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A very interesting article for those not already in the know on the current state of desktop printing of 3D objects and the founder of MakerBot Industries, Bre Pettis, on Businessweek yesterday. A lot of interesting links there to other content on 3D printing, and information on the new upcoming new consumer level printer, the MakerBot Replicator, coming out in a few months (for just under $1800!).


MakerBot Replicator;


You can definitely see some added texture from the printing technology on the products there, but for me, who was not following this tech very closely, this is amazing. I was under the impression it was far, far more expensive to have this kind of tech in your workshop. At this price, which is well under the cost of a really high end gaming PC, we really could see a consumer level of adoption. Amazing.

By the way, something else that I found cool? In the comments section of the BW article, someone make a comment about "real manufactured goods", and someone from MakerBot responded, and put up a blog post on the topic! You do have to love a company small enough to care.

Anyone more in-the-know about 3D printers? How do these products/this company compare to the competitors?