内容来源：https://www.engadget.com/2300213/3d-printer-expensive-hobbies-where-it-saves-money/

内容总结：

拥有3D打印机能否在兴趣爱好中省钱？外媒盘点五大高性价比应用场景

据外媒报道，3D打印技术不仅在国际空间站上用于按需制造工具和替换零件，在地面上也能以低于商店的价格制作昂贵的零部件和配件。3D打印（又称增材制造）利用在线获取或自行创建的计算机辅助设计（CAD）模型来构建三维物体。入门级打印机如Creality Ender-3 V3 SE售价约170美元起，更先进的系统则可达700美元以上。最常见的3D打印机使用耗材，每公斤约20美元。如果在一台170美元的机器上用一公斤耗材制作50件单价10美元的物品，就能实现省钱。将材料和硬件成本结合起来计算，可以判断在哪些方面可能节省开支。用户甚至不一定需要拥有打印机，一些图书馆和创客空间提供使用渠道，在线服务也可付费打印。

大多数家用打印机采用FDM（熔融沉积建模）技术，将塑料耗材（通常是聚乳酸PLA）通过加热喷嘴挤出成型。更昂贵的3D打印机使用树脂（SLA/DLP，即树脂基立体光刻和数字光处理）或聚合物粉末（SLS，选择性激光烧结）。以下应用场景主要聚焦FDM打印机如何在一系列热门爱好中帮助省钱，但在需要精细细节的场合，用户可能需要升级到SLA打印机。

一、无人机替换零件
无人机或遥控车辆爱好者可以通过打印备件省钱，这在爱好者群体中很流行，一些3D建模网站设有专门的无人机部件板块。虽然不应为昂贵无人机打印飞行关键部件（如螺旋桨），除非材料、设计和强度已经过验证，但其他部件（如相机支架、天线护罩和机臂保护器）完全可以打印。经历过炸机的爱好者都知道部件需要定期更换，如果一个零件通常售价10美元，而3D打印机可以更低成本地制造，日积月累就能收回成本。不仅如此，正如空间站上的应用一样，整个过程可能比网上订购更便宜、更快捷。

二、园丁和机械爱好者的3D打印
如果从事车辆相关工作或打理繁忙的菜园，3D打印机就是一个解决方案库。无论是机械师还是园艺爱好者，都可能消耗大量可替换部件，打印往往比购买更便宜，尤其当某些部件只能大批量购买或因其高度专业化而价格昂贵时。从花园标牌到塑料夹、花盆到播种锥，甚至喂鸟器，都能打印出许多实用物品。在车库里，可以打印难以找到的汽车内饰件、损坏的旋钮、工具收纳架、扳手和多轴台钳。按需打印合适的工具，能在花园或车库中节省金钱、时间和精力。

三、打印更智能的家居
按需制造合适工具的能力也使3D打印机在智能家居中大有用途。可以打印各种显而易见的东西，包括线缆管理系统、各种集线器的搁架、墙壁支架和小型备件，但这项技术还能满足智能家居项目的创意需求。例如，如果在家里使用近场通信（NFC）贴纸控制智能设备，可以通过打印外壳或按钮机构让它们更美观有趣。可以发挥想象力，比如制作简单实用的“触碰连Wi-Fi”标牌，利用NFC为访客提供网络访问，或者打印一个桌面机器人。如果想要苹果风格的家居控制，可以打印Home Assistant触摸屏的外壳，成本远低于苹果299美元的HomeView，也可以为几乎任何平板电脑打印壁挂支架。

四、摄影和摄像的3D打印
摄影和摄像爱好者常常抱怨相机厂商对镜头盖、线缆夹和电池座等高度可替换物品定价过高。3D打印改变了这一局面，毕竟当可以花几分钱打印一个通用镜头盖时，品牌镜头盖为何要卖那么贵？只要寻找，就能找到大量实用相机配件的3D打印文件。除了替换件，还可以打印机械V型锁电池板、定制麦克风和灯光支架、自拍手柄或紧凑便携的三脚架。真正实用的是，可以制作或调整CAD文件来创建一次性定制工具，以拍摄特定镜头。

五、桌游、跑团和铁路模型
游戏玩家、《龙与地下城》玩家、铁路模型和比例模型爱好者：3D打印打开了新的奇幻体验之门。可以打印新角色、怪物、建筑、树木和地形，让下一场游戏更加精彩，或者用铁路侧线或久违的标志来丰富轨道布局。MyMiniFactory上大量的模型表明，这些物品的交易已经十分繁荣。桌面游戏玩家已经在为下一场历史重演打印历史上准确的制服部队，且可能需要树脂打印机来保证细节。最后，也许更重要的是，游戏玩家可能再也不会弄丢骰子了。

尽管3D打印机有很多用武之地，但如果考虑为爱好投资购买，务必先考虑使用频率、操作技能和实际运行成本。还需要空间，因为3D打印机需要充分通风，不要放在客厅或卧室使用。在大多数情况下，最好的起步方式是先借用他人的打印机，看看这项技术是否适合自己。

