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== In the News ==
== In the News ==
* [http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2017/february/just-press-print-3-d-printing-home-saves-cash.html Just Press Print: 3-D Printing At Home Saves Cash] - MTU News
* [http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2017/february/just-press-print-3-d-printing-home-saves-cash.html Just Press Print: 3-D Printing At Home Saves Cash] - MTU News , [https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-02/mtu-jpp021417.php Eureka Alert], [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170214130509.htm Science Daily],
* [https://phys.org/news/2017-02-major-d-household-items.html Researchers calculate major cost savings of 3-D printing household items ] - Phys.org
* [https://phys.org/news/2017-02-major-d-household-items.html Researchers calculate major cost savings of 3-D printing household items ] - Phys.org , [http://www.hitechdays.com/browser/169958/ HiTech Days]
* [http://production.electronicspecifier.com/3d-printing/3d-printing-household-items-mean-major-cost-savings 3D-printed household items mean major cost savings ] - Electronics Specifier


[[Category:3D printing]]
[[Category:3D printing]]

Revision as of 18:56, 14 February 2017

Economic Advantage to Making Your Own Stuff with 3D Printing
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Source

Abstract

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Through reduced 3-D printer cost, increased usability, and greater material selection, additive manufacturing has transitioned from business manufacturing to the average prosumer. This study serves as a representative model for the potential future of 3-D printing in the average American household by employing a printer operator who was relatively unfamiliar with 3-D printing and the 3-D design files of common items normally purchased by the average consumer. Twenty-six items were printed in thermoplastic and a cost analysis was performed through comparison to comparable, commercially available products at a low and high price range. When compared to the low-cost items, investment in a 3-D printer represented a return of investment of over 100% in five years. The simple payback time for the high-cost comparison was less than 6 months, and produced a 986% return. Thus, fully-assembled commercial open source 3-D printers can be highly profitable investments for American consumers. Finally, as a preliminary gauge of the effect that widespread prosumer use of 3-D printing might have on the economy, savings were calculated based on the items’ download rates from open repositories. Results indicate that printing these selected items have already saved prosumers over $4 million by substituting for purchases.

Keywords

distributed manufacturing; additive manufacturing; 3-D printing; consumer; economics; open-source

See also

In the News

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