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.)

  • @John@discuss.tchncs.deOPEnglish
    6•6 days ago

    I think 3D-Printers have just this DIY image for me and that’s why i thought the general 3D-Printer user is more tech-savvy and aware.

    If they would tell me that my ESP32 needs cloud connection to use them i would be furious to.

    • UlrichEnglish
      8•6 days ago

      The industry is evolving. It happens in every industry eventually. When any one OEM corners a sufficient market size (like Bambu), they start taking freedom from the user to lock them into their ecosystem. Then all the other OEMs go “well if they’re doing it I guess we can do it too”. This is what you see trickle down from Apple all the time: headphone jacks, glued together devices, soldered RAM, and most recently unhinged RAM and storage prices, etc.

      It’s what you see in the smart home industry as well. A dozen different brands with zero interoperability because none of them want to compete on a level playing field, they all just want to lock you into their ecosystem.

      It didn’t seem to work for Bambu but they will back down and then try it again in another 12 months or make smaller changes. They just boiled the frog too quickly.

      • @spitfire@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2•6 days ago

        Apple’s RAM/storage prices have been unhinged for a long time. I try to avoid any upgrades when I buy their products, it’s usually better to get the higher model - I.e. with better processor/better product line (which usually has a better starting RAM/storage), than to upgrade a base model

        • UlrichEnglish
          2•6 days ago

          yeah but it’s only relatively recently that other OEMs are adopting these pricing strategies.

          • @spitfire@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1•6 days ago

            Do you mean having a lot higher margins on upgrades? I don’t think that’s true either, but maybe they’ve been getting more aggressive on that front over time.

            • UlrichEnglish
              1•6 days ago

              I mean they charge 800%+ the value for additional storage options. There’s no “thinking” it’s true, it just is.