3D Printing Can—And Will—Go Mainstream, And It’s Not to Print Plastic Toys

Carl Bass, CEO of Automaker, thinks, among others, that 3D printing in the home is overhyped and falls short on delivering real, tangible benefits for consumers. It’s labeled as a toy of the privileged and nothing more than a gimmick; a costly device solely used to print replacement kitchen plates or plastic toys to hold the attention of children.

I think he’s wrong.

The claim that 3D printing in the home is overhyped is not only shortsighted, but it’s also misplaced, as the real potential in the technology for the family lies in its ability to act as a catalyst of inspiration for kids, as well as being the central hub of household customization.

First impressions are everything

When meeting new people, we all know that first impressions are everything, that whatever is imprinted during that initial interaction has a lingering effect on overall perception. And it’s not just for people, but for everything else, including technology.

With the rise of the home computer, the introduction of the technology into the household opened a gateway for children to become digital natives, allowing them to grow up in an environment with unfettered access to the Internet and all the information that comes with it. It opened the possibility for children to explore the medium and incite interests in computer programming, web design, and everything else rendered possible by the convenience of a household computer.

And those children are the leading stars in today’s technology landscape.

3D printers are the new desktop computers. As an educational tool, technology-conscious parents can introduce printers to their children much in the same way the desktop computer was introduced. With its presence, children (as well as adults themselves) are able to bring their ideas to life and act on their creative impulses to, well, create. They can think of a concept, of something they want to build, and print the necessary parts to form their very own constructions.

There’s a real sense of awe in being able to take a string of plastic and turn it into an actual object, right before your very eyes—now imagine being able to do that as a child. Minecraft has already struck this chord, becoming a mainstream hit among today’s youth by creating digital sandboxes in which to build and create. 3D printing follows the same vein of thought, and it enables just about anyone to become a maker. The only difference is that it happens right before us—we can touch it—and not part of a video game.

There’s a definite cool factor at play here, too, where kids will be able to create things that not only interest themselves, but their friends as well. And it’s not even limited to children—parents and adults alike are able to incorporate the technology into their own daily home life. They’re empowered to customize nearly anything, adjusting their homes to their own idiosyncratic needs, making 3D printers a smart investment for any creative mind. The main obstacle now is getting there.

The struggles of star hood

If there is one thing we can all agree on, Carl Bass included, it’s that 3D printing as a whole has been subject to a lot of buzz—and it should be, as the technology allows for anyone to break the traditional manufacturing process of acquiring goods. And this unique model of disruption differs for different audiences—small businesses can do faster and more cost effective prototyping, home improvement aficionados can print their own customized parts, and everyday consumers can print their own household objects to break the “IKEA showroom” mold. They can alter their own living spaces with a multitude of personal objects in any range of colors and materials.

There’s an obstacle to overcome, however, when it comes to making the technology accessible for the masses. The main hiccup is that the current state of software isn’t quite up-to-speed with recent hardware advances—that is, it’s mostly limited to unintuitive CAD software with a lack of user-friendly tools for mainstream users.

That’s changing, and fast. Companies such as Disney Research and Tinkercad are working now to close the gap of easy-to-use software, empowering mainstream consumers to create their own designs, with little technical knowledge.

And alongside the rise of easy-to-use software, current designs available across a multitude of online libraries and vendors already allow for customization. Take, for example, Pebble’s recent approach to 3D printing in conjunction with their Pebble Time announcement. The smartwatch company is being transparent with their designs, releasing 3D printing files online that allows consumers to print a variety of accessories to customize their watches. And’s that’s just the tip of the iceberg—more and more companies will hopefully follow suit to answer this cry of personalization among today’s consumers.

It may appear that, today, the technology may be hitting a bit of a bump to some when it comes to mainstream applications of additive manufacturing, but tomorrow has never looked brighter for 3D printing in the home.

3D Printing Can—And Will—Go Mainstream, And It’s Not to Print Plastic Toys