The Top 9 Challenges ahead for 3D Printing

3D Printing has a number of challenges ahead. In the domestic market it is immature, expensive and unavailable.

I see 3D Printing technology where computers were in the 70s and 80s. In this time there were a few kits available that geeks would purchase and build themselves.

These are the barriers that 3D Printers need to overcome for them to a serious option for a household:

These 3D printed objects has several spheres in inside them. The spheres have no seams. The red sphere has 3 spheres inside it and inside one another, the silver sphere has 2 spheres inside. This item would be impossible to manufacture using traditional manufacturing techniques.

1. Cost.

A sub $500 price is preferred.

• June 2011 – The current cost for a Hobbiest Printer is $1200. The cheapest Commercial printer can be commisioned at $30,000

2. Ability to easily print in multiple materials on the same machine.

Particularly plastic, metal and conductive materials.

Much like colour printers print multiple colours with no fuss these days, so should 3D Printers.

• 2011 – Currently 3D Printers can print easily in 1 or 2 materials.
• 2011 – Multiple Colour in the one print has already been achieved. The colours are a touch dull and matt finish only.

3. A decent standard for model designs.

There are a number of 3D file formats out there – lets either decide on one, or have our printer software handle them all.

• The current standard STL files have some limitations.
• July 2011 – A new standard has been proposed – the AMF file format, but at this stage it is not well known or well used.

4. Availability.

Getting a 3D printer ain’t that easy! You need to order them online, often with a several month delay. This is the silliest of all of the challenges as it is easy to print a new printer when you have one already – so why is it so difficult to get one?

5. Resolution.

To be serious we need sub millimeter resolutions in our printed materials. Looking at a printed item and seeing layers of material is not acceptable. Resolutions of 0.1mm are possible with most commercial printers. The hobby printers still have resolution as a challenge.

6. Speed.

Printing is s…l…o…w. It takes a long time to build even the smallest piece. Most videos you see are sped up or cut so you are not sitting there for an hour while you build a tap washer.

• Aug 2011 – The Ultimaker is able to print much faster than Makerbot now.

This prototype drill was 3D Printed with multiple colours in the one print job. The chuck turns and the trigger depresses.

7. Legal Issues.

A lot of vested interests are going to be upset. Our copyright system is not set up for at home manufacturing. You can register a design – but if the design is adjusted slightly by your software and you print it out – is it yours? When it comes to the legal side of things  it will be awesome if they don’t screw it up.

• July 2011 – Some companies are already sending Cease and Desists.

8. Clarity of Need.

Why does my desk need a 3D printer? I am constantly educating folks on the advantages of 3D printing technology. Some people don’t understand the uses of being able to print anything.

9. Lack of CAD Skills

To print anything, you normally need a model created in CAD software. The skills for creating 3D models have a high initial learning curve, and hence there are not many designers out there. We need more people designing so that there are more things to print.

• September 2011 – EndlessForms Website is launched enabling you to create models using no design skills. A good first step!
• Septemeber 2011 - TinkerCAD is launched. It is a very simple CAD package that is fully online and enabled you to get productive in about 30 mins.