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submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by John@discuss.tchncs.de to c/3dprinting@lemmy.world

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.)

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[-] John@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I would name Sovol as a good and cheap producer. The plain Klipper(or on older Devices Marlin)-Firmware is really nice :)

Isnt the Creality-K* Lineup also locked down?

[-] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 1 week ago

The K1 has root access and you can use whatever slicer you want. They are probably not the best machines if you want to install plain clipper though.

[-] nickwitha_k@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 week ago

Not really. They were going that way but backpedaled after having it made clear that they're never going to be BambuLab. I have a K1C. It gives root with an on-screen disclaimer. The only real challenge is that it overwrites everything when updating. It's Linux though, so, if I spend the time, once I setup my home server, I should be able to automate reloading the config.

this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2025
281 points (100.0% liked)

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