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> but it is getting much much closer to being the future of prototyping and one-offs FDM printers, from what I recall, existed as commercial products for proto
by cr0sh 7y ago
> but it is getting much much closer to being the future of prototyping and one-offs
FDM printers, from what I recall, existed as commercial products for prototyping long before reprap and other early hobbyist efforts came to fruition:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing#History
...and according to that link, even more advanced processes (stereolithography, for instance) were being explored in the 1980s and 90s.
These systems have long been available on the commercial market - albeit for (likely) a steep price. What has really happened is that the price on the systems have dropped steeply, and they are now available to the hobbyists with the skills to use them.
Before, that was a near impossibility unless you worked for a company that had a commercial system - and would let you near it.
- luma 7y ago> What has really happened is that the price on the systems have dropped steeply What has really happened is that the core patents on FDM technology expired in 2009, resulting in an explosion of new approaches to the technology and now you can buy a home unit for well under $200. 3D printing isn't that terribly complicated and the required hardware has been around for decades. The only thing that made it expensive was rent seeking.