Jun 13, 2012 Printing is the future.
As the retail market evolves to a more online experience so is the method to which we will one-day receive our goods. I’m talking about 3D printing. In just this past year the technology and cost has advanced to such a level that it has become a true trade. In another few years people will be printing products at home. I’ve pulled together just a few items on 3D printing that show a preview of what’s to come.
In the beginning of this year the infamous Pirate Bay known for it’s torrent files announced they would begin “sharing” 3D printer files, physibles, which they are calling them. One of the first files included Pirate Bay Lawn Dart. Then there are the more useful items like iPod docks and for something more novel they even have Zuckerberg‘s head available.
Quote from the Pirate Bay site…
“We believe that the next step in copying will be made from digital form into physical form. It will be physical objects. Or as we decided to call them: Physibles. Data objects that are able (and feasible) to become physical. We believe that things like three dimensional printers, scanners and such are just the first step. We believe that in the nearby future you will print your spare sparts for your vehicles. You will download your sneakers within 20 years.”
Etsy a one stop shop for all things handmade and unique. 3D items have begun to pop-up all over the site.
One item that I spotted from a blog was the wearable planters. It’s cool, a great gift item, and completely unique. Just a small example of how 3D printing is appearing in the creative realm and with a quick search for 3D printed items and you’ll see hundreds of items from jewelry, iPhone cases to sculptures.
The Free Universal Construction Kit is probably the coolest thing that you would have wanted… back when you were 10. You’ve got Legos and you’ve got K’Neks pieces and you wanted to use them both to make something cool. Well the idea would be to run to your 3D printer and print out a piece from the kit to merge the pieces together.
The Free Universal Construction Kit offers adapters between Lego, Duplo, Fischertechnik, Gears! Gears! Gears!, K’Nex, Krinkles (Bristle Blocks), Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoys, Zome, and Zoob.
Makerbot offers one of the most inexpensive 3D printers on the market today. And just a glimpse at their blog and you can see a preview of where this market of 3D printing is going. Including applications in the medical, toy and technological market places to name a few.
Yes the printers are still pricey but other outlets are out there now for people who want to create and get their items printed. check out iMaterialise where people sell items and where you can get items made that you design.
The futures looking solid for 3D printing…