oh my gosh michelle! my husband is going to be so excited to see this! he handed me this article from "The Economist" just the other night while i was editing product images to list! how funny! what i love more than anything is how our incredible Etsy Admin keeps our community informed as business owners and consumers! thank you for all you do! siempre- dorana

fascinating! and ditto dorana's last two lines... :) x angela

I've had the pleasure of 3d printing as I have started graduate school for architecture. It's truely amazing what you can design amd most importantly fabricate. So many options, it really frees up the design process.

Exciting! I need to read up on this some more. Thanks for sharing! EtsyLove from, Jamie

A little scary - but oh what could be done. I am always unsure of anything that is in the direction of producing multiples. I love once off - one of a kind. I read this and went off and googled - maybe it is exciting after all . . . .

hmmmm.... Michele, good Question, how will this change the World? Totally, I guess, but like with all that comes new, we will get uste of it fast and there will be already the next new adventure :)

I am amazed at this technology!

I read the article in the Economist and was totally amazed... Just imagine how it would be like to have your own 3D printer at home which prints everything you want?!?... Groetjes from Holland :D

I recently visited an art school with a machine: you put in a drawing and out comes a plastic or wood 3d sculpture.... WHOA! I am still completely amazed that the photocopier can copy, collate AND staple! Amazing!

Very good!

Good thing to start thinking about . Thanks

Saw a fascinating article on this on Inc magazine not too long ago http://www.inc.com/max-chafkin/how-stuff-gets-made.html The possibilities are endless for what you can do with these, though I'm wondering if it might require some technical drafting know-hows like it would take to use CAD for example.

So are there any design collectives or studios that one can join to get access to some of this equipment? (I'm in NYC. I had access in architecture school but never had time to explore it)

we've come a long way since pong!

I've heard several pieces about 3D printing on NPR & BBC radio. Fascinating stuff!

It seems only five minutes since 3D printing was only known in cutting-edge science circles... now it's almost mainstream. Definitely one of the most exciting things to happen in recent years, available to home users at a reasonable cost. Love it!

This technology is truly amazing! My boyfriend (CorporanGlass.etsy.com) just started using Shapeways recently, and he may be selling some of his 3-D printed creations on Etsy soon!

I also read the economist article privious to reading this article, it's crazy to think about! Immedieately I though it would be horrible for anyone who handmakes things, but our creativity now just has a new outlet. There will always be something special about handmade things.

It's brilliant - completely brilliant, closest we've ever been to democratised manufacturing so far. and of course it will only get better, cheaper, faster. I love the 3D metal stuff, it's an amazing - almost the most amazing thing is that it works at all, a modern industrial miracle. I used to worry that being able to see the layers meant it looked unfinished. Now it's my favourite thing, honesty in manufacture and all that. It's precisely because it _doesn't_ look like everything else that I like it! Unusually detailed article in the Economist - so often the exciting bit (I mean, how it works!) get's glossed over in explanations for the lay person.

Funny how I am reading this after I blogged about Mary Katrantzou's 3D prints that are currently shaking the fashion world!

Interesting!!!!!!!!

from laser cutting to 3D printing, it's all pretty cool. Here's a neat site: http://www.ponoko.com/ also http://www.shapeways.com/ I'll be you recognize some of the designers!

Hard to wrap the mind around this!! Its interesting how so many concepts in "science fiction" make their way into reality. Maybe "Beam me up Scotty" will eventually be realized!

Very intriguing technology, hopefully more choices of materials will be available in the future.

One of my favorite geek sites, http://hacknmod.com/, just featured an affordable diy 3d printer called the MakerBot. For $1,000 or less, you can have one today. And for those wondering what to do with a 3d printer, watch this cute kid present the MakerBot to a group of engineers: http://blog.makerbot.com/category/video/ I love that this technology reduces waste, offers multiple materials in which to print, is scaleable and can eliminate costly shipping and retooling costs. "You can print your cake and eat it too." Thanks, Michelle!

