by Kelli Lee on September 02, 2016
In the 21st century, we find ourselves in a world where the entrepreneurial spirit savagely collides with breakthrough technologies, and out of this few will arise victorious. One would begin to believe millennials lead the way on this maniacal path to our digital future.
After all, our lives are consumed with thousands of tech conferences such as CES by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), Hackathons around the world encouraging new technologies to be born daily, digital identity platforms created by millennial billionaires, where can you start?
As we approach the intersection of 3D printing and entrepreneurs prepare to shape the future!
If you share the entrepreneurial spirit and believe it is never too late, begin by asking questions, lots and lots of questions. Research, plan, chat about what you can use or do. What skills do you have personally? What new skills can you learn?
Observe your daily interactions and surroundings. What relates to you or your family? What do you see or experience that is needed or may already exist, yet lacks necessary functions?
In what ways could you use current or future technology to improve upon existing entities? How and where will you introduce new ideas, concepts, products, social platforms, environmentally conscious advances?
You name it! At this rate, the future of technology appears limitless!
So, how can your startup be successful you ask? That is the question, after all. What exactly is the key to laying your claim to the digital future? You see, there is no simple answer, because if it were, everyone would be an entrepreneur.
BUT WAIT! Don’t get discouraged just yet, every entrepreneurial spirit knows one thing, failure is simply the predecessor to success!
“I never went into business to make money, but so that I could do interesting things that hadn’t been done before.” – Amar Bose, founder of Bose Corporation
When you find yourself reveling in this evolving uncertainty we deem the future of technology, HANG ON, for the reward may well be worth the risk!
Once the decision has been made to utilize 3D printing whether in your home or a commercial space, a general understanding of 3D printing hardware, software and materials is necessary.
For starters, there are several types of 3D printers including, but not limited to:
Stereolithography (SLA)
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Electronic Beam Melting (EBM) and many more
After researching which type of 3D printer is best for your needs you should understand the materials currently used to print versus what is or has been available. First, there are not only types of materials, such as PLA/ABS, PETG, but also they can be supplied in different states, such as filaments, resin, powder and more.
The variety stems from diversity among the 3D printers and the specific use case for which individuals or businesses want to use said equipment.
The pros and cons list of each machine would encompass a boundless array of items to consider, for example:
How long it takes to print a single object?
Advantages or disadvantages resulting in higher or lower cost, more or less waste or any combination of the above.
Sustainability, environmental impact measured through various channels.
Individual machine customization, including both software and hardware.
Initial investment vs marginal returns & so much more!
Whether 3D printing is brand new to you or you’ve been 3D printing since 1986, a common entity we all must familiarize ourselves with is Computer Aid Design or CAD programs, such as Autodesk, 123D, Tinkercad, Makerbot and more. This is specifically due to most 3D printing technologies requiring CAD in order to process an object.
Since The entire process encompassing 3D printing is not necessarily for the faint of heart, yet so many inquisitive independent thinkers seek new opportunities. Places such as 3D Hubs, the world’s largest network of local 3D printing services pop up globally. They provide a range of materials from different service providers, while simultaneously reducing shipping, communication, and fulfillment costs for individuals and businesses alike.
Not to mention, 3D Hubs and similar projects are a great way to create prototypes and print ideas, locally, without having to initially invest, define workspace, maintain equipment, immerse yourself in mechanical and software engineering so on and so forth.
Overall, 3D printing technology allows average desktop or laptop computers to manifest objects as simple as basic geometric shapes to the complexities of houses and fully functional office buildings!
The rest is up to you, you crazy diamond!
~Pass The Piece Team
www.passthepiece.com/blog
