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3D printers increasingly moving toward mainstream office adoption
Media Room ^ | January 20, 2014 | Brian E. Walsh

Posted on 01/20/2014 7:28:19 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Until recently, office technology largely concerned the latest advances in printing technology and other shortcuts in the average workplace environment. However, new shifts in the market have turned in an entirely new direction, with the newest equipment possibly printing much more than just papers.

According to CNN, 3D printers are becoming ever-closer to mainstream adoption with rapidly declining costs dovetailing with new and more efficient functions. While recent years have seen the technology suffer occasionally from issues such as limited features and frequent printing failures, new steps taken by development companies are quickly pushing it closer to the open market.

Its uses are rapidly expanding, for instance, with plastic no longer the only material that products can be made out of. Metal and even edible objects can easily be created using the technology, often costing only in the mid-thousands, while ceramics and pottery are on the rise as well. At the same time, companies are cutting down on errors and removing much of the stress and strain from the technology's development.

Accordingly, the demand for printers is rising, and not just because of new developments like a one-button printer that can immediately develop products sent. Gartner says the printers' shipments will rise by 75 percent in 2014, and the overall consumer market will hit $133 million in addition to the $536 million overall development market.

Sculptures and jewelry

The growing possibilities for objects to be printed are largely responsible for the rapidly increasing interest in the technology. USA Today reports that toys, tea cups, iPhone cases, sculptures and even jewelry can all be developed in record time. One worker told the news source that with prices down and the quality of printed products rising, it's now possible for independent designers, and likely small business leaders, to buy their own printers.

Developments using the technology continue to grow as well. Recent MakerBot and XYZPrinting models have dropped their prices into the thousands and even hundreds of dollars, also adding new uses in the home. One prominent use is expected to be in replacing parts – a small piece that may cost hundreds of dollars may be able to be replicated in mere hours.

Office technology industry piece brought to you by Marlin Equipment Finance, leaders in office technology equipment financing. Marlin is a nationwide provider of equipment financing solutions supporting equipment suppliers and manufacturers in the security, food services, healthcare, information technology, office technology and telecommunications sectors.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 3dprinters; 3dprinting; economy; jewelry
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1 posted on 01/20/2014 7:28:19 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; AFPhys; AD from SpringBay; ADemocratNoMore; aimhigh; AnalogReigns; archy; ...
3-d printer ping!

When she makes a cup of coffee, she really makes a cup of coffee!

2 posted on 01/20/2014 7:35:05 PM PST by null and void (We need to shake this snowglobe up.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

3 posted on 01/20/2014 7:35:09 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: null and void

I wasn’t thinking about copies of the coffee mug...I was thinking about copies of HER.


4 posted on 01/20/2014 7:35:54 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: SamAdams76

Ferraris, Rolls, and Bugattis..will soon each some with one in the trunk...to manufacture parts on the fly as needed..


5 posted on 01/20/2014 7:36:53 PM PST by ken5050 (This space available cheap...)
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To: SamAdams76

When they get that down they will sell like hotcakes.


6 posted on 01/20/2014 7:40:33 PM PST by Lurkina.n.Learnin (This is not just stupid, we're talking Democrat stupid here.)
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To: SamAdams76
Oooo! Ahhhh! That's how it always starts.

Then there's the screaming and shouting...


7 posted on 01/20/2014 7:42:15 PM PST by null and void (We need to shake this snowglobe up.)
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To: null and void

Roger Carmel. Haven’t seen his image in a long time. He died from a drug OD, if I remember correctly.


8 posted on 01/20/2014 7:43:37 PM PST by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

I’ve got a $200 one on order.


9 posted on 01/20/2014 7:43:49 PM PST by null and void (We need to shake this snowglobe up.)
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To: Publius

A dozen Stellas would do that to a guy, I guess...


10 posted on 01/20/2014 7:47:56 PM PST by null and void (We need to shake this snowglobe up.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

What’s this going to do to a machinists whose job revolves around his ability to make spare parts?

Wonder who services these printers if/when they break.


11 posted on 01/20/2014 7:50:15 PM PST by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: null and void

Wow. you’ll be able to print copies of that lass for $200?

Seriously though, you will be ahead of the game. You can mess around and learn the ins and outs of 3D printing and as the price comes down on more sophisticated models you can upgrade. Good thinking.


12 posted on 01/20/2014 7:59:57 PM PST by Lurkina.n.Learnin (This is not just stupid, we're talking Democrat stupid here.)
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To: null and void

Print the cup, then print the coffee!


13 posted on 01/20/2014 8:05:55 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: Grams A

If he’s smart, he’ll be using 3-D printers to make the parts.


14 posted on 01/20/2014 8:06:20 PM PST by null and void (We need to shake this snowglobe up.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This is terrific! I can now make my own red stapler.....
http://www.theemployerhandbook.com/milton.jpg


15 posted on 01/20/2014 8:07:45 PM PST by minnesota_bound
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To: ken5050

There should be a conveyor that takes the part to where it’s needed and installs it. The car would verge on being a living entity. Replacing its own worn out parts continuously on the fly with no more intervention that providing it with raw materials!


16 posted on 01/20/2014 8:08:13 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

Not working copies...


17 posted on 01/20/2014 8:08:21 PM PST by null and void (We need to shake this snowglobe up.)
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To: SamAdams76

Howard: When they perfect human cloning I’m going to order twelve of those.


18 posted on 01/20/2014 8:09:08 PM PST by minnesota_bound
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Bump!


19 posted on 01/20/2014 8:33:07 PM PST by 4Liberty (Mr President 'If you Like your college transcripts...can we see them?')
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

those offices will no longer be limited to making lousy old 2D butt prints by sitting on the copier


20 posted on 01/20/2014 8:45:53 PM PST by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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