this is amazing Options

[mrbubblehead]

what will this do to the classic car world?

http://www.break.com/index/why-3d-printing...ick-ass-2421396

[Mikey914]

Dr Evil is waiting until they have a body sized printer to print himself a new girlfriend, or better yet twins!

Yes the technology is there, but it's not as user friendly as you would like. It's easier to make silicone molds and use catalyzed rubber, or to extrude using conventional methods. The materials cost for the parts is not cost effective for production. You can make rain funnels for maybe $15 a pop. You have a $3000 printer, so if you hapen to have the equipment and only need a set for you great, but for a business model, those are at least $20 rain funnels. Injection molding has a large up front cost say $2000, but the unit cost may be $1 a pop.
Sell 1000 pcs at $6 for a $3000 profit may take 2 years+
or print them at say best case $10 each and sell at $12.50 each. say you do sell 500 pcs you can make $1250, but your overhead is the materials and printer.

So, if you don't have to pay for a printer you could make money making these, if you don't count your time in. Also there are issues with storage of the powder or gel.


Not my business model, but if you want to pay over 2x the price, I'll take it.

These do have a place, but they are not there yet. When the replicator from Star Trek comes on line, sign me up.