> @onlyonepinman the commercial demand argument doesn’t stack up though, the problem with 3d printing conversations is that you have them with people who have seen light, and are either on the upwards slope of the learning curve or at the level where you have more success than fail so it all gets a bit echo chambery and objectivly inspite of nigh on 20 years of effort in bringing this to home markets there has been very little improvements over the basic reprap extruder design nor meaningful sustained growth in user base (hence my comparison to Linux on the desktop) , with the biggest change being lower cost photo resin solutions entering the market. The biggest changes have been the rise of modules and Chinese clones rather than scouring the rs catalog(s) for parts and broken printers.

I mentioned how technology often goes through three phases: Enthusiast, Business, and Consumer. Considering that I also want a 3D printer, but don’t understand half the tech sentences quoted should tell you which phase I’m in. (: My parents can’t even change an ink cartridge on a 2D printer, (and I find them an occasional PITA network-wise). Until 3D printers become as “easy” to use ad as cheap as 2D printers, they’re not going to catch on with the mass market. That said, I’m also in the “when” than “if” camp, and look forward to an inexpensive 3D printer that only needs cartridges and a filename before working.

> And for mass adoption something would have to give, much the same way that record companies didn’t offer print at home artwork and labels to stick on a cdr, companies will never give there ip away like that, without whole sale international changes to copyright and patent law it’s unworkable and even then the business model would be more akin to paetrons virtual busking jar than a profit loss based business eg doesn’t scale past a handful of people. Fine for cottage industry, wouldn’t want to rely on that if I had employees.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it varied by business model. For example, Kenmore appliance might be fine with making their replacement parts printable (especially “universal” ones, which many 3rd parties make), since this may be less expensive than inventory and distribution.

Email did a very good job in not just replacing snail mail, but greatly expanding asynchronous communication, yet we continue to ship things. Television not just displaced movies, but also greatly expanded its audience, yet we also continue to see movies. I’m not sure what 3D printing will do, although custom storage solutions is definitely on *my* list. Ever tried to find the same model of stackable plastic boxes that you used five years ago??? 😛