Why aren't 3D printed poker chips a thing?

[TwoSevenOff]

Might be a dumb question but why aren't there 3D printed poker chips?

I saw some here https://flic.kr/p/9U69S9
Is it a matter of weight? Or is the technology still too new?

 

[atomiktoaster]

Honestly, I'd expect the machine time to bring the cost up to CPC / Paulson levels, and the tactile experience of any printed objects I've been around has always been pretty poor. Those are the big downsides I see.

 

[BGinGA]

Weight. Durability. Cost. Characteristics. All pretty significant drawbacks independently, but when considered jointly......

 

[allforcharity]

Who knows? It might become a thing in the future when we're able to print with better and multiple materials, including metal.

 

[JMC9389]

@One Eyed Dollar

 

[One Eyed Dollar]

Yeah, I don't think there's much of a market for lightweight, single color, plastic chips or else I wouldn't see so many of the old interlocking Bicycle chips at the thrift store.

 

[GianThaMan]

Why do that when injection-molded plastic is cheaper, faster, and feels much better?

 

[Av8tion]

it's viable, but you need a high-end dual-extruder printer with enough surface area to do a bunch at once... even then, the weight, feel, and sound are just really awkward when compared to even the crappiest plastic or CC chip out there... that said, I've entertained the idea of 3d printing plaques with glow-in-the-dark filament for denominations... but even then, they're light and feel kinda cheap

 

[Ethan]

Weight. Durability. Cost. Characteristics. All pretty significant drawbacks independently, but when considered jointly......

...exhibit A.

 

[raynmanas]

...exhibit A.
View attachment 492934

dibs on the blaze orange

 

[TheDuke]

There are easier and more economical ways to make plastic poker chips. But they're still undesirable - plastic chips don't check any of the boxes for enthusiasts.

 

[GianThaMan]

There are easier and more economical ways to make plastic poker chips. But they're still undesirable - plastic chips don't check any of the boxes for enthusiasts.

Bull shit. What are the boxes?

 

[TheDuke]

Bull shit. What are the boxes?

Do your own research.

Or just scroll up. Post #3.

 

[GianThaMan]

Do your own research.

Or just scroll up. Post #3.

That was in reference to 3D printed chips. Injection-molded chips have none of those issues. In fact, they beat clay chips in all of the categories listed, besides "characteristics" which is vague, and 100% opinion-based.

 

[allforcharity]

plastic chips don't check any of the boxes for enthusiasts.

Bite your tongue, man.

 

[TheDuke]

Bite your tongue, man.

Not a fan of Bud Jones, Matsui, nor Abbiatti. But when I noted plastic it was referring to the low end garbage you buy at Walmart, etc.

 

[GianThaMan]

Not a fan of Bud Jones, Matsui, nor Abbiatti.

That's your opinion. Just don't claim that all plastic chips are garbage. Edit: I'll also not bet good money you haven't actually tried all of those chips.

 

[Amish Rabbi]

actually, the high end full colour printers could do a really good job at these

the biggest problem is that they are $$$$$$

I did some work ~15 years ago with them and you could do really amazing stuff

 

[TheDuke]

That's your opinion. Just don't claim that all plastic chips are garbage.

At what point did I write plastic = garbage?

Plus if you would have quoted my entire post - I was referring to the low end dice chip nonsense.

 

[GianThaMan]

At what point did I write plastic = garbage?

Plus if you would have quoted my entire post - I was referring to the low end dice chip nonsense.

You added that in after I wrote my post. I literally clicked reply, I did not selectively choose that. You sneak-attacked me!

 

[GianThaMan]

At what point did I write plastic = garbage?

plastic = garbage

Bam, right there.

 

[BGinGA]

All plastic chips -- high-end or not, regardless of manufacturer -- suffer from the inherent poor play characteristics of plastic chips. Some are worse than others, but none are outstanding in that area.

Some of 'em sure are pretty, though.

 

[TheDuke]

all plastic chips are garbage.

You wrote it yourself!

 

[TheDuke]

I'll also bet good money you haven't actually tried all of those chips.

That's good money you would lose.

PM me for PP address to send this good money.

 

[GianThaMan]

All plastic chips -- high-end or not, regardless of manufacturer -- suffer from the inherent poor play characteristics of plastic chips. Some are worse than others, but none are outstanding in that area.

Not to cause another stink, but what do you specifically mean by "poor play characteristics"? Slipperiness is the only one that comes to mind for me, and that's fair.

 

[GianThaMan]

That's good money you would lose.

If you had quoted my entire post, you would see, I actually said that I wouldn't bet good money on that.

 

[upNdown]

Slipperiness is the only one that comes to mind for me, and that's fair.

That's pretty much everything. If the chips are slippery, I don't need to hear about anything else.

 

[GianThaMan]

That's pretty much everything. If the chips are slippery, I don't need to hear about anything else.

Well, if you go with an oversized chip from BG or Abbiati, the slipperiness is much less significant. I had a set of BG Europa Lithuanias, and the 43mm chips did not slip at all. Stable as any clay chip. But yes, many brands are slippery, but one major benefit, is they're easily accessible. Even premium ones used in casinos you can buy, unlike with clay chips, which is why they appeal to me so much. If GPI were to sell to the public, I'd be all over Paulsons, but a bit of slipperiness is a tradeoff I'm willing to make to avoid paying 5 times original pricing.

 

[BGinGA]

Not to cause another stink, but what do you specifically mean by "poor play characteristics"? Slipperiness is the only one that comes to mind for me, and that's fair.

Given that lack of stack stability and overt slickness due to insufficent surface tension friction seriously affects the usage of a poker chip during play, it's a pretty major flaw..... and one that negatively decides the fate of plastic chips for many users.

Most people simply don't like chips that are harder than necessary to handle and count, do not stack solidly and are prone to easily falling over when barely touched or surroundings bumped, or act like exploding barrel projectiles when picked up in bulk.

Other undesireable issues that affect some plastic chips include suction effect (where chips stick together), and excessive weight when metal slugs are used (common even in many high-end plastics, in an attempt to counteract the inherent slickness).

 

[GianThaMan]

Given that lack of stack stability and overt slickness due to insufficent surface tension seriously affects the usage of a poker chip during play, it's a pretty major flaw..... and one that negatively decides the fate of plastic chips for many users.

Most people simply don't like chips that are harder than necessary to handle and count, do not stack solidly and are prone to easily falling over when barely touched or surroundings bumped, or act like exploding barrel projectiles when picked up in bulk.

Other undesireable issues that affect some plastic chips include suction effect (where chips stick together), and excessive weight when metal slugs are used (common even in many high-end plastics, in an attempt to counteract the inherent slickness).

All fair. I love plastics anyways, and I don't think that'll stop anytime soon, but very understandable.