brought upto speed on the technology each month. I guess that when it is finally out we will have full colour printers that integrate circuits into the model etc
Mark wrote at 1/29/2015 9:24:13 PM:
A better idea would be to set £6.99 aside for the next 90 weeks and buy an up-to-date model at that time.
Cal wrote at 1/23/2015 11:36:12 AM:
The first issue is £1.99 each issue after is £6.99 but the last 2 issues with the circuit boards are £15.99 each So a total cost of £642.10 Great way to buy it over time, but let`s face it you will probably lose interest or the parts, will there be a guarantee if it breaks? the answer will be no i think.
jack wrote at 1/17/2015 12:24:36 AM:
do you know if the later magazines will cost more than the first one??
Steve Young wrote at 1/16/2015 11:54:54 AM:
It's likely that the 3D printers will be a lot cheaper by the time you complete the kit. If they are between £400 & £500 pounds now they may only cost between £250 & £350 on completion. So knowing that you'd be looking at £650 via Eaglemoss it's likely this series will be hard to prove popular.
sean wrote at 1/15/2015 5:32:43 PM:
Buy the same thing on eBay for £400- 500??????
sean wrote at 1/15/2015 5:16:26 PM:
If its £6.99 over 90 mags that's about £625. I could buy one on eBay for about £400-500. Why would pay that just to get a free mag
Paul Mansfield wrote at 1/14/2015 8:22:40 PM:
I just saw a tv advert for this, and wondered how much it would cost and how long it'd take to complete. All I can say is "no way!"
Dom Banks wrote at 1/14/2015 2:56:47 PM:
James, you must have been in their "test area". They test these partworks to see if there's enough interest before they launch them across the country. If you contact them, they'll start sending them to you from the last issue you bought. It's standard marketing practice.
James atherton wrote at 11/25/2014 12:19:17 AM:
Didn't they already try this last year and stop after 6 issues leaving alot of very pissed off customers with nothing to show but £37 out of pocket? 5 issues at £6.99 and the 1st was £1.99 I believe, I hope they don't do this again, if so trading standards should be called!!
3dman wrote at 11/23/2014 12:52:45 AM:
90 weeks!? at 8 euros an issue ? this would cost you a fortune, not even counting the materials for the actual printer.
michaelc wrote at 11/22/2014 3:18:51 PM:
Given the speed of development in the field, by the time you finish this printer, it will be terribly outdated.
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
