Those working in traditional rapid
prototyping services jobs almost certainly think 3D printing is a technology
that actually destroys job but it seems that at the same time it is likely to
create jobs elsewhere and create whole new businesses as well as empowering
freelancers and one person businesses. As for those with skills for rapid
prototyping services that rely on molding plastics and foams to make models
that took a lot longer and were much less accurate than can be made by 3D
printing they can potentially adapt their skills to use 3D printers though at
the same time a designer with basic training can send a CAD design to print
with a few simple clicks.
What about this potential to actually create jobs though? This comes not in rapid prototyping services, where most 3D printing is done at the moment, but in the next generation of small start up businesses who could be small teams or individuals able to design their own products and then take 3d printer for sale to market without having to invest heavily, or get the backing of an existing manufacturer.
With the 3d printer
price of simple mono or dual colored printers now such that
hobbyists and small businesses can afford them the numbers of them will only
grow and could explode once the choice of CAD designs to buy or even get for
free on line reaches critical mass. As
for selling to those who don’t have 3D printers if you have a printer you can
actually go into production with products, you may struggle to compete on price
with traditional manufacturing.
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