The idea that you have an Open-Source 3D Printer is fantastic, the concept that my RepRap can make one for my neighbour is downright amazing. 3D Printing is perhaps the killer app for designers and architects. For example, with 3D Printing, Timberland Shoes reduced its shoe prototyping per sole from 7 days @ $1200 per prototype to 90 minutes and $35.

I think the big story with 3D Printing will be in home printing of parts and products from designs downloaded from the web. These parts will be created “just-in-time” and “just-in-place” – that is, remove all the storage and transportation of goods out of the equation. Chris DiBona, Open Source Programs Manager at Google says “Think of RepRap as China on your desktop.” This could be big…

What technie wouldn’t also be impressed with the open approach to building massive storage courtesy of BackBlaze, complete with instructions to build.  Imagine 67 Petabytes for under $8,000 USD. Unbelievable. Methinks it may have serious cooling issues, but still impressive…

Dimension 3D Printers

I must admit It took me a while to understand why there was so much buzz about “Additive Fabrication” or 3-D Printing. Machines that create 3D Models from CAD Files have been around for a while. For example, many dentist offices now have machines that can “print” you a new tooth crown, customized to your mouth, while you wait.

The disruptive aspect of 3-D Printing comes about when these machines are available to everyone. While there may be limited appeal at the moment to printing a plastic toy or iPod cover at home, just think about the benefits of being able to “print” spare parts for all those machines and electronic devices we have. Instead of ordering the part and playing the waiting game,  you’d simply buy the CAD file from the vendor’s website, download it to your 3-D printer, press start and voila!

A CBC Article on 3-D printing mentions one company called “Desktop Factory” that is aiming its technology at the small business market.

Desktop Factory aims to get the price down to under $1,000 US over the next three to five years and add different printable inks, such as those that produce flexible or transparent models. That would open up the market to everyday consumers, who could use 3D printers to fabricate household items, such as bendable toys or iPod covers, Lewis says.

“People will be able to disrupt the manufacturing chain and print replacement parts rather than having to drive to Home Depot for something that was manufactured in China,” she says. “We haven’t begun to tap into the users who really need the technology.”

Yeah I know, this is all hype. But just think about the potential. Suppose your hardware store printed out that tiny washer for your antique facet while you waited? Suppose it didn’t have to stock every washer under the sun? What about the aircraft that’s grounded at the airport waiting for a small engine part to be shipped from afar? The mechanics could just print a new one as required. Along the way, wouldn’t removing all the shipping, storage and handling be good for the environment?

Think about all the things creative designers and TRU technology students could do with an in house, desktop model builder.

What’s even cooler are these sugar sculptures. I gotta get a 3D Sugar Printer!

Pour some sugar on my 3D Bread