3D printing isn’t only for trinkets and jewelry anymore — the industry has already grown tremendously, and is projected to keep expanding at a phenomenal rate. About 130,000 printers shipped last year, which is a significant number in itself, but by 2018 the market will have grown to support around 2.3 million new printers. In just four years, the industry will expand to 10 times its current size! This prediction shows that 3D printing technology is still in its infancy, and future printer models will have much more robust features. Part of this trend is due to decreasing costs, as printers will become affordable enough for many families to use them at home. 3D printing is already a billion-dollar industry, but by 2018 it will be valued around $13 billion — unless a major player like Apple gets involved and creates a mass-market “iPrint” device, in which case the field may expand even faster.
Breaking Speed Limits
Looking to the near future is exciting, and for those early investors who are holding out for a 3D printing payday, it could prove to be highly lucrative soon. How has 3D printing changed in the last few months, though? For one thing, the process is getting much quicker. For example, the South African-made Cheetah printer has reached speeds up to twelve times faster than a typical desktop machine. This is largely because the Cheetah uses affordable plastic pellets instead of specialty filament. With such a fast printer, you can build something as large and complex as a lawnmower in about nine hours! The respected engineer and designer Hans Fouche — who is known for his imaginative projects, including a 3D chocolate printer — developed the lawnmower in question.
Breaking Size Constraints
The Cheetah doesn’t come cheap — at around $8,500, it isn’t intended for the average consumer. Another trait that sets it apart, though, is its industrial size. At 1m x 1m x 1m, the machine takes up a considerable amount of space, but it also allows for much larger projects. A fully functional lawnmower just isn’t possible to print with a desktop device, although most people won’t need those capabilities for their homes. For small businesses, universities, and research facilities, however, the price point and unwieldy dimensions won’t be an issue.
Saving the Environment
Last but not least, we’re starting to see how 3D printers can contribute to reducing our carbon footprint. In particular, the EKOCYCLE uses recycled plastic bottles as a major component in its filament, allowing you to make something new from your waste. This seems to be the beginning of a larger trend, where entire recycle bins will eventually be utilized to create desirable products. It’s truly exciting to know that our future inventions will help to save the planet, while also allowing us to express our creativity on a grand scale.
