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.)
False dichotomy. There are plenty of printers that are pro-sumer and also have great documentation and are easy to use and maintain.
Name one that is competitive to the BambuLab P1S combo.
Keep in mind that the operator is an average Joe, who knows nothing about 3D-printers, with minimal training on the job to do the maintenance.
Competitive (explicitly) includes cost: If I need to pay $2k for a printer that works just as well as an $800 option it is not feasible (for a business) to spend this much more.
I could but I’m going to assume that you already know and will simply disagree.
Tell me.
Looked last week into it and concluded that BamubLab is still the best option.
Runner up was Creality. They are equally proprietary these days.
How is Creality equally proprietary? I can put mainsail or fluidd on the machine and use any slicer I so choose.
So your suggestion would have been the Creality K2 or K1C?
K1C is open sourced as far as I can tell. But I am not sure what you are asking here?
Someone has created a custom firmware for the X1C, but that’s pretty much it.
K2 isn’t open sourced, but it can still be rooted and you can use Fluidd or mainsail.
So Creality sucks for not open sourcing the k2 firmware, but it’s not the same level of shittiness as Bambu Lab
Does Creality uses V6-compatible nozzles?
If one of the stepper drivers blows up (it happens and since it blows/damages the PCB it can’t be repaired) can I swap in a generic motherboard without replacing other components like the screen?
The K1 used K1 Nozzles(some remix of Volcano Nozzles also used by Sovol on there SV06 Plus). Dunno if you could use regular Volcano Nozzles on this(without modification) since the K1 Nozzle-Tips are longer/more spiky.
I swapped my nozzle for an after market one, changed the heatsink as well on my K1.
I haven’t changed the my mobo on it, but I know there is a m5p mobo that can be swapped.