What is everyone's opinions on how people will be using 3D printers in the future (lets say 5-10 years from now). Will the majority of us have our own printers in our homes, or will we mostly go to a local store such as Stables, the grocery store, post office etc and use printers that are available for a nominal fee there?
I'm starting to lean toward the public "in-store" printers. What do you guys think?
Ed
5-10 years is an eternity now-a-days when talking technology. In my opinion within 2-3 years we will begin to find some pretty high quality printers in stores like Staples, Home depot, Lowes, and Walmart. These will be top of the line $10k+ printers, and in 2 years they will have a lot more capabilities than they do now. On the other hand I also think that within 5-6 years those same printers will be able to be purchased for a couple grand and installed within homes. In 10 years those same printers will be 20-30 times more powerful, and their utility will be staggering. People underestimate how far we will come by 2023. I honestly think that by then we will be able to print out with dozens of different materials in one machine.
The future will look crazy
its becoming part of the national education curriculum in the UK so lots of schools are buying them, and then as kids get into it they will become more common in households. in terms of a timescale...hmm not sure.
That's awesome that they are bringing printers to schools in the UK. Wish they were doing the same in the U.S.Quote:
Originally Posted by EvaMMF
Are there classes for kids on how to use them?
My guess is that we will initially see them coming to stores like Office Depot, and then after a couple years they will be cheap enough and productive enough that the average household will have one in their office.
Just my guess :)
I am offering "incursion" workshops to schools in Australia, to teach students about 3D printing. I also run teacher PD workshops. I expect that there will be people offering the same in the US and elsewhere. But you know, if you are happy to pay travel and accommodation anything is possible! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Critter
I think it's great that schools are getting in on 3D Printing. More hands on work with future tech is what we need.
Currently there is not enough demand for 3d printers in individual homes. However, in the coming few years I foresee people beginning to print all kinds of things. Once the printers get more advanced, with the ability to print in multiple types of filament at once (metal, plastic, wood, ceramic all at once), I think more and more people will begin getting them for their homes.
I don't know if I agree that there isn't enough demand in homes for 3D printers. I know I have a demand for it, as do many of my relatives and friends. 3D printers may not be a "NEED" but they are definitely a "WANT" among a lot of people: even those that have never heard of one.Quote:
Originally Posted by urbanmyth
Derek
It seems pretty obvious the way this is going to turn out.
In the next 1-2 yrs, we will begin seeing 3D Printing come to retail stores like Walmart, etc. A few nerds and people that like gadgets will get printers in their homes. However, most of the "in-home" printers today are not really all that great when it comes to printing everyday items. In store printers will be able to print in just about any material possible, while most at home printers are limited to plastic.
I think in the next 3-5 years we will begin seeing affordable printers that print in multiple filament types. When this happens, more and more people will begin purchasing printers for their own homes.
So my guess is retail first, and then in homes (at least on a broad scale).
I guess extrapolating this curves more than two years isn't reliably possible:
http://www.google.com/trends/explore...rinting&cmpt=q
http://www.google.com/trends/explore...giverse&cmpt=q
There is no real killer app for a 3D printer. I don't think it will catch on too much outside of the nerd crowd. People these days barely cook their own meals. Don't expect them to design and print their own iPhone stand.
I don't think that people have their own printer at home in a few years, cause if you have a printer, you must have them running allmost every day to make it "profable" (not losing money on it).
But, i do think that every town will have a few of it.
Everyone likes to talk about how we don't NEED 3D printers in the homes, but consumers are not about what they need, they are about what they want.
How many people actually NEED an iPad compared to how many WANT to have one?
I believe 3D printers will follow the same path as the iPad. People will buy them as awesome toys, to make toys and phone accessories. They will not buy them to be practical instruments of manufacturing.
Disney predicts a 3D printer in EVERY household in under 10 years. This means 115 million units in under 10 years.
The technology will be adopted far faster than PC's were back in the day. HP is getting involved in Q2 of 2014, that will drive the market fast as well.
I see 3D printing as moving too fast for the "in store" market. I think people will try and "in store" method and then simply buy a $500 printer to use at home (after the quality of $500 printing gets just a little better).
Just my 2 cents!
Drew
Cofounder, CEO
https://3Dagogo.com
3D Printers will make their way to more homes once you can print in 5+ different materials and any color you want, all on 1 printer. I don't feel we are really that far off (perhaps 5 years or less). Once this happens, and the prices are reduced to something most people can afford we will see more reason to have a 3D Printer in our homes.
M
There are many big names like Staples is planning to have a 3D printing service department. I believe it will start from there first before entering households.
Daniel Poon
BotFeeder Canada