The amount of innovation we have seen within the 3D printing industry in the last three years has outdone all the innovation within the industry in the prior 20 years. This can be seen by the total number of patents filed over the last 30 years within the industry. As prices come down, thousands of people are driven to the technology, and more innovators enter the market, driving prices down even further, while driving innovation up. The next five years will likely see progress along an exponential curve continue. Here are five 3D printing predictions that are bound to occur over the next five years.
Several Major, Not Obvious, Corporations Enter the Market
We all know that the Hewlett Packards, and Epsons of the world are certain to enter the 3D printer market, but there will likely be a few surprises as well. Don’t be surprised to see a Google, Microsoft, or even Apple, enter the industry. If growth within the consumer based 3d printer market continues, Apple may figure out a way to create a cheap, intuitive, reliable printer that the majority of people would want in their homes. Microsoft or
A Functioning Human Organ Is Printed
Organovo claims that they will have a 3D printed liver sometime this year. That claim may not exactly be a fully functioning human liver like many people initially thought,
Metal Laser Sintering Printers Drop in Price Substantially
Just like we have seen prices of resin and FDM 3D printers drop in price from the tens of thousands of dollars, to under $500, the same will happen with higher quality, metal based, laser sintering machines. As patents continue to expire, this year and
A 3D Printed Gun has Been Used in a Major Crime
It’s bound to happen. We have already seen several 3D printed guns emerge on the scene in the last year and a half. Having said this, the plastics being used have a difficulty in standing up to the energy that guns emit.
Every School in America Has a 3D Printer / 40% of Households
We are already seeing major adoption rates of 3D printers within the field of education. Makerbot has been heading an initiative to get their 3D printers into every school in the country, and in the early going it appears to be a slow success. As printer prices come down, and applications for learning are realized, 3D printers will become a major
Within the next four to five years 3D printers will begin appealing to every day people, but first we must seen more intuitive interfaces, as well as further development of software, materials, and hardware. Head over to 3D Print Board to discuss the future of 3D printing.