wait a minute: how much money can 3d printing actually save you in a year?
by:Tuowei2019-09-03
A dizzying wave of headlines has announced that a new academic study proves that buying a 3D printer is not only affordable --but a money-saver. In fact, it is said that the research shows that these gadgets save users so much money ( By allowing them to print something they would otherwise have to buy) They basically pay for themselves in a year ( \"Domestic 3D printers can pay for themselves within a year,\" said Gizmodo . \")Not so fast. Contrary to the abstract or university summary of it, practical research It was interesting, but some questions were raised. I\'m curious because I like the idea of a 3D printer and can think of a lot of interesting things and I would love to tell my wife that the data is in it, we have to spend $1,500 to $2,000 on these things. This is an economically responsible thing! Think about the money we can save! After reading the study, however, I realized that this conversation had to wait. Instead, I need to get a researcher involved, and Joshua Pearce of the University of Michigan Tech clarified something for me. First, some basic knowledge. Investigate the economic situation of consumers Today, Pierce and his colleagues presented a list of 20 objects that can be designed in 3D from open- SOURCE Thingiverse website. They conclude that the cost of buying these goods in the open market will be between $312 and $1,944. The cost of printing all 20? A mere $18. The researchers cleverly addressed some of the obvious potential objections. They are quite conservative in market cost estimates ( For example, potential freight charges are often ignored) And adhere to the actual quick and easy printing work. Finally: many of the printable wonders found in Thingiverse belong to the fields of toys, art projects and strange pleasures; It\'s nothing wrong, but the researchers correctly chose something more practical in order to make a replacementcost argument. That said, I saw the report on that 20-item list. The 3D printer works by making solid objects with melted filaments, and it\'s hard for me to imagine that I might need to buy 20 plastic small doodles for a given year. In my opinion, in order to prove how much money a 3D printer can save, you must first establish a baseline on possible expenditures. First, at the low end, the cost of buying these 20 items may be only $312, not $1,944, according to the study. Second, view the complete list in a table at the end of the paper (below) Every item on the list seems reasonable. But as a group, they made me feel very strange. How likely is someone to need an iPhone 5 docking station and an iPhone 4 docking station? A set of curtain rings seems to be something that a person may have to change at some point, and I think one day I\'ll covet a \"pilogi mould \". But how many people print garlic presses every year? So, where did this list come from? Is it based on something real or related to it World data set on what consumers buy on average in a given year? “It was pseudo- Pierce admitted happily. When researchers comb through Thingiverse, they look for something that a typical American might buy, \"In our view,\" to address \"a set of representative things \". \"They almost did what they really needed. ( This explains two iPhone docks: two researchers and two. ) Of course, this is admirable, but it doesn\'t prove that you really have a reason to buy something worth $2,000, which you can print in the coming year. Still, I would be more convinced when I suggested to Pierce practical case studies related to real consumer purchases --vs. - In making the model, he insisted that the 3D printer was indeed the core argument of the potential money saver. Of course, it\'s fascinating to learn that even a home is --printed shower- Curtain ring quality- It is possible to make competitors in price ( As Pierce told me) Once you have one, you will think of something more useful. Also, point out to the guest that your shower ring is 3D Printing is better than explaining that you buy them at your local Target. I admit that with the improvement of these printers and the decline in costs, it is possible to prove that they are paying for themselves. But all these headlines say this has happened, is it proven? Pure manufacturing.