quinta-feira, março 22, 2012

Um bom resumo do estado da situação: printers 3D

Um bom resumo do que está em causa com o desenvolvimento das impressoras 3D:
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"What is 3D printing good for
  • Cost effective short runs, one offs, customisations, prototypes
  • Highly accurate 3D objects
Challenges
  • 3D models are difficult to create –
  • Finishes are not great
  • High prices for one off prints
  • Low quality plastics on home printers (Moi ici: ainda ontem à noite, por volta das 23h30, no Porto Canal passou um documentário sobre o CeNTI em Vila Nova de Famalicão... fiquei com a ideia de que têm lá hardware e massa cinzenta que podiam trabalhar nesta vertente)
End markets
  • Prototypes
  • Hobbyist
  • Jewellery
  • Customised objects
  • Medical implants
  • Replacement parts
Value chain
  • Designers
  • Market places
  • Enabling software
  • Printers – home and bureau

My gut tells me that there is a big market opportunity opening up. 3D printing technologies will make it cost effective to manufacture a whole range of items that weren’t economic under the mass production paradigm.
...
The software tools available to designers are still primitive which both drives up the cost and keeps a lot of would be designers out of the market. It could be that the next important innovation is in the software rather than in hardware or consumer services." 

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