3D Modeling/Printer

My recent high school graduate has excelled at CAD and has been building electronics on his own. I am considering gifting him a 3D modeling program and a 3D printer before he leaves for college but am out of my skill set in this area. I am open to suggestions, including telling me why this is may not be a good idea. He currently uses a MAC. 

I have no particular suggestion as to model of printer. But some things to consider:

First, low cost 3D printers tend to break down. They get clogged and often the time needed to fix is long. Some newer models may be easier to fix but they may cost a bit more.

Second, 3D printing an object takes a long time...a design may take some hours, perhaps overnight. The CAD software is very useful but once that work is done, hours are spent producing relatively small objects. After a few are made, what utility does a college student get from making small plastic designs? Hence, the consumer market has problems in that after a few plastic pieces are made, what's next?

Third, if you do purchase one, make sure only acceptable plastics are used otherwise a venting system would have to be installed. You might check if your son is going to live in a dorm what the school says about 3D printers in dorms. 

Fourth, in our Robotics club we have used 3D printing extensively. In the 2013-14 season CHS Robotics teams incorporated more 3D printed parts than any other team in NJ. We ran workshops on this for US FIRST's NJ operations. We also spent hundreds of dollars on plastics. Here, the printer had a goal - make things that had to be customized for a particular use. This year - and you might see the parts on our Humanoid robot - the parts were complex enough that we could not use the school's 3D printer; we had to order commercially produced parts specific to the design we needed ... at some cost to us.

One of many sites on the types of plastics is www.3Dprintingforbeginners.com

If someone is really oriented toward 3-D design, then it might be a great gift, but it may make the most sense to NOT have it be a surprise gift, but to have the recipient do the research, on a given budget and with Jude's caveats.

I don't think that my eldest will make a career in CAD, but spent most of her year in art class designing a 3-D steampunk chess set.  It was a highlight of her year, and a skill builder for her hoped-for career in game design. (she may never print all of the pieces to have a full chess set, but what she has is impressive)

The chess set is quite interesting!! Good for her ... it was art and she produced something that she could use for years to come. 

The notion that the student do the research is excellent. The printers are expensive and the student may prefer something exotic or... not at all.

Agree with Jude - if the goal is to actually print, then a cheaper 3D Printer will not produce many items before becoming unusable without semi-expert maintenance.

If the goal is education (with no expectation that anything will actually print), a cheap $200 printer kit is an affordable way to set up that open ended problem of what to do to get more out of less, and how to build and maintain tools and jigs in your shop as well as the work pieces.

In first year of college, he may discover hobbies and interests that don't involve a 3D printer and a long-term fix-it-up project may be a distraction in the long run for a year when he's mostly taking Gen-Eds. Good idea that he research this topic himself for at least a semester.

Another thought is to have the student go to the Maker Place at Hilton Branch Library and try out the 3D printer there before committing to a purchase.  Library staff may be able to offer advice as to what to look for in a 3D printer if the student decides to purchase one.  Agree with above poster that this should not be a surprise gift.

really great idea... But  

Most colleges these days have pretty fantastic 3D printers that students can use.  Kids pay for materials and of course based on availability  

So he may well have access to the technology as well as guidance to use it optimally

Might I suggest a really good pc, in particular a surface with stylus.  My son, who is an engineering major, loves his for design  (sorry , can't tell you what software he uses)

Congrats on graduation!!

Thanks so much for the advice. Now I'm stumped for a birthday gift for the boy. He never, EVER asks for anything.