3D Printing – a Revolution in Personal Manufacturing

I first encountered 3D printing in 2009 when we were working on an idea that involved kids designing their own bespoke ‘collectable’ for a drinks brand.

If you’ve never heard of 3D printing, you’ll be amazed at how advanced the technology is, and I’m certain it’s going to be a very common household technology one day. Check out Freedom of Creation‘s website to get an idea of the sort of things that are possible. Freedom of Creation is a Dutch company that produces – and sells – products that would be impossible to create using any other technology.

MakerBot sell a self-assembly 3D printer called Thing-O-Matic that is reminiscent of the early days of personal computing. At a staggeringly cheap $1,299.00, innovation is going to be fast and furious over the next couple of years.

Thingiverse is a truly exciting online community for sharing 3D designs, and it’s kickstarting a revolution in personal manufacturing that puts a whole new physical dimension to the pace of technological change that we’ve become so used to.