3 ms·

As far as I can figure out: - various "cool looking art pieces" including interesting looking costume jewelry. - "action figures" without moving parts/transfo

by rat87 14y ago

As far as I can figure out: - various "cool looking art pieces" including interesting looking costume jewelry. - "action figures" without moving parts/transformation. Possibly for series that don't have licenced models, or fan models or just being cheap. - Useful things without moving parts such as phone/tablet stands, photo frames, food holders, etc. - individual moving parts- such as centrifuges, cogs, perhaps for some sort of rube goldberg machines I think a lot of people are hoping both that the technology improves to allow more types of creations and that a successful market for printers will lead to a healthy blueprint market which will think up new innovative uses.

iamwil 14y ago
There's also another: parts for 3D printers or upgrades. But I think the common theme is stuff that you would never find in a Target or Walmart, because the cost of production is high enough that people wouldn't have taken the risk to make wacky and wild things. Just as with blogs and the democratization of online publishing or youtube with online videos, you get lots of wacky and wild blogs/videos (or as some would say, weird crap), but out of the weird crap are lots of gems. You'd never get Charlie bit my finger, Cat videos, etc greenlighted on HBO, and yet, Youtube has demonstrated those things entertains millions. I think the same will happen with these objects. At first, there will be a lot of copying of things that we already know, like replacement parts, shower rings, art pieces. Things that traditional manufacturing is better at. But once we discover what 3D printing is really good at, we'll probably see objects for uses we've never seen before.
thenomad 14y ago
For "Action Figures" read also "Miniatures And Board Game Pieces". 3D printing will be a boon for anyone developing their own board games, and a nightmare for wargaming companies like Games Workshop that survive by selling things that can now be 3D printed.

by rat87 14y ago

iamwil 14y ago

There's also another: parts for 3D printers or upgrades. But I think the common theme is stuff that you would never find in a Target or Walmart, because the cost of production is high enough that people wouldn't have taken the risk to make wacky and wild things. Just as with blogs and the democratization of online publishing or youtube with online videos, you get lots of wacky and wild blogs/videos (or as some would say, weird crap), but out of the weird crap are lots of gems. You'd never get Charlie bit my finger, Cat videos, etc greenlighted on HBO, and yet, Youtube has demonstrated those things entertains millions. I think the same will happen with these objects. At first, there will be a lot of copying of things that we already know, like replacement parts, shower rings, art pieces. Things that traditional manufacturing is better at. But once we discover what 3D printing is really good at, we'll probably see objects for uses we've never seen before.

thenomad 14y ago

For "Action Figures" read also "Miniatures And Board Game Pieces". 3D printing will be a boon for anyone developing their own board games, and a nightmare for wargaming companies like Games Workshop that survive by selling things that can now be 3D printed.