Originally Posted by
zandoval
But if you go to Thingiverse it can be tedious to find Bicycle related objects. You may have to wade through pages of useless objects that have nothing to do with real bicycles. I just would like to see an area where we could post those printable items that are useful and proven.
That's why I'm suggesting you post links in the thread here, to the files there or on some other 3d printing repository site.
Cheap 3D printers are going for about 200 USD
Indeed, though they can be finicky
I expect that soon we could see table top CNC machines that could work aluminum and other soft metals for a little more.
Nope. For two main reasons:
First, cutting force is very much a thing - designing a machine that can resist that is drastically more complex than designing one that can move what's basically a miniature hot glue gun around
The other problem is the geometry of machining: many useful parts would require a cutter to come in from multiple angles. That requires either pricey 5 or 6 axis setups, or having a whole plan of re-fixturing the workpiece in a different angle partway through.
There's a reason desktop plastic fabrication has taken off, and apart from some very constrained applications like engraving, key cutting, programmed drilling, or (just barely) milling simple circuit boards, desktop machining is mostly a curiosity.