The promise of 3D printing is really exciting. You download specs for a product — a unique lighting feature, a kitchen utensil, a toy for your child, an iPhone case — and without a trip to the store the product is made right before your eyes. The 3D printer has the potential to bridge the gap between DIY and manufactured products, to bring product innovation and and even invention into the home. The question is: how long do we have to wait before the 3D printer is as ubiquitous as the paper printer (or even the microwave) in our homes?
There are a few key players working on bringing this promise to life, and while it's still early in the game, an enterprising DIY innovator can get their hands on everything they need to start 3D printing today.
The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D
Earlier this month, MakerBot, one of the original innovators in the DIY home printing field, announced their latest model 3D printer, the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D. As its name implies this is a desktop device, with the prosumer, or professional consumer, in mind:
The Replicator 2 introduces the world of prosumer 3D printing. We made it stronger, faster, and finer than the original Replicator, and we optimized it to work with MakerBot PLA Filament. We also blew up the build volume without making the machine itself any bigger. The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer is, as the name suggests, a desktop machine, not a it-needs-its-own-room machine. It's going to fit nicely where you need it and look amazing while it works.The MakerBot Replicator 2 will be available at $2,199, which when compared to the $100,000 range of most professional grade 3D printers, or even the cost of a decent laptop, demonstrates that these devices are clearly trending towards consumer affordability.
Cubify Cube
Another key player in the push to consumer home printing is Cubify, with the $1299 Cube 3D printer (pictured above). If you take a look at the Cubify website, the focus of this product is clear: this isn't a prosumer device, but instead one aimed squarely at crafters, home innovators and even children interested in 3D printing. Able to print objects up to 5.5" cubed, in a choice of vibrant colors, the Cube is plug and play, and can even connect to your computer via wifi. Even the software is built with the average user in mind — this isn't CAD, but something more akin to building with lego, making it really accessible to design your own 3D objects.
Even those less interested in designing their own 3D objects will likely find Cubifiy compelling, with their in-depth collection of printable objects available for purchase on their website, including everything from fashion accessories to unique lighting features, as well as toys, games, art and jewelry.
Fab@Home
On the more DIY focused side of the home printing movement, Fab@Home is a platform of printers and software, with a world-wide community of makers trying to build a more open model for the future of 3D printing.
If you're an enterprising DIY builder you might find the Fab@Home route a bit more compelling, and you can check out their very in depth Wiki with everything you'll need to build a 3D printer from scratch.
The Tipping Point
Universal ubiquity, where the 3D printer is as common in our home as any other appliance, may still be 10-20 years away. The promise of 3D printed circuitry, more advanced materials, or even food may eventually move us towards something more akin to the Star Trek replicating than a conventional printer. For now the 3D printer may still be reserved for the niche maker or for generating manufacturing prototypes, but with products like Cubify's Cube becoming more accessible, it won't be long before we start seeing these kits show up in big box electronic shops.
With any tech there is a tipping where it moves from expensive and still conceptual, to being something everyone wants. Though we may be a few years off from the iPhone of 3D printers, these early options might just be the home stretch for a future of at-home 3D printing, for everyone.
(Images: as cited above)
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What is the end product made of? What's the substance?
@magoo1 I heard a piece on NPR the other day about this and in the case where these are currently being used commercially, the machine uses plastic, and thats what the end result is made of. In the future however these can be used with thread/fabric, metal etc. etc. Theoretically these could be done a scale to build components to buildings, and maybe even the buildings! Pretty futuristic sounding, but its here...scary...
Interesting but it takes 2 KG of petroleum to make 1 KG of the ABS plastic the Cubify apparently uses. Let's hope they get to other materials soon.
Hold that thought. The MakerBot appears to use a bioplastic not made with petroleum. OK my order is in.
A recent census in India revealed that half of the homes in that country have no toilet. About 1 in 9 people in the world have no access to clean drinking water. More than 3 million people die every year from waterborne diseases. I think we should be hoping for basic services in every home before wondering "how long...we have to wait before the 3D printer is as ubiquitous as the paper printer (or even the microwave) in our homes".
let's face it, when someone has money they don't give it all away.
Have found this fascinating from the get go, but it doesn't need to go commercial just to make something a kid would get from Chuckee Cheese® or a bag of carnival stuff from the dollar store.
The Economist did a cover story a couple months ago about how 3D printers are basically going to cause a third Industrial Revolution. I do wonder how this is going to impact retail, though.
The biodegradable plastic Makerbot and other 3D Systems printers use (PLA) is made from corn - neither ABS or PLA is environmentally friendly, however the ABS is 100% recyclable and 3D Systems asks you to send empty cartridges back so they can reuse the shells. The materials aren't perfect but both are good for where the technology is today.
I want one of these soooooo baaaaad. I barely understand what they are capable of, but the possibilities are mind boggling.
What I want to know is how long do we have to wait for a 3D printer-microwave that will print our food (made of soylent green, or tofu or something) and then cook it.
Sure, it's cool, but do we really need a really expensive way to fill our homes with useless plastic crap?
Personally, my hope is that the local Kinko's or whatever will have these in all forms which I can pay a reasonable fee to use someday. (I don't need my own, but I would LOOOOVE to have access! And training to use it, of course!)
Meanwhile, here's a link to an artist who uses this rapid prototyping technology to make absolutely incredible geometry based sculptures! (I just bought one for my partner's birthday. They are jaw-dropping in real life, I now want a bunch more!) http://www.bulatov.org/
These things will revolutionize manufacturing. In theory you could print up something like a television or a car layer by layer instead of assembling individual components. Homes could also be printed this way.
Right now most of these gadgets are limited to using plastics, but it's only a matter of time before industrial models come online that can use materials like metal or concrete.
@sunspot, the link I posted it to a sculptor who "prints" bronze and steel. Already here. (I'm sure the process is still limited in size and expensive per unit, though.)
I hate to be the contrarian, as 3D printing seems to be a popular subject du jour, but most of these articles hinge on the idea that everyone in the very near future will be a CAD modeler...and that's ludicrous.
I'm right in the demographic for one of these things..I know several CAD programs, love to tinker and make things, and even have access to one of the printers, but have never found a compelling reason to mess with it. I just don't have a lot of need for a plastic piece, poorly printed, that MUST fit within a 5x5x5 volume.
The limitations of the technology coupled with the barrier to doing anything actually custom or constructive just really make this 3D printer hype exactly that...hype. It's a useful technology, but the idea that every home will have one is just nuts.