3DPrinting

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3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

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The Enshittification of 3D Printers – Are We Losing What Made Them Great? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I’ve been noticing an unsettling trend in the 3D printing world: more and more printer manufacturers are locking down their devices with proprietary firmware, cloud-based software, and other anti-consumer restrictions. Despite this, they still receive glowing reviews, even from tech-savvy communities.

Back in the day, 3D printing was all about open-source hardware, modding, and user control. Now, it feels like we’re heading towards the same path as smartphones and other consumer tech—walled gardens, forced online accounts, and limited third-party compatibility. Some companies even prevent users from using alternative slicers or modifying firmware without jumping through hoops.

My question is: Has 3D printing gone too mainstream? Are newer users simply unaware (or uninterested) in the dangers of locked-down ecosystems? Have we lost the awareness of FOSS (Free and Open-Source Software) and user freedom that once defined this space?

I’d love to hear thoughts from the community. Do you think this is just a phase, or are we stuck on this trajectory? What can we do to push back against enshitification before it’s too late?

(Transparency Note: I wrote this text myself, but since English is not my first language, I used LLM to refine some formulations. The core content and ideas are entirely my own.)

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

"There is no huge open source for regular printers..."

Given the state of regular printers, I'd say this is an excellent argument that there should be! I prefer actually printing to tinkering as well, but I've been around long enough to watch corporate interests destroy any number of tech related things from 2d printers to search engines. Bambu and Apple are both excellent examples of what not to do as well.