I think 3D printing is so cool, and lots of new and exciting possibilities will come up in lots of fields!

This is pretty cool. My husband is in the printing business and has been showing me some of the really neat new machines out there for 3D printing - very excited to see where it will go!

thats great

the museum of modern art design store carries nervous system's 3d printed jewelry! I met with the accessories buyers at moma retail yesterday to show them my work. 3d printing is the FUTURE!!! There was an article in the NY times about 3d printing when shapeways got $5mil to open a NY facility. now if only they'd move some of the machines over here...

It's amazing to see how quickly technology is developing! What an exciting time to be alive!

i've been eyeing them for a year now. there are endless possibilities between that and laser cutting.

I love technology. The End.

:o I've just put here a link to a video about "Arduino Project" and I get this message: "Oh no! Your comment appears to be spam. It has been flagged and will be reviewed by Etsy's blog editors." Is this normal? :s Look yourself for "Arduino The Documentary (2010) English HD" on Vimeo It's a very nice video about 3D printers.

So cool! uptomuch is great!

Pretty fascinating and scary at the same time.

I read the same article, I still can't get my head around it! Printing body parts!! Simply amazing.

What a beautiful ring! I love the idea of 3D printing. Change the view-limitless! Great article! Best, Connie

Very nice!!

Watch this video http://vimeo.com/hd#18539129

It's amazing. My daughter-in-law is a biologist and working on a PhD. She is printing out slices of organs and using a solids software program to build kidneys, livers. Exciting. Very Jetsonish.

It's amazing. My daughter-in-law is a biologist and working on a PhD. She is printing out slices of organs and using a solids software program to build kidneys, livers. Exciting. Very Jetsonish.

I recently heard a story about 3D printing on NPR... then looked at a video - fascinating to watch!

Thanks so much for featuring 3D printing!! It is so exciting to see the rest of the world catching on to what we already know is going to change EVERYTHING... Check out www.shapeways.com (Etsy's cousin, kinda) to get try 3D printing for yourself....

i read about this many years ago in a popular science magazine. it's finally come to light! i think in the article...they used a coffee mug and a children's dinosaur as an example of what we could one day make with these printers!

This type of technology is absolutely amazing and we were using something similar to this in the design process of automotive engineering! Can't wait to see the creative flow... We have been using solids software (which used to be skins, and surfaces, made from wire frame) to calculate volumes and more for many, many years, the software cost was too prohibitive for the average person. I LOVE THIS STUFF! xo

I was just talking to my husband about this the other day. Clothing production is so archaic - sewing? With hands? In another country? Clothing production is due for a revolution; this could be it. Just imagine - you're in Tokyo; you order a tshirt off a central website; your fit info is sent to a 3D printer in Tokyo; you pick up your shirt the next day. If they can print a pig's heart, they can print a pair of jeans, right?

Sounds interesting but I wonder about those of us who enjoy the tactile process of creating a work of art. Will this new technology still speak to our souls?

I have been doing a mural at my old highschool, and the design studies instructor showed me the 'new printer' they got. It prints 3D objects, in the form of plastic. Wish we had this kind of amazing technology 10 years ago! It took 5 hrs for a couple smaller hand sized objects to print. Imagine where we'll be in another 10 years!

More technology to make us feel disconnected from other humans? We live enmeshed in a land of too many choices and not enough spine to make those choices as it is. Wow how great I can tell a machine what to do by pushing a button when in fact isn't it more amazing to create these things on our own by hand? What happened to a sense of fulfillment from creation?More things to make people passive. And it reminds me of something... remember Disney's house of Tomorrow land? It was so indestructible they had to blow it up to removed it when it was outdated. We all predicted we would have a home like this in the future instead most people are losing their homes. How can this technology make human interaction better and human life on this planet more meaningful THAT would impress me. One of the grand original tenants of design "form following function" well I see not much function if it is something we will invent just because we can. And all of you that say I love technology..think about what you are saying. What is it you love about it? How it makes you feel? Do you feel from it? No and that is why you like it usually it makes you numb.

so many advances in technology~ this is very interesting :)

This will change everything. Just as we had no idea 20 years ago what the internet would do..... There will still be a special place for objects made by human hands!

