3D Printing Competition Giveaways

[Rynocorn]

At competition, our team has always given away a typical item like a frisbee, stress ball, or some other i team along with buttons but we are looking to do something different this year. We recently got a Makerbot Replicator 3D printer and I designed some team stretchy bracelets that we could possibly give away at competition.

The part weighs only 9 grams and cost less than 20 cents (of material) to make but we don't want to mass produce them as that would cause a lot of wear on our printer. We are looking for somewhere between 100-200 for our two regionals. Our mentor suggested looking online for a 3D printing company but they ones I saw ranged from 4-75 dollars which is completely insane. I was wondering if anyone had experience in this area and had a recommendation of a company or if this is even possible for a cheap price.

Thanks you guys!

[techhelpbb]

Perhaps get a RepRap style kit and do it like that or find someone with RepRap style printer(s).
The odds of cheaply repairing a RepRap over a MakerBot seem higher to me.
So if you wear the printer out you just fix it.

This is why I have a SoliDoodle2 and an Up! printer.
I let the SoliDoodle do stuff like this.
If the SoliDoodle breaks it's cheaper to fix.

It's true the Up! printer is more 'plug-and-play' than the SoliDoodle 2.
However if you're going to do a lot of repetition you'll be able to work out the details more easily.

If I had to turn low level production from 3D printers I'd rather have 3 moderately reliable decent printers.
Than 1 really reliable great printer.

For example it's entirely possible to get a moderately reliable 3D printer for $700 with S/H versus one
MakerBot Replicator 2 for $2,200-$2,800.
Fairness given that some teams are getting the MakerBots at *much* less cost than list price.
Have to wonder what cheaper printers might also be able to work a FIRST related discount.

Then again there's the challenge of building your own 3D printer with the help of the 3D printer you already have.
Printing the parts for more printers should be a piece of cake for a Replicator and then let those printers take the wear.

I know several companies that will 3D print for you but the cost will be higher than merely the cost of the materials.
In fairness it ought to be.
They are wearing their printers, using their heat and time.
The true cost of a 3D print is higher than most people think.

[coalhot]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...printer-and-sc

Pretty cool project, and quite inexpensive. However, the resin isn't cheap. I'd look into that.

There are other issues. However, if you're only printing trinkets, one or two of those printers may be a better option over some more usual printers.

Just throwing it in the pot...