From: blaze
> Do you have a 3d printer? I do. No, I do not. Not yet. Eventually, I'm sure I will own a model. Perhaps more than one model, depending on what kinds of materials I need to utilize. I'll take my time shopping around. I'm in no hurry. What model do you own? I'm curious, how is the surface detail of the items you have created? Is the surface layering effect noticeable? I remember some prototyping work I ordered up about 8 years ago from an on-line company. The layering effect derived from the polymers they used was quite noticeable. You had to pay extra to have the surface smoothed out. I wasn't willing to pay the extra dollars. > It's not that revolutionary (though fun making toys for the kids > and printing out minecraft levels) Not that revolutionary???? Surely you're joking. Making -harmless- toys and other trinkets are often the first items made. Eventually, the rest of the industry will catch on. At present the vast majority of our society hasn't even comprehended the ramifications of what they will soon be able to create at home instead of having to purchase at brick-and-mortar establishments. Many retails establishments will have to adapt... or die. Many will have to get into the customization business in order to survive. > 3d printers have helped revolutionize the prototyping industry. > They will also be potentially huge for things like the biotech industry > for printing organs and micron sized medical devices. First, you say 3D printing is not that revolutionary. Then you seem to contradict your own words. > Increasing automation, however, will likely change things for everyone else, > rather than '3D printing'. Personally, I think automation and 3D printing go hand in hand. I don't think one can really separate the two technologies from each other. > This can be increasingly done via CNC routers and other manufacturing tools > driven by CAD files rather than complex / custom assembly lines. I suspect we will still need highly skilled workers to operate CNC machinery. We will still need to educate many on how to use 3D modeling software. This is where society needs to pay special attention to, and make sure we train enough of the population to become employed in such fields. I also suspect that many will simply not have the talent nor the motivation learn to use such software appropriately. They will purchases such services from those who do know how to use the software and equipment. According to the latest analysis, it could still be cheaper than purchasing a box of massed produced shower curtains at Wall-Mart. > If you want to call a factory a 3D printer, than .. yeah, OK, I guess 3D printers > will change everything. They've been doing that for awhile though... I think 3D prototyping for the masses has probably been available for over 10 years through on-line ordering. I took advantage of one of these companies about 8 years ago. Back then one could say you had to order out. But soon you won't have to order out anymore. This will certainly increase turnaround time, and time lost in fixing mistakes. My two cents Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson svjart.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/newvortex/
