I have nothing to add but I am also interested and looking so want the notifications

However, that said...

3. All 3D printers will work with ARC. That's all I have to offer on this one.

By "supporting software and format" what do you mean? For the actual 3D cad files? If so, I am under the impression all 3D cad software has the ability to save as STEP files which is what are needed (I think). There are free software options, I think Google Sketch Up is free. However SolidWorks is mentioned a lot. I use AutoDesk AutoCAD and Inventor to produce 3D files since I've used AutoDesk products for around 15 years now, however they are expensive (£2500-£3000 for a full licence*)

I guess I had a bit more to offer, maybe...

Post whatever you find out away from the forum too as I'll be very interested in it.

*Licence - Oxford English Dictionary eyeroll

YES i am looking for a fair good one,not a production design only to make a few prints. ON software i look at AUTOCAD and have a friend who says i can have his with a license,and RICH the WORD LICENCE spelled wrong this time ,check even in english Uk spelling too,unless i am wrong.

@Rich : I am sure many will be interested . I am going to do my own research in parallel and post my findings. I have seen that some of the printers have their own sketching program and converters to read from multiple file formats.

Josh mentioned the Solidoodle earlier, it's $500 ($700 for the upgraded one) but the new version 3 is out soon) Cube is supposedly going to be sold at staples from what DJ mentioned in the presentation the other day.

I looked at the Solidoodle earlier and it is tempting, it's low cost which is the driving force really. But does low cost mean cheap? That's what would hold me back, well that and the V3 being out soon.

OK,sorry its not just you i look for bad spelling it others too,i did say i might be wrong. I not fighting like be before with you, been super new to you in all my post to you and my grammar is not better. please stick to to the topic.

Thanks for the link RICH will use it next time.,i like my spell checker works very good,but i guess it doesn't have oxford english.

If you find bad spelling in mine would be ok too.

@EVERYONE including DJ very sorry about this,i do not anything towards RICH any more and not picking on him also. sorry is off topic and will never happen again

Since I am on this forum 90% of the time on my mobile phone and since this site is not really optimise for mobile platform. My spelling will be wrong also, honestly don't care. Don't see the big deal.

Will do some research on 3d printer when I get home, will post what I found. My buddy built his in 2010 for $350, will ask him and share soon.

There are a lot of options.

You can save money by building a kit and spending a lot of time learning how 3D Printers work.

If your not as interested in the 3D printer itself and want to spend the extra money for a better user experience then you would want an assembled 3D printer from a company that has good support.

The soliddoodle looks interesting for the price although I don't have any experience with them. Some of the prints I have seen from the soliddoodle did not seem that high quality.

Another under $1000 printer are some from Printrbot.com

These printers are capable of getting good prints especially for the value, but the guides leave out details and overall can be difficult to pick up for someone with no experience. But if your patient and use the user forums at printrbot.com you will be able to power through any hurdles and soon you will know everything about your printer.

I owned the printrbot before. I like 3D printing so much I wanted a printer with higher resolution, bigger build area, and faster. So I got the Ultimaker. Ultimaker so far has been a great printer for me. I had to build it from a kit, and it was sorta difficult. It has risks, getting the kit, luckily I got my printer together and working just fine. Ultimaker is one of the best on the market so far but it is kinda expensive $1800 total including shipping for the kit. Also Ultimaker is open source so your can easily upgrade your machine, and find replacement parts at low cost. I will upgrade my Ultimaker to have a heated bed soon when they come out with the upgrade kit. Also the Ultimaker community is big! And this makes a difference because of support and more people have resolved any mechanical challenges with the machine.

The replicator 2 is also one of the high end 3D printers but I think most people here will stay away from them because of DJ's experience. I have heard of a lot of Replicator issues, but I also have heard the Replicator 2 making great prints. If you can afford it, and your lucky to get a completely error free replicator 2, it is a really good machine, capable of great prints. Although in my research I found the Ultimaker to be better, but the Replicator 2 was also given consideration.

3D systems cube is an overpriced, limited 3D printer in my opinion. No fan, closed cartridge design. Getting it repaired by them would be expensive, all proprietary. Looks like they are connecting the printer with there online store for 3D models but they say you can print anything. 3d systems Cartridges are the worst part, really expensive for little plastic compared to getting spools from other places.

I have also heard people getting good results with the Afinia H series printer. Although this printer is geared for ABS and I much prefer PLA.

I am interested in hearing other recommendations too

HERE is a link on 3D printing and servo magazine has a great article on 3D printers also ,last month and this month.

3d printing revolution