So I'm sure you've all heard some of the buzz surrounding the new 3D printing technology, and if not, there are 3D printers now and they're awesome. You can print basically anything you can think of as long as you can model it on your computer. Now, this has already lead to certain groups using 3D printers to print guns, and other groups panicking as a result. However, the guns that are being printed are pretty limited in what they can do, but that's not the point. The point is, you can make some pretty awesome things with 3D printing. Like I said before, you can create almost anything you can actually imagine. Luckily, you don't even have to drop 2000$ on a printer to have this awesome privilege. There are
3D printing services like
Shapeways (what I use) and
Kraftwurx, and what makes it really awesome is you only really need some
basic skill with 3D modeling software to do it. For example,
I'm an amateur modeler in
Blender, but I can make some pretty awesome stuff to be printed.
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Pictured: a pokemon phone case.
Expect an update later today with the actual case.
Unfortunately it didn't fit my phone, but that's why we printed a test version.
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This case is actually scheduled to be delivered today, but the point is, 3D printing can actually do some really awesome things. As another example, my friend and are trying to compete in a
contest where people submit their designs that are supposed to benefit the world, and the whole contest is structured around helping people. It's contests like these that people should be focusing on, not one 3D printed gun. You can't judge a technologies potential based off of the actions of a small group.
3D printers even cater to those of us who don't want to print guns, but who also aren't exactly about to go save the world, or in other words, your average person. You can print as a hobby or as an artist, or as a designer of a new product. You can even
open a shop on Shapeways and sell your own designs for a profit. There are also plenty of guides on how to model for 3D printers, such as
this one.
All in all, 3D printers are a technology that is very new and like any new technology, it's going to gain some controversy. So what do you think? Do the benefits of 3D printers outweigh the losses?
