If you've been wondering whether getting a 3D printer for home use is a smart move, here's a possible answer: Researchers have calculated that they can "pay for themselves" within a year. In the study conducted by Michigan Technological University, it included 20 common household items - things like smartphone cases, garlic presses, and showerheads found on Thingiverse. They then used Google Shopping to calculate the highest and lowest costs of buying these items online (excluding shipping).
The researchers also calculated how much each household 3D printer would cost. The results were quite astonishing: The cost of purchasing these items ranged from $312 to $1,944 (approximately RMB 1,913 to 11,917), but using a 3D printer only cost $18 (approximately RMB 110).
Clearly, the price of the printer itself is quite high, but these numbers show that they can "pay for themselves" in a matter of months to a few years. This result was published by Joshua Pearce, who also led the study, and he explained:
"With the development of free designs and 3D printing, we are creating tremendous potential wealth for everyone... You don't need to be an engineer or a professional technician to set up a 3D printer. Some devices can be installed within half an hour, and you can even build a good RepRap over the weekend."
Of course, time is required to download designs, adjust the machine, and conduct tests, but you can also consider these as very interesting activities.