Tag Archives: guns
3D Printing Future is Bright, Say Industry Leaders on SXSW Panel
The 3D printing future is bright. That was the consensus of industry leaders on a panel at SXSW this year in Austin, Texas. The show kicked off with MakerBot’s Bre Pettis unveiling the new MakerBot Digitizer 3D scanner and closed with 3D printed toys producer MakieLab winning the SXSW Accelerator top prize.
CNET’s Rich Brown hosted a panel on “The Future of 3D Printing“, featuring 3D Systems CEO Avi Reichental, MakieLab CEO Alice Taylor, and Bespoke Innovations founder Scott Summit.
The panel discussed three topics:
- Business opportunities
- IP and copyright issues
- General thoughts about the industry
Key takeaways
Reichental discussed how 3D printing is already powering major industries. He noted that hearing aids are manufactured using 3D printing, many dental implants are 3D printed, and parts used in military jets and drones are created using 3D printing as well. 3D Systems has a partnership from the military to increase the number of 3D printed parts to 900 for the next generation jet.
While 3D Systems is a large public company, Taylor and Summit represented their experience in their respective startups. 3D printing enabled them to get manufacturing intensive businesses to market without incurring dramatic capital expenses. The things that kill startups – time to market, upfront costs, and inventory costs – go away with 3D printing.
Intellectual property concerns were somewhat dismissed by the panel, suggesting that piracy is simply a demonstration of market demand and loyalty. Summit argued that a larger risk for piracy is the counterfeit mass production of goods in China.
Likewise, the hype around 3D printed guns was suggested to be overplayed by the media and not a real risk. Taylor suggested it will continue to be easier to buy a gun than print one.
Looking to the future, the panelists commented on 4D printing (3D printing with functionality) and 5D printing (voxel manufacturing) as revolutionary directions the technology could go, while also acknowledging that there are real limitations with respect to materials and cost today.
The panel also suggested that prices of consumer 3D printers would fall as competition increased.
Tweets
Wow, deep “we lost a generation to video games, buy your kids a 3D printer and they’ll become a rocket scientist by college” #ftr3dprint
— Jake Frick (@JakeFrick) March 11, 2013
We won’t continue to see few design for millions. With 3D printing, we’ll start to see millions designing for themselves. #FTR3DPRINT #SXSW
— Sarah Schultz (@schultzse) March 11, 2013
Original panel description from SXSW
No longer is it necessary to create a mold and make 10,000 of an item in order to get it produced. Today, 3D printing allows almost anyone to create just about design they can imagine. The technology is being used to make everything from toys to motorcycles to airplane parts, and even houses, as well as incredible medical advances . Where is the tech going? Some think it can make new parts for the International Space Station. Others see it as a way for designers to make money selling 3D models.
What’s clear is that production will never be the same. The question is whether the technology behind creating 3D printed products can really be democratic, or if truly high-end production will remain in the hands of a skilled — and monied — few.
Experts in the field will share their thoughts on the state of the art, and where this exciting tech is likely to go in the years to come. CNET Reviews editor Rich Brown, who has been writing about 3D printing for years, will moderate.
Photo by William Hertling.
Top 3D Printing News Last Week: MakerBot Digitizer, SXSW, Shoes, Drugs
A roundup of the top 3D printing news from March 4 to March 10:
Tuesday, March 5
Chris Anderson Clears the Air: 3D Printing Won’t Work for Making Guns
Former editor-in-chief of Wired Chris Anderson weighed in on the 3D printed gun debate with a simple rebuttal:
“3D printing is a terrible technology for the working components of a gun. There is no tensile strength. It would blow up in your face. You can buy guns in Walmart — they are not a scarce product. And if you want a good barrel you can go and get a bit of plumbing from the store.”
This comes after a wave of concern and paranoia about people 3D printing their own guns at home in the wake of school shootings that rocked the news. One such example was the “Wiki Weapon” from Defense Distributed, pictured below.
Hopefully this type of common sense will prevent regulation from hindering the potential of 3D printing to revolutionize our world.
Chris Anderson photo by Tom Foremski.
Via Wired.
Top 10 Countdown: Most Popular 3D Printing Stories in February 2013
Here are the top 10 most popular stories On 3D Printing brought you in February 2013.
10. 3D Printing Retail Store Hosts Open House in Denver, CO
9. Make: Where Do We Really Stand On 3D Printing?
8. Cornell Professor Develops Technique for 3D Printing a Human Ear
7. Details on the 3D Printing Institute from Obama’s SOTU Address
6. Accused of Stealing, 3D Printing Design Marketplace 3DLT Apologizes
5. NPR Discusses 3D Printed Guns on Morning Edition
4. Biofabrication: Scientists 3D Print Stem Cells to Create Human Organs
3. Video: The Best 7 TED Talks On 3D Printing
2. Must-See Infographic: How 3D Printing Will Revolutionize the Classroom
1. President Obama Calls 3D Printing “Revolutionary” in State of the Union
Thanks for reading in February!
Top 10 Countdown: Most Popular 3D Printing Stories in January 2013
Here are the top 10 most popular stories On 3D Printing brought you in January 2013.
10. Nokia’s 3D Printing Kit Lets Customers to Personalize Lumia Phone
9. Video: Stephen Colbert 3D Printed Bust at MakerBot Thingiverse
8. National Gun Control Debate Threatens 3D Printing With Regulation
7. Filabot Reclaimer Turns Recyclable Plastic into 3D Printing Material
6. Our Detailed Guide to CES 2013: Welcome to the Year of 3D Printing!
5. Fashion Week and 3D Printing: Stratasys and Shapeways Hit the Runway
4. RoBo 3D Printer Raises $500K on Kickstarter to Battle MakerBot
3. 3D Printing at CES 2013 Roundup: MakerBot, Stratasys and More
2. 3D Printing Advances Dentistry in London at Daewood & Tanner Practice
1. 3D Printing Company ExOne to Raise $75 Million in IPO on NASDAQ
Thanks for reading in January!
