UI-Patterns.com. Finding an alternative. TechCrunch. How an 83-Year-Old Inventor Beat the High Cost of 3D Printing. If there were an award for Emerging Gadget Most Likely to Change Everything, it might well go to the 3D printer. These devices, which turn digital blueprints into physical objects made out of plastic or other materials, are getting better, simpler and cheaper at such a dizzying pace that it’s not hard to imagine a future in which they’re as pervasive as PCs. Already, you can buy a basic desktop model for under $500. It’s dangerous, however, to get too hung up on the sticker prices of the 3D printers themselves. Just as most of the cost of conventional ink-jet printing comes in the form of those pricey ink cartridges, the spools of plastic filament which a 3D printer layers into an object have a huge impact on the long-term economics of 3D printing.
Inventables A spool of plastic filament for 3D printing The foundation focuses its efforts on entrepreneurship and education, and is already deeply involved in the maker community though activities such as participation in Maker Faires. Sidebar: The 5 best design links, every day. The Toolbox: a directory of the best time-saving apps and tools. Learn to code. VideoHelp.com - Forum, Guides, Tools and hardware lists. Tom's Hardware: Hardware News, Tests and Reviews. Hacker News.