There is no shortage of amazing industrial commercial applications for 3-D printing — internal organs, stem cells, artificial limbs, art, cars, customizable furniture. But if you had a 3-D printer sitting on your desk at home, what would you make?
Some people know immediately: They’d create physical Minecraft models, make manga figurines, pop out replacement parts for a motorcycle. But most people will likely see a 3-D printer, think it’s cool, then have no idea what to do next and move on.
That could change, though, as dirt-cheap 3-D printers like the Printrbot or new MakiBox simplify the technology and put it in more people’s hands and home offices.
“The market for desktop 3-D printers right now is really makers, professional users and people who have a lot of patience and time,” said Jonathan Buford, the entrepreneur behind the $200 MakiBox 3-D printer.
The MakiBox attempts to simplify 3-D printing for a more consumer-friendly experience, by lowering the price and reducing the complexity of assembling the devices and minting objects. Amateurs, basement inventors and hobbyists with no experience printing in three dimensions can jump right in and start experimenting with minimal investment. There are trade-offs, of course. The $200 version uses only the less expensive PLA plastic, which can melt at a lower temperature than other materials. A $300 version of the printer is available that can work with more substances. The final products will be a step down from what you could make with more professional machines. “We’re not optimizing on quality because we think there’s actually room for ‘good enough,'” said Buford.
The idea for MakiBox grew out of the Makible crowdfunding site. The project’s goal was to connect the dots between product prototypes, crowdfunding, and the eventual manufacturing process. Say a product designer comes up with an idea for a pedometer armband. He could raise money from interested mall-walkers, then be guided through the product manufacturing process.
Buford has unique experience in all three areas. Based in Hong Kong, he studied mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and has worked as a toy designer.
In 2005, he struck out on his own, crowdfunding a product before starting a co-working space in Hong Hong called Boot.hk. He launched Makible in 2011.
Seeking a market for cheap 3-D printers