中文翻译：

拥有3D打印机反而更省钱的5大昂贵爱好

拥有3D打印机如何在你的爱好中帮你省下大笔开支

美国国家航空航天局（NASA）部署在国际空间站（ISS）上的3D打印机可以按需打印工具和替换零件。在地球上，3D打印机有时能以比商店更实惠的价格制造昂贵的部件和配件。但这是否意味着值得买一台呢？

3D打印（有时称为增材制造）利用从网上下载或自行创建的计算机辅助设计（CAD）模型来构建三维物体。入门级打印机如Creality Ender-3 V3 SE售价约为170美元起，而更高级的系统则可达700美元甚至更高。最常见的3D打印机使用耗材丝，每公斤价格约为20美元起。如果你用一台170美元的机器，用一公斤耗材制作50件价值10美元的物品，你就能省钱。将材料和硬件的成本结合起来计算，就能找出你可能节省开支的地方。你甚至不一定需要拥有一台打印机，因为一些图书馆和创客空间提供使用权限，而在线服务也可以付费打印。

大多数家用打印机使用FDM（熔融沉积建模）技术，即塑料耗材丝（通常是聚乳酸，PLA）被推过加热的喷嘴来制造物品。更昂贵的3D打印机使用树脂（SLA/DLP，分别为树脂基立体光刻和数字光处理）或聚合物粉末（SLS，选择性激光烧结）。以下内容聚焦于FDM打印机如何在一系列热门爱好中帮你省钱，但如果你对精细细节有要求，则需要升级到SLA打印机。

1. 无人机替换零件

无人机或遥控车爱好者可以通过打印机器备件来省钱——这很流行；一些3D建模网站设有专门的无人机部件专区。虽然在你验证材料、设计和强度之前，不应为你昂贵的无人机打印飞行关键部件（如螺旋桨），但其他部件（比如相机支架、天线保护罩和机臂护套）完全可以自己打印。

任何曾经炸过机的人都知道零部件需要定期更换，因此如果一个零件通常售价10美元，而一台3D打印机能够以更低的成本产出它，假以时日就能收回成本。不仅如此，正如在国际空间站上一样，整个过程可能比网上订购更便宜、更快捷。

2. 为园艺爱好者和机械迷进行3D打印

如果你与车辆打交道或经营一个繁忙的花园，你的3D打印机就是真正的解决方案宝库。无论是机械师还是园艺师，你可能都会消耗大量可更换部件，打印这些部件可能比购买更便宜；当某些部件以远超个人所需的量出售，或因高度专业化而价格昂贵时，这一点尤其明显。

从花园标牌到塑料夹子，从花盆到土壤打孔器——甚至喂鸟器——你会发现可以打印许多实用物品。在车库里，可以打印难以找到的汽车内饰件、损坏的旋钮、工具收纳架、扳手和多轴台钳。按需打印恰到好处的工具所带来的便利，应该能在任何花园或车库中节省金钱、时间和烦恼。

3. 打印通往更智能家居之路

为特定工作制造合适工具的能力，也使3D打印机在家庭自动化方面大有用武之地。你可以打印所有显而易见的东西，包括线缆管理系统、各种集线器的搁架、墙壁支架和小型备件，但这项技术还能让你尽情发挥对智能家居项目的品味。

例如，如果你在家中各处使用近场通信（NFC）贴纸来控制智能设备，你可以为它们打印外壳或按钮机构，让它们不再那么单调乏味，而是变得有趣得多。你可以尽情发挥想象力，比如制作一个简单但实用的“碰触连接Wi-Fi”标牌，利用NFC为访客提供网络接入，或者你也可以做一个桌面机器人。如果你想要苹果风格的家居控制，可以打印一个Home Assistant触摸屏的外壳，成本仅为苹果299美元HomeView的一小部分，或者为几乎任何平板电脑打印一个墙壁支架。

4. 摄影和摄像的3D打印

摄影和摄像爱好者抱怨某些相机制造商对镜头盖、线缆夹和电池座等高度可更换物品收取的价格。有了3D打印，这种情况就改变了；毕竟，当你可以花几分钱打印一个通用镜头盖时，为什么品牌镜头盖要卖那么贵？只要去找，你就能找到许多实用相机配件的3D打印文件。

除了替换件之外，还可以打印机械V口电池板、定制麦克风和灯光支架、自拍手柄或紧凑便携的三脚架。真正实用的是，你可以制作或调整CAD文件来创建一次性定制工具，以捕捉特定镜头。

5. 地牢、巨龙和铁路模型

游戏玩家、龙与地下城玩家、铁路模型和比例模型爱好者：3D打印打开了通往全新奇幻体验的大门。打印新角色、怪物、建筑、树木和地形，让你的下一场冒险栩栩如生，或者用铁路侧线或久违的标志来提升你的轨道布局。MyMiniFactory上大量的模型库表明，这些物品已经存在一个蓬勃发展的交易市场。桌面游戏玩家已经在为下一次历史重现打印历史上准确的制服部队——而且可能需要树脂打印机来呈现细节。最后，也许更重要的是，游戏玩家可能再也不会弄丢骰子了。

