The Future of Printing: the printer that prints itself

Today we can print ON 3D objects, tomorrow we’ll be able to print OUT the 3D object itself. Broke your favorite coffee mug? Why not print a new one to match? No time to buy Cousin Jen a wedding gift? Why not print a set of napkins and call it a day?

Of course, you will need a template and some sort of matter and ink or colorant to print with, so printing out last-minute refreshments for a dinner party is probably a case of, “Do not try this at home.”

3D Object printing is currently in use in some areas of manufacture. In some versions, an inkjet printing system is used to layer fine powder successively over itself to create an object from the template. If you thought resolution was complicated before, try choosing the right printer for your 3D object.

Since printing your own book is really no cheaper than buying one, it remains to be seen if 3D printing will soon be feasible, or if a trip to the store to restock the toy box will still be a necessity. After all, you can’t print anything with something to print it on, or well, from.