Look to the Future: 3D printers in homes or available to use in stores?

[mechadense]

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

[crowbar]

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.

[rene1981]

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.

[DTaylor]

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

[MattSteiner]

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

[botfeeder]

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