I am just not sure how to think about all of this...very cool indeed but good points to ponder..mysteriousbones.

thats amazing! Who'da thunk...

Very exciting!

I am particularly impressed with the medical devices as well as the savings for aeronautical parts...and some of us wondered where we would be in 2000...wow. Thanks for sharing.

I saw a documentary on Nova the other night talking about making working human organs out of a piece of blank tissue. Apparently, a college in Texas used a printer to create working organ. I still don't know how they did that even after watching the documentary.

mmmm...interesting!

Really interesting!! 3D printing is the future!? ^_^ Thanks for sharing

The most amazing use of 3D printing I've ever seen was at an art show at the Vancouver Art Gallery. An artist had every member of his family have an MRI and he 3D printed their skulls and displayed them at the height of that person in the gallery. Creepy? Yup. But also amazing.

Obviously this technology is amazing but what has is got to do with Etsy: "the place to buy and sell all things handmade". Sorry people - using your finger to press P to print does not equate with making something by hand. In my humble opinion.

I heard about it but more on the food industry part, i was so exited to hear that Dave Arnold has the original 3D printer (At least the one for food) at The French Culinary Institute, I can't wait to see it in action first hand when i go back to my school in October.

I got the chance to look at a 3D printing facility recently, what is amazing is how quickly it is becoming achievable and affordable for everyone. Personally, I can't wait to make something.

Whoa - crazy!

I dont know why but as a potter 3D printing makes me nervous. But there'll always be a place for the touch of a real person.

The artist dreams it and science creates.

I love the idea of 3D printing! The possibilities for it's use are endless. But I have to agree with LittleWrenPottery... there'll always be a place for the touch of a real human.

"How will 3D printing change not just the way we manufacture, but the way we design, sell, and consume?" We do REALLY fully understand what this will mean for handmade in the future? I see an impressive machine that in the future will destroy purely handmade prosedure....and the beauty of it.Will the product of this machine,be concidered distant future "handmade"? Just wondering...

The future will AMAZE us!! Etsy ALREADY does!

I don't know. Can't say it amazes me but I will say I'm a tad old fashioned...the hands on process amazes me for sure. Only time will tell.

We've been exploring 3D printing in the form of rapid prototyping for use in paleontology. Sometimes traditional replica-making is too tough on delicate fossils, but now you can laser map their surface or CT scan them, and print them out instead! It could even be used in the future to print out the copy of a fossil too delicate to fully carve surrounding rock away from. Unfortunately the resolution of the printers is nowhere near as accurate as a traditional cast made directly from the specimen - but we're getting there! I can imagine these applications will have wonderful effects on the world of sculpture. Artists will have a way to replicate very delicate pieces without having to risk breaking them through molding!

3D printing is my newest obsession (because I just started working in the sector) and the ways that it has already been used blows my mind. My favourite printed object so far is the Quin.MGX which you can see here http://www.mgxbymaterialise.com/principal-collection/families/family/detail/detail/27 It is the perfect marriage of art and mathematics and never would have been created if not for 3D printing. The same company that makes this also has a printing service, which means your design could emerge from the same machine as something made by Dror or Patrick Jouin or Xavier Lust. You can check them out at http://i.materialise.com/

And for Saurian Studios, you should check this out because 3D printing was already used to print a replica of King Tut's mummy for an exhibition by National Geographic...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ4TCR9WoLY Perhaps that is what you need for paleotology as well. The mammoth printer can make prints of up to 2m (6ft or so), but if the bones are bigger than that you will have to glue it all together after :)

very interesting... thx for sharing

It's been really interesting following the discussion here. To those who feel like 3D printing could never be "handmade" — what about sewing machines? Or laser cutters? Can there not be a union of hand and machine?

