How Open Source Hardware Is Driving the 3D-Printing Industry

TheNextCorner sends this quote from ReadWriteWeb: "Open source software has been a key player in all kinds of disruptive technologies — from the Web to big data. Now the nascent and growing open source hardware movement is helping to power its own disruptive revolution. ... As 3D printing, powered by Arduino and other open source technologies, becomes more prevalent, economies of scale become much less of a problem. A 3D printer can print a few devices — or thousands — without significant retooling, pushing upfront costs to near-zero. This is what The Economist calls the 'Third Industrial Revolution,' where devices and things can be made in smaller, cleaner factories with far less overhead and — significantly — less labor."

Comments

Re:Is there an open source hardware specification.

[phme]

Check out RepRap and MakerBot

Re:Material costs - material generally

[Dynetrekk]

I was wrong - they're up to 14 simultaneous materials, at least: http://www.objet.com/Objet%20Connex350/

Re:Material costs - material generally

[Anonymous Coward]

However it is a hell of a lot cheaper to print a physical object on a 3d printer than it is to try and get one of something you can't buy, manufactured.

3D printers are great for printing spares when the manufacturer doesn't supply them... and cheaper than buying the whole product again.

Re:Material costs - material generally

[RobinH]

Then your wait is almost over, as it's been created, and they're ramping it up (and it's open source). Here's the kickstarter link.