虽然3D打印机有很多方式可以发挥作用，但如果你正在考虑为你的爱好投资一台，在迈出这一步之前，请务必考虑你会多久使用一次、使用时的技能水平以及实际运行成本。你还需要空间，因为3D打印机需要良好的通风，所以不要在客厅或卧室中使用。在大多数情况下，最好的起步方式是先用别人的打印机试试，看看这项技术是否适合你。

英文来源：

5 expensive hobbies where owning a 3D printer actually saves you money
How owning a 3D printer can save you some big cash in your hobbies
NASA's 3D printers hosted on the International Space Station (ISS) print tools and replacement parts on demand. Here on Earth, 3D printers can sometimes make expensive components and accessories for a more affordable price than you can find in stores. However, does that make one worth buying?
3D printing (sometimes called additive manufacturing) uses computer-aided design (CAD) models sourced online or created by you to build three-dimensional objects. Entry-level printers like the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE cost from about $170, while more advanced systems reach $700 or more. The most common 3D printers use filament, which costs from around $20 per kilogram. If you make 50 $10 items from a kilo of filament on a $170 machine, you save money. Combine the cost of materials and hardware to calculate the cost to identify where you may save. You may not even need to own a printer as some libraries and maker spaces provide access, while online services will print for a price.
Most home printers use FDM (fused deposition modeling), where plastic filament, usually polylactic acid (PLA), is pushed through a heated nozzle to make something. More expensive 3D printers use resin (SLA/DLP, resin-based stereolithography and digital light processing, respectively) or polymer powder (SLS, selective laser sintering). The following ideas focus on how FDM printers save you money within a series of popular hobbies, but you'll want to upgrade to SLA printers where fine detail matters to you.

1. Replacement parts for drones
   Drone or remote-controlled vehicle enthusiasts can save money printing spare parts for their machines — it's popular; some 3D modeling sites have entire sections for drone components. While you should not print flight-critical pieces (such as propellers) for your expensive drone until the material, design and strength have been validated, other parts (say, camera mounts, antenna guards and arm protectors) are fair game.
   Anyone who has ever crash-landed their drone knows components require regular replacement, so if a part normally costs $10, a 3D printer that can churn it out for less will pay for itself over time. Not only that, but just like in the Space Station, the entire process may be cheaper and faster than ordering online.
2. 3D printing for gardeners and gearheads
   If you work with vehicles or run a busy garden, your 3D printer is a real reservoir of solutions. Mechanic or horticulturist, you probably go through a host of replaceable components that may be cheaper to print than buy; this is particularly true when some are sold in larger quantities than anyone needs or are expensive because they're highly specialized.
   From garden signage to plastic clips, planters to soil dibbers — even bird feeders — you'll find you can print many useful items. In the garage, print hard-to-find car interior pieces, broken knobs, tool organizers, wrenches and a multi-axis vise. The convenience of printing just the right tool for the job should save money, time and frustration in any garden or garage.
3. Print your way to a smarter home
   The capacity to make the right tool for the job also makes 3D printers useful for home automation. You can print all the obvious things, including cable management systems, shelving for various hubs, wall mounts and small spare parts, but the tech also lets you indulge your taste for smart home projects.
   For example, if you use near-field communication (NFC) stickers around your home to control smart devices, you can make them a lot less utilitarian and way more interesting by printing housings or button mechanisms for them. You can afford to be imaginative, like with a simple but useful Tap-for-Wi-Fi sign that uses NFC to provide guest access, but you may just want a desktop robot. If you want Apple-style home control, print the chassis for a Home Assistant touch screen at a fraction of the cost of Apple's $299 HomeView, or print a wall mount for almost any tablet.
4. 3D for photography and videography
   Photography and video enthusiasts complain about the price some camera manufacturers charge for highly replaceable items like lens caps, cable clamps and battery holders. That changes with 3D printing; after all, why should a branded lens cap cost so much when you can print a universal lens cap for a few cents? Seek, and you will find 3D printing files for so many useful camera accessories.
   Beyond replacement, print mechanical V-lock battery plates, custom microphone and lighting mounts, selfie handles or compact and portable tripods. What's really useful is that you can make or tweak CAD files to create single-use custom tools to grab specific shots.
5. Dungeons, dragons and railroads
   Gamers, Dungeons & Dragons players, model railroad and scale modeling enthusiasts: 3D printing opens the doors to new fantasy experiences. Print new characters, monsters, buildings, trees, and terrain to make your next scenario sing, or boost your track layout with a railroad siding or long-lost logo. The vast trove of models at MyMiniFactory shows that a thriving trade in these things already exists. Tabletop gamers already print historically accurate uniformed troops for their next recreation — and likely need a resin printer for detail. Finally, and perhaps even more importantly, gamers may never lose their dice again.
   While there are plenty of ways a 3D printer should make a difference, if you're considering investing in one for your hobby, do think about how often you'll use it, your skill when doing so, and the actual running costs before taking the leap. You also need space since 3D printers require plenty of ventilation, so don't use them in your lounge or bedroom. In most cases, the best place to begin is to work with someone else's printer to see if the tech is right for you.