Not even for a joke....

"Handmade" has never been my word of choice. I'm interested in objects that are finely crafted in limited quantities by individuals who are personally responsible for the design and production of their goods. Machines are just tools; it's how we use them that matters. There is serious artistry in the work of creators who use 3d-printing and other rapid manufacturing tools; it just manifests itself in a different way and different stage of production than traditional crafts. If you can accept that some illustrators work in the computer and print their work out, you should be able to accept that some sculptors do the same.

I agree. Artistry & Machines are often hand and hand these days. It's something we all do in a sense- we all have our tools. I know my illustrations go from paper to computer to print, but I still consider it handmade. To discount the hours I spend hand drawing to label it for the other part of the process would be unfair to the artist. In this process, to even conceptualize something in 3d before the machine is noteworthy- then executing that concept with it is bringing it to life. The future is here :) 3D invitations are next for my shop!

We must separate the Art concept from the Handmade concept.When only machines are used,it is art. But when you really fix a thing from the beggining to the end--THAT'S HANDMADE! Etsy in the future might have to concider switching from the "handmade" concept to the "art" concept.... nervoussystem,when you say, "Handmade" has never been my word of choice. I'm interested in objects that are finely crafted in limited quantities by individuals who are personally responsible for the design and production of their goods. It just makes me sad...I joined for handmade here.I can find "perfect" everywhere....

This is completely mind-blowing and miraculous! I wonder what it will do to the handmade industry.

I'm so happy to be living in the future.

A very interesting machine an extremely valuable process. However I would be disappointed to see the art community use this on a mass scale. For me much of art is the craftsmanship and pride that can be attained by fabricating a work of art with your own hands. Having a computer manufacture the finished product seems to be a bit hollow in the end. Still, I'm certain this will open up avenues to new artwork that was never before possible and that is quite fascinating.

ohh wooow! I`m impressed!

It gets you thinking! Thanks for this article!

Very interesting idea. Sounds like a lot of waste and fuel for shipping could be eliminated which is great news. But would 3D printers be used to make junk too? Probably.

A real bargain at $20K! Uh... I think I'll wait until these go on sale...

I read about a 3-D printer in Wired Magazine a few years ago. Imagine the possibilities if you could have your own desktop fabricator!

The Zeitgeist Movement and The Venus Project have touched on this a bit in their recent installment. This technology can be used for building houses if we can think of it on a larger scale (just one example), freeing people from laborious jobs! The future will be great if that pesky corruption and greed could be eliminated.

very interesting. thanks for sharing.

Well before you get all starry eyed folks I can tell you that a major corp scan one of my pieces, tweeked it a little, had it cast in China and is selling it at quite a bit less. The real troubles have yet to being. I have taken to copyrighting my pieces before I release them now. I have had some designs CAD built but to tell you the truth you can tell. I still prefer the human hand carving wax. For now the tecno has not quite been able to match the artist.

Off to read the Economist....I am guessing I will be on the Luddite side of this discusssion, hoping to bust up the machines of Progress.

Hey everyone, enjoyed reading all your comments and just wanted to share my excitement with you regarding this technology! I see that just like me , you can't wait to have a 3D printer at home and start experimenting, right?

I have a 3D Printer and it is an exciting tool in my arsenal. I've created some awesome things with it for myself and for others. And some things that I used to make by hand are now easier and faster. It is a powerful tool. But, for those worried that it will squash the art world by eliminating hand made items, fear not. It is a tool to create and not a magic wand that spits out finished items. An artist creates the models first and then additional work is done after printing. Especially with the way I use it to create. It is to me like a paint brush or a table saw. A tool I use to create my art. It could never eliminate me as the artist that I am. I offer my services to any and all artists who seek to find new techniques and materials to realize their visions.

