The new age of 3D printing has enabled limitless possibilities for specialized products, giving the same powerful tools to garage hobbyists and high-end fashion houses. This "bespoke" revolution is inspiring designers to realize bizarre, dreamlike creations, and at a price point that would've been unthinkable even a few years ago. Before the Industrial Revolution streamlined the manufacturing process, many products were created in a bespoke manner - that is, to fit the user's needs, or the wearer's body. Now, we have the ability to customize objects to the very last detail, load the design file into a 3D printer, and then let the machine handle the grunt work. As a result, designers are able to focus much more energy on the creative process.
For bedroom hobbyists who don't have the means to invest in a 3D printing system, there are affordable ways to outsource your creations. In Buckinghamshire, England, for example, 3D Systems has built a "cloud facility" that can print out objects to your digital specifications. The builder must simply create their design in a legible format for 3D printing, upload it to the company's website, and provide an address so they can ship it to you. For designers who are just starting out, this is the perfect way to prototype a new idea before going ahead with mass production.
Typically, factory machines are built to reproduce one thing on a huge scale, with as little deviation in the product as possible. This doesn't allow for much flexibility, so if you decide to use different base materials or adjust the object's shape, you might need to build an entirely new machine. On the other hand,
A New Industrial Revolution
Today, with a small initial investment, startup companies have the ability to compete with larger corporations. In-house 3D printing allows young entrepreneurs to bypass the knotty manufacturing process, and just focus on creating a groundbreaking product. Then, when they have something worthwhile to show to investors, they can present a real object, instead of a dreamt-up illustration. It puts power back in the hands of creators.
Ultimately, these technological advances wouldn't mean much if the resulting products didn't improve our lives in some way. The tools are here at our disposal, but we have to decide how to use them. Whether it's building an intricate headpiece for a fashion show, crafting custom eyewear that fits to the wearer's face, or designing prosthetics for disabled people in war-torn countries, we've already taken a huge step forward.
