Replies

Staples is offering one in house for $1,200, one which they admit is only good for little useless toys.

Try eBay and the Internet. I bought a CTC a couple months ago. Prices are all over a range from $600 - $2000, for essentially the same printer. I bought my black CTC for $660. The plain plywood tan color are generally $60 - $100 cheaper, although functionally identical. This is a clone of the Makerbot Replicator 1, at a huge savings. Dual extruders, heated build table, can print with different type filaments including ABS, PLA and Nylon. One shortcoming is a small build area of 6 inch by 6 inch by 9 inch, same as the more expensive machines. I get around this by assembling pieces to fit together, either with solvent or with aluminum rivet nuts and machine screws. So far, only about 10 percent of what I've made have been toys for my grandchildren. All the software I use is downloadable and free - Autodesk 123D and ReplicatorG being a couple examples.

I'm going to try to make some of these grown-up items with nylon, it being a very tough material.

Good for you. I had a friend who had a dog named “RD.” He took it with him on the road, lost his job, had his dog stolen and now is tending bar 3 days a week and living hand to mouth, and his teeth, what few he has left, are worthless. Somehow he survived and even met the current owner of the dog that did not believe him when he said that was his dog. The current owner said “prove it.” The guy said “RD, give me five.” The guy was flabbergasted to find he gave him five and said it is your dog but the real owner refused to take it as he could not care for it. Long story but I thought it was worth your time. Bottom line for all this, he named the dog "RD" for road dog. 'Nuff said.