3D printing has the potential to improve many niche industries, create new ones, and fundamentally change the supply chain model.

Comparisons to the PC industry are accurate – it begins with early adopters and hobbyist, shifts to high value users with real business applications, and finally transitions to productivity and job/life enhancement of the masses and speeds the process of innovation.

Thus far we’ve already seen 3D printing in spare parts, rapid prototyping, prostheics, implants, toys and hobbies.

Think bigger – fabrication of unibody parts, body tissue and organs, on site manufacturing, distributed IP…

This is why 3D printing is potentially such a big deal.. sure it sounds like a lot of pie in the sky… but then again so did the idea of globalization 100 years ago…or a phone that you carry in your pocket and can call phone nearly anywhere.

This is not just about bobble heads or model building, its about real applications in automotive, electronic, industrial, and other consumers supply chains.  The real potential here is less about building something “cool” and unique and more about turning the existing model of design, procure, build and ship model on its head.  The link is to the WikiHouse project which is a fantastic idea by itself – but he vision of 3D and the idea of distributed manufacturing and design discussed by Alastain Parvin is as well.

 

“We’re not there yet, but imagining how the widespread adoption of capable 3D printers could change the world doesn’t just stop with industrial designers or hobbyists. One day you might print out your flatware, your trash cans or even your next computer. If you think this is nuts, just ponder the line from the minicomputer to your smartphone.”