Consumer 3D Printing
Final users of 3D printing technologies were the last category to emerge. This category includes primarily adopters of consumer 3D printing technologies. These may be enthusiasts and hobbyists who have purchased a 3D printer as a garage tool to further explore the production of drones, miniature models, RC cars or accessories.
This category of adopters was created when the RepRap movement made many of the technologies and processes necessary to build 3D printers available to everyone through open source sharing of information. Focusing primarily on filament extrusion and – in minor part – on DLP stereolithographic technologies, this movement led to a further, drastic reduction in the price of some 3D printers, taking it from the $5,000 professional and prosumer cost level to below $1,000 (with some systems running as low as $200).
Early RepRap adopters and developers often evolved their expertise thus creating a new business segment for affordable desktop 3D printers. This trend was – and continues to be – driven by the Maker movement, which is largely made up of amateur engineers and artists who have embraced digital manufacturing technologies and make things for the sake of making.
While in many cases this passion for making leads to failures or products that prove to be useless on unattainable, there is no doubt that the maker movement and amateur 3D printing adoption has been instrumental in raising global awareness around the use of these technologies, proving much more effective – to this day – than initiative promoted by governments and large corporations.
Latest consumer 3D printing news:
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Plastic consumption and plastic pollution are key contributors to the globe’s climate crisis. A non-renewable material, plastic has become a ubiquitous part of our day-to-day lives, as we buy products made of it and too frequently throw it away. As plastic continues to take its toll on our environment, it…
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When exploring the new developments, opportunities and challenges of additive manufacturing, mass production and especially manufacturing dimensions represent a significant obstacle. During Formnext 2018, we had the opportunity to discuss such challenges with Dr. Ricardo Osiroff, VP Industrial Solutions of Massivit 3D. The large format print industry is a highly…
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Though we often write about how 3D printing is impacting automotive design, we don’t often see the technology being used to augment the display of a vehicle. As BMW recently demonstrated, however, 3D printing can be used to take an automotive unveiling to a whole new level. Earlier today, the…
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Johnson & Johnson, a pharmaceutical, medical and consumer goods company that has been in operation for over a century, clearly understands what its target markets want. In the consumer goods arena, the company recently demonstrated just how well it is meeting these wants with the unveiling of its most personalized…
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With CES 2019 kicking off today, we’re expecting a ton of news and product launches in the consumer electronics sector, some of which will inevitably overlap with the additive manufacturing industry. In fact, we’ve already gotten wind of a few 3D printing-related launches taking place at the Las Vegas event.…
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3D printed insole manufacturer Wiivv has announced an exciting partnership with popular foot care brand Dr. Scholl’s at CES 2019. Through the collaboration, Dr. Scholl’s is breaking into the 3D printed insole market by offering its clients custom insoles powered by Wiivv Fit Technology. Customers simply have to download a…
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The contestants of Spain’s MasterChef Junior televised competition took their plating skills to the next level in the recently aired semifinal, all thanks to 3D printing. The kids, who looked on with awe as the presenters introduced the food 3D printing technology, were tasked with creating their own edible decorations.…
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Through various partnerships with Universities around the world, the Johnson & Johnson 3D Printing Center of Excellence program has been advancing 3D printing and bioprinting technologies on many different levels. Bearing the fruits of this innovation, the Group’s top skincare brand is unveiling the most personalized skincare product ever, the…
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BMW’s Individual Manufaktur customization facility in Garching, Germany is known for producing some pretty amazing and unique vehicles, but its latest car is, to be blunt, out of this world. The vehicle, dubbed the BMW Individual M850i Night Sky, integrates some truly stellar features, including actual extra-terrestrial fragments and innovative…
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The increasing presence of facial recognition technology in our society has created some cause for alarm—and not without reason. Questions of surveillance and privacy violations are at the forefront of the technology’s criticisms, though there is also concern over the accuracy and effectiveness of facial recognition. One of the more…
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