Political power grows out of the nozzle of a 3-D Printer.
Posted on 07/21/2013 7:15:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
I think we can all agree that the evolution of 3D printing technology thus far has been stunning. But I wanted to know what specific ways entrepreneurs are actually looking to use the technology in business, and why — so I asked a panel of nine founders the following:
As an entrepreneur, what’s most exciting to you about 3D printing? Where do you see it being utilized most in the near term?
Their most compelling responses are below.
1. Fewer manufactured goods
“Things” will no longer be manufactured and shipped to customers. Instead, you’ll purchase designs for everything from glasses to housing, and the input costs of having them printed on site will be cheaper than the current supply-chain process we have today.
Once it becomes more cost-efficient to build this way (and it will) you’ll have an ‘app store’ of objects you can download and print out at your leisure. I believe this will be the biggest revolution since the Internet itself.
- Liam Martin, Staff.com
2. Printable knickknacks
I love the idea of having a 3D printer to build all the little knickknacks in my life, from the screw that I lost in my IKEA coffee table to an extra pair of earbuds for running. I see 3D printers being utilized as personal Lowes and Home Depot stores in our homes.
- John Meyer, Lemon.ly
3. Cheaper samples
One of the most expensive aspects of the fashion world is creating samples before production. Getting one sample made can range anywhere from $200 to $400....
(Excerpt) Read more at thenextweb.com ...
So far it sounds like mostly a technology to build figures than anything that has to be structurally strong. Of course ingenuity will be able to surmount these issues. Building things out of a hardening epoxy might be one way to do it. Also don’t forget the possibility of home-CNC machining which would be the flip side of 3D printing.
I suspect there will soon be places where the “apps” for just about anything can be downloaded for free. Copyright infringement will run rampant.
CC
Which will be an interesting brouhaha. Most people still respect copyright on purchasable products more or less even though it can be easily skirted. Maybe entire catalogs of fabricatable items will be licensed out on easy terms.
Ping
“CNC machining which would be the flip side of 3D printing”
Question, how is CNC different than 3D printing?
I could use some knew knees and a cornea.
CNC is a stock removal process while 3D printing is additive.
Political power grows out of the nozzle of a 3-D Printer.
There are various print materials currently available, but mostly for higher-end 3D printers.
I've been using baking soda and super-glue to repair items, works better than epoxy. The super-glue I use is MXBON 105, highly refined. This can be used in conjunction with 3D printed items for more strength. Sprinkle or scoop the baking soda in place, and mist with MXBON, converts to a hard plastic.
CNC starts with a solid piece of material and the unnecessary bits are milled away to leave the end product.
Three-dee printing starts with powder and resin and builds up the end product.
Entrepreneurship will thrive with 3d printers. Building prototypes will be affordable.
Someday 3-D printers could be used to make 3-D printers
CNC you make individual parts and then assemble them yourself. As I understand from a high school teacher that has one 3-D creates the entire object with moving parts inside by disolving the excess material inside to create voids prior to completion.
There’s a bar in Tokyo that does 3D prints for statues of its customers.
Adding such a personalized 3D figure on top of sports trophies for the end of game ceremony is now possible, too.
Great for Little League kids games!
...and semi-auto clips/magazines on demand (or even entire weapons).
The first is "subtractive" (material is removed to create t he part), the second is "additive" (material is "added" to build the part).
One company (QU-BD) has realized that those two processes are (or can be) done with the same device, and that the "3D" aspect (i.e. the motion control apparatus that moves the "print head" or milling cutter) can be the same.
If some cash shows up in the budget, I'll probably get one of their offerings. The link below shows the motion control core. Milling head and/are extruder head are added costs. Still a bargain, IMO. My company owns a Roland MD-40A "subtractive" unit that cost ~$10K, and is far less capable.
http://store.qu-bd.com/category.php?id_category=23
I just want to compliment you for the many interesting posts you make on FR.
This one is, of course, outstanding.
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