# The Spark Gap - Episode 2

- Show: [The Spark Gap](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap)
- Published: 2014-06-23
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2
- Listen: https://thesparkgap.net/the-spark-gap-episode-2

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2#t=0) Introduction: Corey's 3D Printing Hobby
- [1:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2#t=66) Choosing the Solidoodle 2 over the 3D Systems Cube
- [4:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2#t=281) The RepRap Community and Open Source Hardware
- [11:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2#t=675) MakerBot's Shift to Closed Source and Stratasys Acquisition
- [16:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2#t=984) Formlabs, Kickstarter, and Patent Disputes
- [20:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2#t=1222) Crowdfunding Success: PrinterBot and Micro 3D Printing
- [24:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2#t=1490) Criteria for Buying a 3D Printing: Software and Reliability
- [30:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2#t=1800) The Debate on Proprietary Filament and XYZprinting

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Solidoodle 2 (product)
- 3D Systems (company)
- Cube (product)
- RepRap (other)
- MakerBot (company)
- Stratasys (company)
- Formlabs (company)
- PrinterBot (product)
- XYZprinting (company)
- da Vinci 1.0 (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Kickstarter, Manufacturing, Open Hardware - Judging Jurisdictional Junctures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-24-kickstarter-manufacturing-open-hardware-judging-jurisdictional-junctures) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 297: Prusa Eschews Open Source Hardware, The Lemontron Prints Upside-Down, and the vecdec Cyberdeck Does Minority Report](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-11-22-ep-297-prusa-eschews-open-source-hardware-the-lemontron-prints-upside-down-and-t) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 178: The Return of Supercon, Victory for Open Source, Exquisite Timepieces, and Documentation to Die For](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-07-22-ep-178-the-return-of-supercon-victory-for-open-source-exquisite-timepieces-and-d) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Shonky Stiver Stultiloquence](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-08-09-shonky-stiver-stultiloquence) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 296: Supercon Wrapup with Tom and Al, The 3DP Brick Layering Controversy, and How To Weld in Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-11-15-ep-296-supercon-wrapup-with-tom-and-al-the-3dp-brick-layering-controversy-and-ho) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-23-the-spark-gap-episode-2. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Spark Gap.