OK! So I promised myself I would stay under the radar until my product and my website were ready, or at least updated. BUT THIS WHOLE THREAD IS ABOUT 3D PRINTING!! I'M TOO EXCITED! I used a 3D printer to jump-start the product I'm working on (and hoping to have listed really soon! Fingers Crossed). FXengineer, who posted above, is my boyfriend and partner. I went to him with my idea for faerie wings in a bottle as a project I wanted to create just for myself. I was lamenting that my wings must have been plucked off some poor faerie somewhere. I wanted to create a tiny faerie body that looked just right. Right away he said "That's the perfect kind of job for my 3D printer!" There was a lot of trial and error, which would've taken months using traditional methods. Once we had the basic shape created I did use a lot of traditional methods to enhance the printed piece. From there I took my product out to DragonCon to carry around and see what people thought. You can check out pictures of that first run at www.magicaloddities.com Be warned this website has not received a lot of attention since we made it. Since then I've been working hard to get my product to the standard I want it to meet. 3D printing isn't always a click the print button and you're done process. It gave me a rough product which I then perfected to the vision I was going for. The 3D body is also just a part of what I'm creating. I use many other methods and materials to create the finished product, and I'm still trying new things! What I'll have listed soon is the simplest of my ideas. I can't wait to get into full swing and see where this road takes me. 3D printing was one of the earliest steps on that road though, and although I think I could have eventually found a way without it - it's a technology that's helped to push my ideas further and test out prototypes to see where I should focus my energies first.

Oh! On my website it says you can purchase items by contacting me. That was when I first began this project in 2009. I plan to do all my sales through Etsy. While I still have a lot of work to do please convo me through Etsy if you are interested and I can let you know as soon as I list anything; or I can try to work with you if you'd like a custom item. I'm still brand new to selling on Etsy, so I'm working to learn as fast as I can!

I have never found that technology numbs the mind or causes a disconnect between human beings. Technology takes away the repetitive aspects of a job and cuts the time factor. I come from a graphic arts background and worked in the printing trade for over 25 years. when a collating machine in the bindery department goes down. Everyone is then needed to hand collate hand staple hand fold. Your day has gone from 8 hours to 16 or more, so much time spent away from family and friends. Give me technology,"That Works!!!" let me go home.

3D printing has been in the development stage for more than 10 years and will finally come the usual route of the general public getting access the last on the chain. It holds a world of potential for the artist and crafter alike. I will be curious to see which different materials can be used and to what degree can the detail go. I read an article lately about an entire car body being created this way so the industrial applications are endless as well. There should never be a limit on the advancing of tools and technology available to the artist as long as artistic expression isn't actually stifled by it. On to the future we go!

Wow, what a great article. Thanks for sharing. I had not heard of 3D printing, but it seems like such an exciting prospect for the future!

And you thought toner cartridges were expensive now?

very cool, thank you :)

We go tto use 3D printers in school and though I would rather be at the bench making jewelry then on a computer any day.. it is quite astounding to see the process from creation on the computer, to the printed wax piece, to casting it in metal and seeing your thought come to life.

thank you for the idea of open source!

There is a fantastic new 3D printer on the market that uses subtraction to create models. It is able to use very inexpensive materials for making the models and can do so at speeds that are 1/20 that of the additive machines. The company is 2BOT physical Modeling Technologies, and their ModelMaker has a very clever edge on the 3D printing market.

3D printers are very fast to work and one can get quick work done with such type of printers with inexpensive material of printing stock.

Some good leads- here's another one http://blog.thingiverse.com/ Like anything, cad can be poor from an artistic point of view, or it can be a powerful tool in a crafters kit bag :-)

wao.. your items are really nice. please check out http://www.etsy.com/listing/73042192/coat-of-arms?ref=pr_shop

It will allow us to make even more awesome pet id tags: http://www.etsy.com/people/flashgordondesigns