3D Printers

Out of 1,000 Americans, ⅓ Would Purchase a 3D Printer for the Home

According to a recent report conducted by OnePoll and financed by CEL, makers of the Robox 3D printer, one in three Americans are ready to have a 3D printer in their own home. My post-secondary education taught me always to look for a primary source document when possible.  Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find the original report anywhere, so I’ll have to go off of the study’s recap on Forbes.

The report, as Forbes outlines it, established that, in a study of 1,000 US participants, about a third were interested in having a 3D printer in their homes, with 65% of that third wanting to use the technology to customize items for their homes. The report also relays that 36% hoped to print objects instead of buying them from the store and that 35% would use the technology to make repairs in the home.  21% reported that they’d like to make customized jewellery and accessories and 28.5% wanted a 3D printer to print customized accessories for their gadgets.  The survey found that 33% of respondents would use 3D printing to make personalized gifts and 17% would use it to make wedding favours.

Also of note are the demographics of the respondents. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 more often stated that they’d like a 3D printer for their home. Additionally, the report seemed to suggest that the greatest interest in home 3D printing occurred in the Southeastern United States, specifically in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. I’d be further interested to see if other demographic factors – socioeconomic status, for instance – would play a role in determining whether or not individuals were interested in the technology. Or, maybe, the political affiliations of those getting into the technology.  Really, what I’d like is a complete portrait of those interested in 3D printing, where they come from, and why they think the tool is exciting in the first place.  It can’t just be customized gizmo accessories, can it?

The report may reflect a growing increase in interest around consumer 3D printing that is occurring with increased public knowledge of the technology. As more MakerBot stores pop up and 3D Systems pursues its free, public seminars on 3D printing, knowledge of the technology will spread further.  And, as the technology improves, so will its grasp on average consumers.

There is also a chance that this is a “report” from a 3D printer vendor to tell us just how much we DO want a 3D printer.

Next year, a similar report may reveal that the number has gone up to 50%.  And the following year: 75%.  In twenty-five years, some survey might tell us how many people are thinking of getting a 3D molecular printer, despite the obvious spatial-temporal bugs.

Source: Forbes

Image Source: user RBA on Thingiverse