Emergence of Home Manufacturing in the Developed World: Return on Investment for Open-Source 3-D Printers: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:37, 15 February 2017

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

Emily E. Petersen and Joshua Pearce. Emergence of Home Manufacturing in the Developed World: Return on Investment for Open-Source 3-D Printers. Technologies 2017, 5(1), 7; doi:10.3390/technologies5010007 open access
- Supplimentary: http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/5/1/7/s1
- Lulzbot Mini - source code: http://download.lulzbot.com/Mini/

Abstract

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

In the News

Just Press Print: 3-D Printing At Home Saves Cash - MTU News , Eureka Alert, Science Daily, Xania News
Researchers calculate major cost savings of 3-D printing household items - Phys.org , HiTech Days
3D-printed household items mean major cost savings - Electronics Specifier
3D printing at home will save you money down the line, says new study from MTU - 3Ders, Longroom
Report Indicates That 3D Printing Can Save Consumers Up To $4 Million-One Angry Gamer
How 3-D printing at home saves big bucks -- ScienceDaily- DailyMe,last min Christmas
MTU Study: 3-D Home Printer To Produce 1000 Percent Return Over 5 Years-MI Tech News

International

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 ===International===
 *[http://www.tekniikkatalous.fi/tekniikka/tuore-tutkimus-talla-tonnin-investoinnilla-saastat-jopa-11-000-viidessa-vuodessa-6624849 Tuore tutkimus: Tällä tonnin investoinnilla säästät jopa 11 000 € viidessä vuodessa ] -Tekniikka & Talous (Finland)
-* [http://www.weiot.net/article-31676.html 3D打印用于日常究竟能多省钱？半年回本，5年回报10倍]- Weiot. China
+* [http://www.weiot.net/article-31676.html 3D打印用于日常究竟能多省钱？半年回本，5年回报10倍]- Weiot (China)
-* [http://3dtoday.ru/blogs/news3dtoday/around-the-world-with-3dtoday-a-new-hydrogel-for-bioprinting-of-bone-t1/
+* [http://3dtoday.ru/blogs/news3dtoday/around-the-world-with-3dtoday-a-new-hydrogel-for-bioprinting-of-bone-t1/ Вокруг света с 3Dtoday: новый гидрогель для костной биопечати, итоги первого конкурса Hyperloop и исследование экономии от бытовых 3D-принтеров ] -3D Today (Russia)
-Вокруг света с 3Dtoday: новый гидрогель для костной биопечати, итоги первого конкурса Hyperloop и исследование экономии от бытовых 3D-принтеров] -3D Today Russia
 [[Category:3D printing]]
 [[Category:Research]]
 [[Category:DIY culture]]
 [[Category:Distributed manufacturing]]