Info needed: 3D printers and laser engravers

[Mike K]

Hi Bruce

There is a member of the metalwork forum I peruse, he is a retired physicist with degrees in applied physics and a PhD . He mentioned that he can 3D print to a moderate level of success at home but any part that has over complicated shapes is a nightmare to print, this annoying situation is because of the high skills involved in manipulating the software. There are free and 'paid for' 3D CAD software programs available but they all work differently to each other and if you change the software program you have to start from scratch again.

Yes scanning the part is the way to go but those machines would be too expensive for home hobby users ?