3D Printing Comes Of Age

The New York Times article 3-D Printing Spurs Is Spurring a Manufacturing Revolution covers the growing impact of this technology. 

The article contains a nice, non-technical description of 3D printing:

A 3-D printer, which has nothing to do with paper printers, creates an object by stacking one layer of material — typically plastic or metal — on top of another, much the same way a pastry chef makes baklava with sheets of phyllo dough.

3D printers have been around for years, but until fairly recently they were expensive and used almost exclusively for product design and rapid prototyping. 

But their prices have fallen substantially over the last few years and low end professional 3D printers cost less than $5,000.  Hobbyist 3D printers are even cheaper.  As the article points out, Makerbot sells a hobbyist version for under $1,000. 

The price drops, coupled with improved "sprayable" resins, plastics and other materials, has resulted in 3D printing machines moving beyond prototyping to use in final product manufacturing.  The NY Times article covers a number of examples.

The growth of 3D printing is part of a broader trend towards small manufacturing.  This trend is covered in more detail in the Intuit Future of Small Business research brief Today's Hobbyists are Tomorrow's Hobbypreneurs.

We also cover 3D printing and the trend towards small manufacturing in The New Artisan Economy research report.   

Comments

[document scanning services]

I see a booming industry using 3d printing. If everyone can purchase this easily then everyone can start a small business without the need of special skills in crafting and use of large machines to create models.

[printing services]

A few years back, I wouldn't have believed 3D printing would be something anyone can access. Printing services are forever changing!

-Al

[Florida Business Broker]

It is sometimes hard to imagine the creativity that goes into the design of a 3-D printer. No wonder the prices havent come down that much.

[H.P. Jones]

Finally! does anyone have an estimate how much the cost of per page print ? 3D printing this is a long time in the waiting

[Aaron Spencer]

I work for a Custom Label Printing company and while we have tried using many different printing techniques, we haven't gone as far as to use one of these. In my personal life, I had the opportunity to use one to print off rudimentary prototypes and it was actually really useful.

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[sharon]

Improvements in technology for 3D printers technology has allowed a huge range of companies (not just CAD designers) to use different materials instead of plastic or metals. 3D Printing is surely only going to get cheaper and better.

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This is really innovative. Kudos for sharing this article!

[Dental Implants Preston]

I just came across one recently, It looks like a microwave oven, but in fact it is the latest in home printing ,Experts predict that in 10 years, every living room will have one. The 3D printers are also moving into the mainstream. Hewlett-Packard last month released its first mass-market 3D printer, Designjet, costing around £15,000, and is targeting designers, who can use it to create models or prototypes. Smaller, cheaper versions are also under development, and these are expected to launch within months.

[Tooth Implants Preston]

I just cam across one recently, It looks like a microwave oven, but in fact it is the latest in home printing ,Experts predict that in 10 years, every living room will have one. The 3D printers are also moving into the mainstream. Hewlett-Packard last month released its first mass-market 3D printer, Designjet, costing around £15,000, and is targeting designers, who can use it to create models or prototypes. Smaller, cheaper versions are also under development, and these are expected to launch within months.