What does a 3D printer do and why would I want one?
3D printing is a process of making a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model. 3D printing is achieved using an additive process, where successive layers of material are laid down in different shapes. So basically you can take a picture of something and recreate in 3D with a 3D printer.
Makerbot showed (at the Consumer Electronics Show) the refrigerator sized Repicator Z18 which retails for $1375 and is the most inexpensive to date. They have used a mixture of Apple’s proven marketing strategy with clean lines and more premium prices. And they introduced the Mini which will be available this spring for $499. It will have the same electronics, same software behind it, same applications, same camera, same smart extruder. Everything is powerful, but in a tighter package.
With the advent of less expensive 3D printers becoming available in the mainstream, what will I do with a 3D printer? Some amazing things that have been created with 3D printers include a gun that actually works, a model car, an acoustical guitar and a flute, a camera lens, a weaving loom, figurines from childrens drawings, medical models or even a case for your iPhone.
Sources: Wikipedia, c/net, hongiat.com, CBS