You have lenses made for the frames, which may or may not be costly depending on your prescription, but it’s a one-off purchase until your vision changes and you need a new prescription. Then you print the frames and mount the lenses yourself. When you break the frames, print another set and hey-presto, 15 minutes later, you have new glasses and it cost you pennies.
I released all the files and complete instructions to print and build my glasses here if you’re interested.
This is a great idea, no doubt! I will say, though, that my frame-buying stopped the year I bought some expensive titanium Mykita frames. I’ve replaced the lenses in them 3 times, because lenses wear out (usually from micro scratches).
The titanium is incredible; I’ve sat on these and they just keep going. But the other major factor is that the hinges are not independent bits; they’re integrated into the frames and are clever little bits of springy… things. They don’t need to be tightened, they don’t wear out, and unlike all other frames I’ve had, they’re not the weak point that breaks first.
These are more or less my frames - same basic style and construction - although newer and slightly different, the construction is the same.
If these frames ever die, I’m just getting another pair, and will happily pay the cost. These are BIFL products.
If you’re happy with your frames, more power to you of course.
But there are two things my frames provide that no other frames have:
I designed them - and the clip-on sunshades that go on them, and the custom cases. There’s something deeply rewarding about wearing something you made yourself - and also seeing other people wear them too, as two of my colleagues at work liked them enough to print them and start wearing them also. They’re worth pennies in plastic but they’re priceless to me.
As long as my lenses aren’t compromised, I’m totally self-reliant. I don’t depend on an optician’s schedule - or that of their low-cost suppliers’ in a developing country halfway around the world for my vision needs. I break, I make anew all by myself at home almost for free. That and never experiencing that sinking feeling when you sit on the couch and you hear that dreaded crunch sound is liberating.
I’m sorry. I think I conveyed the wrong message. I was more gushing over my BIFL frames than suggesting they are superior to DIY frames.
I can’t change the style of my frames: you can. I can’t easily adapt my frames to sunglass shades, as you point out. You could conceivably create frames with cameras in the hinges, or adapt them for VR, or just make a crazy pair of party frames in rainbow colors and an Elton John flair - I can not. If I had a 3D printer - and the patience to use one well - I’d be all over your solution. It has a lot of advantages.
I didn’t mean to imply my frames are better; I was only saying that I’m happy to have found what are turning out to be indestructible frames that have outlived multiple pairs of lenses.
You have lenses made for the frames, which may or may not be costly depending on your prescription, but it’s a one-off purchase until your vision changes and you need a new prescription. Then you print the frames and mount the lenses yourself. When you break the frames, print another set and hey-presto, 15 minutes later, you have new glasses and it cost you pennies.
I released all the files and complete instructions to print and build my glasses here if you’re interested.
This is a great idea, no doubt! I will say, though, that my frame-buying stopped the year I bought some expensive titanium Mykita frames. I’ve replaced the lenses in them 3 times, because lenses wear out (usually from micro scratches).
The titanium is incredible; I’ve sat on these and they just keep going. But the other major factor is that the hinges are not independent bits; they’re integrated into the frames and are clever little bits of springy… things. They don’t need to be tightened, they don’t wear out, and unlike all other frames I’ve had, they’re not the weak point that breaks first.
These are more or less my frames - same basic style and construction - although newer and slightly different, the construction is the same.
If these frames ever die, I’m just getting another pair, and will happily pay the cost. These are BIFL products.
If you’re happy with your frames, more power to you of course.
But there are two things my frames provide that no other frames have:
I designed them - and the clip-on sunshades that go on them, and the custom cases. There’s something deeply rewarding about wearing something you made yourself - and also seeing other people wear them too, as two of my colleagues at work liked them enough to print them and start wearing them also. They’re worth pennies in plastic but they’re priceless to me.
As long as my lenses aren’t compromised, I’m totally self-reliant. I don’t depend on an optician’s schedule - or that of their low-cost suppliers’ in a developing country halfway around the world for my vision needs. I break, I make anew all by myself at home almost for free. That and never experiencing that sinking feeling when you sit on the couch and you hear that dreaded crunch sound is liberating.
I’m sorry. I think I conveyed the wrong message. I was more gushing over my BIFL frames than suggesting they are superior to DIY frames.
I can’t change the style of my frames: you can. I can’t easily adapt my frames to sunglass shades, as you point out. You could conceivably create frames with cameras in the hinges, or adapt them for VR, or just make a crazy pair of party frames in rainbow colors and an Elton John flair - I can not. If I had a 3D printer - and the patience to use one well - I’d be all over your solution. It has a lot of advantages.
I didn’t mean to imply my frames are better; I was only saying that I’m happy to have found what are turning out to be indestructible frames that have outlived multiple pairs of lenses.
Don’t sweat it. I didn’t read anything in your comment other than that you’re happy with your frames 🙂 I was just adding to why I’m happy with mine.
That’s very cool! Definitely a cool way to explore new styles, too!