Brave New World of 3D Printing

slash.dot has interesting commentary on 3D printing, now that its pricing is coming down to the consumer level. Some of the thoughts at Printing On Demand include the following:

Guaranteed Spare Parts

Manufacturers could upload their 3D drawings to escrow sites. Some years after the product goes out of manufacture or the company out of business, the parts are released to the public, who can then order replacement parts from 3D printer services.

Copyright Law Suits

Customers 3D scan expensive figurines and have 3d print houses reproduce them cheaply. Copyright owners like Hummel and Disney freak out, launching massive law suits against Jane Does and the 3D printer chains.

3D Data exchange Problems

This item is mentioned only brieflyｂｙone slash.dotter, but 3D print shops work with 3D files translated from your 3D drawings. The translation can be messy, and the fault probably lies with your CAD vendor. (Deelip Meneses explains why in today's upFront.eZine.)

Comments

[Josh]

There's a whole new business of 3D printing security just waiting to be started.

[Jeff Almond]

This is already a concern to manufacturers of plastic model after-market parts. These parts are more accurate or different versions of parts that come with the kits. Say, a wheel hub that has the correct amount of bolts or a nose cone for a earlier version. Apparently, some modelers are copying and recasting the parts and either giving or selling the recasts.