Realities of a Fiber Farm

All's well. All's quiet. The printers have their assignments, and are whirring happily away as they print spindles, spokes, and hubs. And then...  

Disaster. Strikes. Again. 

The horror.

If you're considering starting your own print farm or experimenting with your own 3D-printing setup, know that printers--like cars, microwaves, and water heaters--break down occasionally, just like other machines. It's not a matter of if, but when. 

But! (And this is a fairly large "but.") There's nothing that you can't solve. Even a nasty extruder block like this one could be cleared in a couple of hours of tinkering. Ask me how we know. The most important part of running any farm--printer or otherwise--is daily maintenance. You can handle anything a printer throws at you, as long as you're willing to put in the time. 

If you don't have access to a 3D printer for your projects, I'd recommend finding a local library or makerspace with a printer setup. Good luck!