200 schools? If the 3D printer customer meter were a clock, 200 schools wouldn’t even register at the second mark on the second hand. In sales and marketing parlance, we call that ‘not moving the needle.’
200×7×$200 that’s $280000 (definitely didn’t need a calculator for that). Assuming they all get a1 minis. But it isn’t just about schools, it’s also about all of those people out there who wouldn’t normally have access to an amazing tool like this.
For some perspective, rumour has it Bambu sells 1000+ printers A DAY in the US…
I would think Bambu would need to sort out the lack of “Multi-User” support before adding an online slicer.
An online slicer is a good idea but as others have said, I wouldn’t hold your breath for one.
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You’re right but do you know what that number sounds like to a board of directors when someone comes in and says, Hey boss!!! If you spend $500k on this software idea we’ve got, we could make back $280K in sales at low margin selling to schools?
Reminds me of this
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Bambu Studio is available as a Docker container with a webvnc interface. You could totally build a server that runs a couple dozen instances of it and give access to them to the kids.
Or just have a few “real” PCs in a room for kids to use when they need to do 3D printing stuff.
Redesigning a desktop app like Bambu Studio for the web would be a massive undertaking.
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Apparently there are 2 of these threads.
Olias has hit it on the head. Absolutely nothing, NOTHING in it for Bambu to justify hosting, developement, advertising.
My daughters school has 3 Prusa MK3s. There are also 3 windows computers right beside them. Each kid has a chromebook.
280K is just the start, plus there would be more Makerworld traffic, and 73% of the people who have seen this topic vote to make the website. As 3d printing starts to develop, more and more people are going to show up with devices that can’t support Bambu Studio/Handy. Although, I do agree it is quite a risky investment.
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The whole point of making it possible for students and teachers to slice models on chromebooks only for Bambu printers is so the schools and maybe even some students (like myself) would buy Bambu printers for the option to manage them on chromebooks.
Exactly, it isn’t just for the money, but also for the education.
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I get it.
Here’s a thought. Orca is open source, fork it.
Can Orca produce Bambu 3mfs?
For companies it’s all about the money. Students don’t dictate what the schools buy. Price does. School Boards do, PTAs do.
You’re looking at a small picture dominated by wants. Real world is dominated by needs, and needs cost money. Money is always in short supply. Bambu isn’t in business to give away resources. Being idealistic is wonderful. I applaud you. Isn’t going to happen.
My family had a saying. Poop in one and and wish in the other. See which one fills up first.
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Orca is a fork of Studio which is a fork of Prusa Slicer which is a fork of (name I can’t remember)
Guys, the whole 3d printer open source is built on need that wasn’t being filled.
Get to writing code.
Just the fact alone that two threads were created to support this opinion shows just how important it can be to the community.
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What does “fork” mean? And how am I supposed to write code?
@johnfcooley Bambu Lab A1 Mini, $200. Amazing printer, and low cost. My school has five Flashforge Finders, each costing $300 AND the build volume is only 150mm x 150mm x 150mm. My school also has two Flashforge Adventurer 3 Pro’s, same cost AND same build volume. Plus, they are slow. The Bambu Lab A1 Mini however, is cheaper, faster, and larger.
Fork, as in fork in the road.
Listen, to fork is to take the source and use it to create the code to run as you need it to.
Orca takes Studio and gives it profiles for printers, new features, etc.
You could look at the source, and write what you need to work on a chromebook. You could also bring it up to the Orca folks. They have quite a bit on their plates so I wouldn’t get my hopes up.
Best bet would be to find someone who can, and sway them to your cause. I get you two aren’t the only ones. Problem is right NOW you two are the only ones.
You’ll have to do it yourself. Find the way.
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Sorry but nobody ever got rich selling to students without money. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
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If only it was that easy… the $500K is probably a somewhat realistic estimation of what that “just…” would actually cost for a company to do.
As mentioned bambu didn’t even create BS entirely on their own, it’s an evolution of years of work from others, nothing of which has been designed for the web.
Did you ask yourself why all they have is Flashforge? Why my daughters school has Prusa?
I doubt it’s by accident. They drew up a needs and looked for the machine that fits the needs, provides service or are easy to fix/buy parts for, gave them a bulk discount etc.
Or
Someone who purchases for the school has a Flashforge. It really can be that random.
Look I like you guys, but I’m done, gotta rest. Put your heads together and come up with ideas you can accomplish yourself, with help. Just cause Studio doesn’t work with the chromebook, doesn’t mean the way is shut.
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