by Helena Kaufman
The phrase ‘3-D printer’ rapidly zoomed me past the immediate image of folks in funny glasses on date night in a darkened movie theatre into wondering about the limitless potential of this rapidly growing technology.
There we have it, the first keywords that bring to light what 3-D printing is all about: printing and rapid.
3-D printing is actually rapid prototyping. A computer loaded with blueprints for the object to be reproduced in 3-D connects to a machine of reasonable size that is now your manufacturing centre. Imagine not having to run around to various stores to get basic household needs. You could just ‘print out’ what you need via your computer and suitable materials, on demand, on your desk top.
3D printing is cool and efficient and it is beyond fad. Is it a revolution?
The business mind boggles at what can be printed without ‘middle men’ or agents of manufacture where mistakes are made, production costs are increased, deadlines are stalled and privacy is lost either at the design stage or the consumer order stage. So the question comes to mind, “Are there personalized, or desk top versions that I can actually get my hands on? For a reasonable price? Can I get support using the technology?”
Being a woman of words and lover of technology that serves me, but not so much an early adopter or skilled operator, I called on the genius of Google and Bing to help me search out some information. Lots of the links offered led to a young architect named Michael Curry. So, that seems like both a human and possibly fun and informative next step in my search to personalize the 3-D printing experience.
Poking around in the future as it unfolds,
Helena
Blogger bio note: Helena Kaufman applies her professional writer’s curiosity to help navigate the pace of change in her personal world. She suspects 3-D printing may hold the key to a future extension of her own best before date expiration, and possibly replacement of some parts with 3-D and new materials while enhancing her daily life now.
