Link: Z Corp – 3D Printers for Rapid Prototyping

There was an amazing article in the Wall Street Journal today about 3D printers. (Can’t link to it, unfortunately). I had never heard of these before, but my mind was blown.

Last week I read The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. In the book, set in the future, a household device known as a matter compiler (MC) uses nanotechnology and basic atoms as building blocks to recreate anything the user desires. Food, medicine, a mattress… you name it.

This is what the 3D printer reminds me of. Apparently you feed the printer a CAD drawing and, using plastic resin the printer will “print” the component layer-by-layer. You can then use the printer to make MORE printer parts. It doesn’t print semiconductors or metal parts right now, but in the future…

So when you can print yourself a cell phone, how will product companies make money?