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.)
I don’t understand why this is such a big deal. There is no huge open source scene for regular printers. Because it’s a tool, not a hobby. People want a print on paper and move on. This gatekeeping gotta go: It’s holding 3D printing back. Bambu did for 3D printing what Apple did for mobile phones: They made 3D printing clean, simple and easy. If you want to fiddle around with custom firmware and usability hacks and cobbled together components, power to you. I’ll be over here, actually printing things.
Can’t wait for the thing I bought and own to suddenly cost $5 a month
Fwiw the open source scene literally got started because of a printer
Lol wut. What’s thingiverse?
“There is no huge open source for regular printers…”
Given the state of regular printers, I’d say this is an excellent argument that there should be! I prefer actually printing to tinkering as well, but I’ve been around long enough to watch corporate interests destroy any number of tech related things from 2d printers to search engines. Bambu and Apple are both excellent examples of what not to do as well.
For me learning about a product and how it work is empowerment. Having the right to repair and a easily serviceable device is empowerment.
Closing down the software until you don’t even know what the device is doing is gatekeeping.
Cool and there are things you can do that with even 3d printers have fun tearing it apart and flashing firmware and dialing it in just right all the power to you. Others just want to print. But the side that wants to tinker seems offeneded that others just want to print stuff.
Im offended by proprietary privacy-invading bullshit build on the work of a FOSS Community, im sorry.