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To: pa_dweller

The flip side is cottage industry custom manufacturing shops.

An unemployed old design engineer teams up with an old unemployed shop guy and a young unemployed guy or two and set up shop in a low rent old store front.

They take orders over the internet and ship all over the world custom crafted prototypes.

I can grock it


19 posted on 01/30/2014 5:29:15 AM PST by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... History is a process, not an event)
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To: bert

So far, the size and inability to print more than one item per machine at a time are the barriers to this becoming a cottage industry for more than parts.

I think I have already seen printers that have multiple printing beds, so that barrier will be the first to fall. The size problem leads designers of inanimate objects to begin thinking in modules. You could print multiple tiles, for example, and then put them together to create whatever.

The jobs, though, will be in the software production, IMO.
I say this as someone who has spent my life in limited production of my own handmade designs in several media. IMO, the manufacturer must own something, either the process, materials or some unique aspect of the design.

As prices for a complete shop, including a laser scanner and multiple machines or a multiple bed machine, fall, the race will go to those capable of innovation the machines and the materials.

This is early days.


21 posted on 01/30/2014 5:59:14 AM PST by reformedliberal
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