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.)

  • hubobesEnglish
    106·
    5 days ago

    I own a BambuLab A1M as I want a printer that just works. And while yes it is all proprietary they do sell replacement parts for most parts.

    While I will not forgive them for their latest moves I am quite happy, I turn it on, load an stl into BambuStudio and let it run without any issues at all.

    My next printer will however probably be a prusa as they are Europeans and I love that they keep everything up to the user so far. But I can not deal with anything that is more DIY than a Prusa, it is a tool for my hobby…not the hobby itself.

    • CeeBee_Eh@lemmy.worldEnglish
      101·
      5 days ago

      they do sell replacement parts for most parts.

      If you can’t replace all of the parts with some other off the shelf part, regardless of quality, then you’re locked to a brand and are at their mercy.

      What happens when they inevitably discontinue the A1M and no longer sell parts for it?

      • hubobesEnglish
        42·
        5 days ago

        That will be a shitty day. But the alternative is that they don’t sell replacement parts at all. To be fair we don’t even know how they treat discontinued products as all their printers are still in production.

        Still my point stands, Bambu printers simply just work, I took my 15-20 minutes to set up and it did run flawlessly since then with only the maintenance the printer asks me to do. I can understand why people like that. This would be possible by opensourcing everything but somehow except for Prusa there is noone else who strikes that balance between ease of use and openness.

        • Ernest@lemm.eeEnglish
          4·
          5 days ago

          the alternative is that they don’t sell replacement parts at all

          maybe I’m misunderstanding, but isn’t the corresponding alternative in this case “you can use parts from any manufacturer you want”?

          • hubobesEnglish
            22·
            5 days ago

            That’s the third option, I was just saying that at least they do sell replacement parts which today is not always the case for many companies.