3 ms·

>> in particular things like paper cutting, laser cutting, milling, 3D printing, and circuit prototyping. For most of those things,won't specialized companies

by petra 11y ago

>> in particular things like paper cutting, laser cutting, milling, 3D printing, and circuit prototyping. For most of those things,won't specialized companies could offer a lower price and a better product, more reliably than hobbyists ? Also, do makers - i.e. hobbysts want to spend their off-work time doing that, when often they have pretty good jobs?

matheweis 11y ago
> Won't specialized companies offer a lower price and a better product, more reliably than hobbyists ? Not necessarily; specialized companies are rarely interested in small-batch production (Shapeway's 3d printing being the exception). Quality is largely unknown unless they have a large enough customer base. Hobbyists typically have a day-job other than their "maker" hobby, so yes, they would still be interested in spending off-work time. With millions of laser cutters about to come online from Glowforge and others, some of those people will be looking for opportunities beyond simply their personal projects.