• devilish666@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    TIL inkjet printer is very complicated compared to 3d printer
    I always think paper printer is very easy to make (well since so many paper printers out there compared to 3d printers)

    • Square Singer@feddit.de
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      5 months ago

      Yeah, that’s more due to need than due to technical difficulty.

      Even in 2024 it’s still common that you have to print out documents to sign them or tickets for some event or something like that. All these (quite relevant) use cases just don’t work if you don’t have a 2D printer.

      As much as I like my 3D printer, and as much as I recommend everyone to have one, is not nearly as necessary.

      In regards to how difficult they are to make, consider the price.

      2D printers have an advantage due to their much higher sales numbers (economy of scale) and they are subsidized by the manufacturer selling expensive ink. And still, a half-decent inkjet costs €100 or more, and a color laser easily costs €300 or more.

      3D printers usually have much lower sales numbers and people usually buy 3rd party filament, so the printer needs to be expensive enough to generate money for the manufacturer. And still you can get a decent Ender 3 for as low as €150.