Mass Customization through 3-D Printing Truly Innovative and Disruptive

UPDATE:  September 20, 2010

Here is a very interesting video on the future of personalized manufacturing.  It paints a wonderful set of scenarios for the future:

http://blog.makerbot.com/2010/09/18/full-printed-a-glimpse-into-the-personal-manufacturing-future/

The NY Times provides a good summary on a very hot field... 3-D printing:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/technology/14print.html

I recently attended a manufacturing trade-show in New York and was immediately struck by the power and innovation of 3-d printers.  Consider the ability to produce a mass customized product.  See the video how Bespoke is customizing prosthetics for individuals to match their current body type and structure.

And the dropping price point with commercial grade units below $5-$10K provides solutions that could eventually end up in the local graphic arts shops.  So, the same place you go to get t-shirts and clothing with custom logos, could be an ultimate channel to produce goods with these printers.

What started as a great way to prototype designs for new furniture, mechanical pieces, phones, cars, etc. is now able to produce finished goods.  And, you can mix metals and plastics of different strengths, tensilities, etc.

Remember the Heathkit do-it-yourself computer kit?  (I am dating myself).  There is a new 3-D printer kit where you can make your own printer for <$1,000.  Guess what my kids and I are getting for the holidays....  It uses a plastic wire spool almost like the one I use for my weed-wacker.  This is a good popular science article on the kits.  http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2010-06/making-makerbot

What is really interesting here is that these technologies can not only change the way prototypes are produced, but could shift the economics from big plastics factories to local build houses.  With some graphics artists and mechanical/structural/architectural engineers, manufacturing could be done locally.

HP is now entering this market, and from their strong economics in printing, could drive a whole new marketplace.  The opportunities for this technology, the hardware and software, and what it can produce appears to be endless.

Comments

[Geoff Kerr]

Hey, just saw your blog post about 3d printers. Check out the makerbot cupcake (http://www.makerbot.com/) and the rep rap
(http://reprap.org/) for DIY printing. If you do end up getting one, can I send you a few things to print (along w/$ for labor/materials)?

-Geoff