The Spark Gap - Episode 2
Corey, a hobbyist in embedded electronics, explains his decision to purchase a Solidoodle 2 3D printer after initially considering the 3D Systems Cube, citing the Solidoodle's open-source roots and lower cost. Karl and Corey discuss the evolution of the RepRap community, highlighting MakerBot's controversial shift from open-source hardware to closed-source patents and its acquisition by Stratasys. They analyze the crowdfunding boom in 3D printing, noting Formlabs' successful Kickstarter and the patent disputes with 3D Systems, while debating the ethics of proprietary filament locks in printers like the XYZprinting da Vinci 1.0.