What are you up to now?

[Earthshine]

I finally updated my computer to Windows 8.1 and am trying to get my color scheme back the way it was before.

[Shiyonasan]

Just started up my second playthrough of Shadow of the Colossus (I first played through the game from Christmas 2012 to New Years 2013).

While I am enjoying it this time around, I wish I still had that experience of playing through the game for the first time. It's just not the same the second time around.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Drilled some holes in steel bars for my 3D printer under construction. Still a lot more work to do on the thing.

[Earthshine]

What are you going to do with your 3D printer? Mostly stick to hobbies or do you think you will use it to make money such as printing designs or toys and whatnot?

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

For now it is just a learning experience. I plan on using the printer for hobby use mostly at this point. Also since this will be a rather crude design I could print parts to make a better one! I also have this idea of making a robot like Robi, printing the required parts. (I'd change his appearance a bit, to have 's face). Finally if I can master 3D drawing with blender, I'd like to try and print some 'Action Figures'.

[Earthshine]

That's still pretty cool. I wish I had a 3D printer because then I could print cosplay armor instead of crafting it by hand with foam and harsh chemical, that and worbla is really expensive.

There's a lot of use for 3D printers now and the technology just keeps getting better, I saw once someone print a prosthetic limb that was more functional than the low-end medical ones and it only cost $32 whereas a low-end prosthetic limb can run into the thousands.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

For now most affordable printers are limited to small objects, usually about 6 inches to 8 inches square. Mine will be in this size range, but might go a bit taller in the Z axis. So cosplay objects might need to be printed in pieces and glued together.

[Earthshine]

That's what I was thinking. At some point I'd love to get a large 3D printer so I could print larger pieces that would expedite making armor and such.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Also you can print in PLA plastic, encapsule the prints in a plaster and sand envestment, burn out the plastic in a furnace leaving a hollow mold behind, and then pour in molten aluminum to make a metal object from your print. I've already built a charcoal fired blast furnace to melt aluminum, but haven't tried it yet.

[Earthshine]

That's really cool.