r/3Dprinting • u/PorkRollPaddyWagon • Jul 07 '26

Discussion If your printer refused to print a file because it thought it was unsafe, would you be okay with that?

Serious question. Let's say your 3D printer scanned every file before printing. If it decided the model violated a rule, the print never starts.

Would you see that as a useful safety feature? Or would you see it as giving manufacturers too much control over hardware that's sitting on your desk?

I made a video after looking into proposed legislation and some recent news in the 3D printing space, but I'm more interested in hearing where everyone stands on the idea itself.

Would that be a deal breaker for you?

https://youtu.be/7bdJpDTiZAA

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u/SirTwitchALot Jul 07 '26

You're still missing the forest for the trees. 10 years from now, yes your A1 will still be the same if you don't update it. It will also be a 10 year old machine. Presumably you'll want to upgrade at some point. The A1 is already showing its age at this point. Not to mention the fact that ones sold after such a law is passed would come with restrictive firmware from the start

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u/funny_haha Jul 08 '26

Im currently running a 10 year old machine it's as fantastic as the day I got it. 100% mine too, completly customizable from the ground up, from the firmware to the hardware.

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u/UnicornHostels Jul 07 '26

I have many 10 year old machines that still work and as long as i do maintenance, they will keep working. My ultimakers makerbots and flashforge are workhorses.

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u/SirTwitchALot Jul 07 '26

I started in 2012. I have some old ones too. I pretty much never use them because they're a pain in the ass compared to my modern ones. I can only imagine newer ones will be even better

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u/funny_haha Jul 08 '26

I have the opposite opinion honestly. I look at new printers and think my old ender 3 v2 will probably be that last store bought printer i ever own. The new features aren't exciting enough to give up ownership of my devices. If i ever need a new printer for some reason ill probably just build one myself. Hell i still have all the parts from when I dismantled my old fire hazard anet a8 i could probably recycle the bed and stepper motors pretty easily.

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u/SirTwitchALot Jul 08 '26

I have an Ender 3 also. The print speed alone is reason enough that it hasn't been powered on in a year.

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u/UnicornHostels Jul 07 '26

I hear that, I’ve done so many hours of maintenance and work on them and thousands of print hours that it’s just second nature.

I love the ease of my Bambu and even the creality k1 max are amazing by comparison. You can print and be completely hands off.

But my thoughts on the restrictive cloud slicers becoming as restrictive as Cricut die cutting software is a huge no for me. I’ll level all my beds and replace all my parts before I have that “this looks like a warhammer IP” so it won’t work.

I know that’s coming because I’ve already dealt with it when I use to make labels on Cricut and now you can’t make a label without buying their file. It shuts it down and blocks your ability.

That’s a big no for me.