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Hello,

As part of my final year of university I am researching the future of 3D printing in the retail environment and I would love to hear some of your predictions.

Where do you see it being implemented?

Have you heard of it already being done?

Would product customization lead to less but smarter consumption?

Just a few questions to get the conversation going but any info/thoughts are more than welcome. :slight_smile:

Seem’s like Sainbury’s (English supermarket) are already gearing up for the change.

Finally I found @Filemon’s prediction about the emerging C2B printing service very interesting.

If any of you have some examples, please share.

Thanks,

Charles

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With companies rolling out sub par 3d printers every month the industry is moving forward to a high end 3d print retail environment. When the purchasers of the low end printers not achieving the desired print they will either forget the process or seek out the quality print they were looking for.

The low end printers are a step in the right direction to spark the youth of the world into creativity.

UPS has rolled out test markets in their stores for 3d printing and have already seen a backlog which should help out the private 3d printeing business but it is still in its infancy.

WHen the 3d scanning business becomes more affordable I believe it will bring the 3d Printing to the forefront as all it takes is a quick scan of a repair part, novelty items, sculptures and other things to click and print, then a little after print adjustments like sanding, ainting and smoothing would be cheaper than purchasing in a retail store.

As it is now, a 3d scanner that will scan detail is as much as a high end 3d Printer which leaves it to a 3d designer to replicate an object from measurements and eysight into a 3d file where it can be printed, which gets very expensive.

I know I am doing a start up to one day afford a retail stroe of 3d printers, scanners and plain old just 3d printing for those that dont want to spend the money.

Cheers

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Thanks for your insight!

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@ProdPoint You can buy 3dprinters at MediaMarkt in Germany.

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Hey Charles, awesome initiative.

I’m sure great hubs such as @NavLab and @Nacho could help you out :slight_smile:

Speak to you soon,

Julie