Bench Talk

In the last few years, open source and crowdfunding have become a joint force multiplier, leading to new product innovations and a deeper expansion of open source into business.

There is no other product that singularly captures the essence of the maker movement more than the 3D printer. It is difficult to describe the feeling you get when you use a 3D printer for the first time. It truly is a euphoric rush once you realize you have the ability to take a mere concept in your mind’s eye and bring it to a tangible reality. There are many technologies driving the plethora of additive manufacturing products available today including stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Electron Beam Melting (EBM) and the most universally recognized Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method.

Humanity has streamlined the process of manufacturing several times over the course of its history. First, we channeled water and steam to mechanize production. Then we learned to harness electrical power for mass production. Next, electronics and information technology helped us increase automation. Now with 3-D design and printing, we’re able to blend the physical, virtual, biological, and chemical.