These 5 Pioneering 3D Printers became extinct.

As the world of 3D Printing continues to evolve, some designs sadly die out... These are my top 5 pioneering 3D Printers that I feel might be worth revisiting.

[radish]

Definitely make a Tantillus! I’m really curious to see how the fishing line works, and also if you could scale it up. I know scaling it up is the opposite of “tiny” but still, I’m curious.

[aserta]

A friend of mine still has a sugar mixture based printer in his collection. It was used primarily to make the removable parts of a casting mold... and edible sugar crystals on occasion.

[LordHonkInc]

I love the "what if"/"why isn't there a..." mentality that 3D printing thrives on. I've personally had so many projects, successful and not, start out like that, and I love the physicality of printing something, holding it in your hands and contemplating if and how I could improve it. From simple things like fixtures to "larger" (for my still-kinda-amateurish standards) projects, 3D printing has allowed me to (attempt to) solve problems that would've otherwise stayed errant thoughts.

A toast to the makers who started it, to the ones driving it forward, and the ones to come in a hopefully prosperous, just as curiosity-fueled future 🍻

[Hylian_Herald]

Oh man, the printrbot... I took charge of maintaining about a dozen of the Printrbot Simple Metals for my school district's makerspace, because I was able to figure it all out myself. I was an intern there in high school, and I really enjoyed learning how it all worked. That's what actually got me a job with a local 3D printer manufacturer that focused on 100% American made components, that unfortunately couldn't keep up with the lower and lower price points. Great memories, though.

[IanSlothieRolfe]

I remember back when I first read about RepRap and the Darwin I was really excited, to the point I almost started a project to make one. But at the time I realised I didn't really have the tools or experience to pull it off, especialy as the software at the time was in its infancy. I then kind of forgot about it, occasionally observing from the sidelines the arrival of the MakerBot and the Stratasys controversy, but it wasn't until the last couple of years when 3D printers became so affordable I finally took the step and bought one. It's amazing how far they have come in what is only a few years - makes me wonder what the next 20 years will bring!

[davydatwood]

I'm a relative latecomer to the 3d printing scene, and this glimpse of the history and origins was really interesting! Especially the Darwin, which clearly follows the same sort of arc as commercial jet aircraft or self-loading rifles: massively complicated and over-engineered at first, and then steadily getting simpler and more efficient. Very cool!

So yes, I'd love a similar video exploring delta printers. :)

[ThantiK]

Nick Seward is my hero, tbh. He brings so many unique printers to MRRF all the time and they're always so inspiring.

[MihaiDesigns]

Awesome 3D printer history! I got into 3D printing very late and haven't heard about many of those printers.

[macrumpton]

Thanks for that trip down memory lane! I remember well marveling over the candyfab, and Nick Seward's designs are still some of the most original thinking in the whole 3d printer universe.

[kevfquinn]

A Delta timeline history video would be really good - could also side-track on to the related experimental motion ideas

[arathireddy]

Thanks for mentioning the tantillus 3d printer I have one laser cut version and plan on making it all in metal and try to print in peek. As of now only the frame is in laser cut aluminum planing to cast the plastic parts in aluminum and add water cooling and insulation to make it better for peek printing for use in dentistry.

[Chopancho]

I will always love my Simple Metal. It was the first 3D printer I've ever had. Modded the crap out of it and also fixed almost every part of it. Still have it and still works. Will always have a special place.

[tomgray]

My first printer was a Cupcake by Makerbot. Cost about $800 USD at the time. Now using a CR10s Pro, cost $850 CAD, a far better printer for a lower price, showing how things have changed.

I haven't been here for a while and, Wow! Almost a million subscribers! Way to go, Angus.

[ethangilbertmedia]

Love to find out about the weird and obscure printers!

[studiochefson]

I've always wondered if the delta printers had an advantage over cartesian ones? Could you make a video on that? From a long french viewer...

[free_spirit]

With everybody drooling over closed source it's almost refreshing seeing the primordial ooze the movement came out of. Angus, please make more of these history videos, they are amazing. Don't feel the need to shorten or condense them either, I watched this three times already.

[Knuckle_Sandwich_Hand_Wraps]

Printing with sugar is pretty sweet……..

[jordyv.]

I would love to see you make one of those tantillus printers. It's cute

[Bibbleycheese]

I wrote my Masters dissertation on building a 3D Chocolate printer last year. I really enjoyed researching the history of 3D printers and discovering some of these awesome machines. Brilliant video again.

[TheParkanyi]

I think, considering the Chinese market, we should include the Anet A8 printer. As far as I know, it's no longer available for purchase, but at the time of it releasing, it was ground braking. Yes, it was a Prusa i3 clone, but for around $200 you got a very nice quality 3D printer with a reasonable (220x220x240 mm) build volume, and also with heated bed. Of course for $200 corners had to be cut, so there was no auto bed leveling (Z homing was made possible by a momentary switch) and the frame was made of laser-cut acrylic (which made the printer somewhat wobbly), but it was very affordable even for us, living in the Mordor side of Europe (East to the former Iron Fence).