Well 3D printing very well be the wave of the future.
It would be nice to just hit “Print” and have a ton of models pop out of a machine all ready to play.
I can honestly see a future where we just buy digital patterns all super secure like songs iTunes, for our favorite games, and then print them out.
The hobby aspect may never change, as the human art form would be rather difficult to duplicate, but I would rather see RGB printed models on the table top than plastic grey ones.
I know I’d probably still paint models if I printed them out at least, cause for me it’s the Hobby Part I enjoy more than playing.
The question is, when will manufacturers embrace this new technology? Because the future waits for no one.
What do you think? How will 3D printing affect the Table Top Gaming Industry? -MBG
3d Printing article courtesy of Apocalypse 40k Blog.
Staples Starts to Sell 3D Printer
Staples is entering the world of 3D printing by offering a low cost 3D Printer.
The full article is here:
http://www.slashgear.com/staples-becomes-first-us-retailer-to-sell-3d-printers-03280524/
From the article:
The Cube is available now on Staples.com, and will eventually be available in a select number of Staples store by the end of June. The Cube costs $1,300, which is quite a bit less than MakerBot’s offerings, which usually start at around $2,000. The printer is able to print objects that are up to 5.5-inches wide and tall.
The Cube features WiFi and is compatible with both Mac and Windows. Plus, the printer comes with 25 free 3D templates to get you off to a quick start, with more templates available online. Staples is also selling ABS and PLA plastic cartridge refills, CubeSticks, and replacement Cube Print Pads. We heard late last year that Staples would be starting its own 3D-printing service, so perhaps this is the first baby step into that realm.
The 3D-printing community hasn’t gone quite mainstream yet, as it’s still very much a niche hobby at this point, but with the beginning of selling 3D printers in major retail chains, the awareness for 3D printing may go up, encouraging more people to get into the hobby and create an even larger community around it.
You can find out more on the Cube 3D Printer here.
And the Technical Specs are here.
Has anyone yet bought a 3D printer and printed out any miniatures?
Loken
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
