Prototyping at Home

By Sara Ferris

Both 3D Systems and Desktop Factory, a startup company, are working on 3D printers for the masses—desktop models that will sell for less than $10,000 (Desktop Factory’s initial price will be $4,995, but the ultimate goal is $1,000). Desktop Factory just started beta testing on its printer and expects to start shipping orders late this year or early next year. Likewise, 3D Systems began its beta program at the end of June.

These 3D printers will certainly appeal to smaller companies that can’t justify a more expensive system. They could also function as a sort of check-proof printer to review models before sending them off for more finished prototyping.

I’m not so sure about the level of demand for home 3D printers. Garage inventors and tinkerers are an obvious target market.

Reader Ed Vipond expects that many hobbyists, especially those who do any type of model building, will be interested in a low-cost 3D printer: “Many are already doing metal casting, vacuum forming, and machining, so a 3D printer would make their lives easier.”

Objects made on rapid prototyping systems are also showing up in art exhibits, so artists are another group likely to be interested.

One encouraging sign is the activity on sites such as Fab@Home, a project promoting an open-source 3D fabrication system. The idea of printing 3D objects at home clearly fascinates many people.

Price is not the only factor that can limit appeal to home users. The build size of the desktop system will in large part determine how useful these systems will be. The Desktop Factory system will accommodate parts as large as 5” X 5” X 5”. 3D Systems’ build chamber is somewhat larger, at 7” X 9” X 8”.

The other big barrier is the cost of consumables. Materials should be priced low enough that people won’t think twice about using their 3D printers. Desktop Factory estimates that the cost for its build material will be about $1 per cubic inch.

A final ingredient that I think is needed to provide mass appeal is the home 3D scanner. Not everyone is willing or capable of designing something to print out (though STL file sharing will no doubt become popular). An affordable, easy-to-use 3D scanner would allow users to create customized objects such as this IM puppet.

If 3D Systems and Desktop Factory stay on track with their production plans, we’ll soon see more and more examples of home 3D printing applications. If you know of an interesting 3D printing or reverse engineering story, please let us know about it. E-mail [email protected].