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from the printster-will-be-the-new-napster dept.
Remember Napster or Grokster? Both services allowed users to share computer files – usually digital music – that infringed the copyrights for those songs.
Now imagine that, instead of music, you could download a physical object. Sounds like something from a sci-fi movie – push a button and there's the item! But that scenario is already becoming a reality. With a 3D printer, someone can download a computer file, called a computer-aided design (CAD) file, that instructs the printer to make a physical, three-dimensional object.
Because CAD files are digital, they can be shared across the internet on file-sharing services, just like movies and music. Just as digital media challenged the copyright system with rampant copyright infringement, the patent system likely will encounter widespread infringement of patented inventions through 3D printing. The problem is, however, that the patent system is even more ill-equipped to deal with this situation than copyright law was, posing a challenge to a key component of our innovation system.
If 3-D printing at home happened fast enough it would cut China off at the knees.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by khchung on Friday January 08 2016, @09:11AM
The thing patented isn't patented because of how it was made. It is patented because of what it is.
So you make one in your garage. Realistically, who cares?
Until you can make them in massive quantity, and sell them, what would be the point. And if you have a plant big enough
to turn out the devices you will soon be hearing from the patent holder.
THAT was the original idea for copyright too, you used to need huge machinery to violate copyright massively, and that would attract the attention of copyright holders soon enough, and no one bothered with people photocopying a book or two, or copy a tape of music for a friend.
All that changed when the copies can be passed to other people almost effortlessly on the Internet.
When a patented object can be home-printed by many people, and the design can be downloaded like a song, you WILL see patent holders going the same route as the music industry to try to stop people from sharing 3-D designs (and failing at it the same way).
And it won't start with cars, it will start with small objects that you might have bought for $2 at the Walmart checkout counter, or a hardware store. Need a washer of a particular size? Just 3-D print one. A plastic protector for your new phone? Download a file and 3-D print it! Need a bookstand or photo stand? Print it.
Eventually, you will be printing anything that don't have moving parts (name card boxes, small covers, small bottles, etc), then there will be fit-together designs for building up bigger things. Before you know it, manufacturers of small plastic gadgets will go out of business.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by anubi on Friday January 08 2016, @10:19AM
There are always economies of scale kicking in. You want ONE. Factories crank out millions.
Yes, conceivably, I could make my own flashlight battery.
Its so much easier for me to go to the dollar store and buy one.
Now, what I would LOVE to 3-D print is that little plastic gear/clutch that broke in my Gardner-Denver wirewrap gun.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 4, Insightful) by deimtee on Friday January 08 2016, @12:27PM
Battery covers. That thin little slab of plastic designed to hold a couple of AAs or AAAs in place on some gadget or toy.
There must be half a dozen around this place that are either missing completely or held on with tape after the lugs stopped holding.
No problem is insoluble, but at Ksp = 2.943×10−25 Mercury Sulphide comes close.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Saturday January 09 2016, @02:40AM
Know what? This might make a great SN poll item!
What is your greatest need for a 3D printer?
Your suggestion is excellent. Throw in broken car tail lights, toy parts, custom lego parts, replacement clothing buttons, replace broken key-fob housings, etc.
Things that are just so impractical to mass produce and market, but would be very useful to the one person that needed that one weird item.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 09 2016, @05:55AM
I was considering doing window slides for my first 3D printed project.
The building was 30 years old, and I was not sure replacements were available. (Actually asked maintenance about it: long-term plan was to replace the windows.)
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Friday January 08 2016, @01:30PM
THAT was the original idea for copyright too........ All that changed when the copies can be passed to other people almost effortlessly on the Internet. When a patented object can be home-printed by many people, and the design can be downloaded like a song
But then you can listen to the song with a click of the mouse. Not so when you want a 3-D printed copy of some widget, you will still have a lot of time and work ahead of you, as well as the cost of the plastic stock wire which will probably be more than if you bought the item from Walmart as you will not be buying in bulk. Moreover, the work involved will probably be beyond Joe Sixpack if it is much more complex than a yellow plastic duck - ie if it requires any fitting and assembly.
As others have said, where 3-D printing will be good for the amateur is in replacing broken or missing plastic parts such as battery covers.
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Saturday January 09 2016, @03:45AM
I think you underestimate Joe. Back in the day he was hot-rodding cars, sometimes producing innovative new tech to do so. He also built lots of stuff, from home-made furniture to electrical and electronic gear. Plenty of Joes have metal working gear. Arc and MIG welders are common enough that Aldi occasionally sell them to Joe in their supermarkets.
Assembling a bunch of 3D printed parts is certainly not beyond him.
What's currently stopping him is that Joe expects his tools to be expertly made and to work reliably, and home printers are neither.
When they are good enough, say same reliability and quality as a handyman lathe at a similar price, you will see an explosion in use.
No problem is insoluble, but at Ksp = 2.943×10−25 Mercury Sulphide comes close.
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Saturday January 09 2016, @10:32AM
I think you underestimate Joe. Back in the day he was hot-rodding cars, ....... He also built lots of stuff, from home-made furniture to electrical and electronic gear.
Such Joes exist but are a small minority. I'm one myself, but only know one other among my acquaintances and we won't be bringing China to its knees. That count includes the engineers I work with - the type of guy who would be much more likely to do such things than the average Joe.
Plenty of Joes have metal working gear. Arc and MIG welders are common enough that Aldi occasionally sell them to Joe
Owning != using. People buy such things with big ideas but put them away in the shed when they find that using them is not as easy as they expected.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 09 2016, @07:31AM
Like MP3s and H264s and VC1s.
Or did somebody forget that the patent war has been going on for as long as the copyright war online?