IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 22
RESOURCES_handS On
A $40 softwAreDefineD rADio
A rePurPosed tv tuner
cAn reveAl A wide swAth
of sPectruM
In various forms, 3-D printing has
been part of manufacturing for decades. Most 3-D printers apply
material-often molten plastic-layer
by layer to create prototypes or even
finished parts. But these industrial
machines tend to be expensive and
large. Even a basic model can cost
upwards of US $100 000 and be the
size of a refrigerator, Pettis says, well
out of reach for hobbyists.
With some angel investing, Pettis
and his friends introduced MakerBot
Industries' first printer kit in March
2009. The tabletop device could
make small structures out of plastic-
or pretty much any material that could
be made to flow steadily through a
nozzle onto a moving platform. "We
created a tool head for the machine
[we] called a frostruder, which was
an extruder for frosting," says Pettis.
"It worked really well with Nutella."
The kits started selling briskly. What
started as a small hacking project has
ballooned over the past four years into
a small empire, fed in part by Pettis's
energetic media presence and his
plethora of photogenic printed plastic gewgaws.
Pettis now oversees more than
250 employees at MakerBot's New
York City headquarters and production facility. The company has shipped
nearly 20 000 printers (now as finished
units instead of kits), and in November
2012, it opened its first retail store.
Earlier this year, Pettis debuted a 3-D
laser scanner that could be used to
map physical objects, creating a digital model suitable for printing. That's
in addition to the company's website,
Thingiverse.com, a compendium of
user-submitted files that has expanded
to include more than 80 000 designs
for 3-D printed objects.
Pettis got his start as an art teacher
in Seattle before leaving to make
how-to videos for Make magazine and
the craft-selling site Etsy. He sees few
limits to the market for 3-D printers.
In 5 years, he says, you'll know someone who has a 3-D printer; in 10, you'll
likely have access to one-if not in
your home, then at the local library.
The increasing availability of 3-D
printers has already turned up some
surprises. In May, for example, a
project called Robohand uploaded
designs to the Thingiverse for 3-D
printed fingers, which could be used
to build inexpensive but functional
pulley-driven prosthetics. "We're going to see all sorts of superinteresting
things happen as the technology
shifts from being something just
for the elite to something that's
the price of a laptop," Pettis says.
-rachEl courtlaNd
22
|
jUl 2013
|
nORTh aMERICan
|
SPECTRUM.IEEE.ORG
photograph by Nicholas EvElEigh
http://www.Thingiverse.com
http://SPECTRUM.IEEE.ORG
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Spectrum July, 2013
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - Cover1
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - Cover2
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 1
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 2
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 3
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 4
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 5
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 6
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 7
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 8
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 9
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 10
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 11
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 12
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 13
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 14
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 15
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 16
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 17
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 18
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 19
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 20
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 21
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 22
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 23
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 24
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 25
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 26
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 27
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 28
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 29
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 30
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 31
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 32
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 33
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 34
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 35
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 36
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 37
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 38
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 39
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 40
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 41
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 42
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 43
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 44
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 45
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 46
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 47
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 48
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 49
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 50
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 51
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 52
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 53
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 54
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 55
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 56
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 57
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 58
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 59
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - 60
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - Cover3
IEEE Spectrum July, 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0107
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com