3D printers seem to have become mainstream, at least for do-it- Its own sport, filled with manufacturers. But it remains to be seen whether some \"killer apps\" will make these printers a must Prepare goods for consumers. This year\'s manufacturer Faire has contributed an entire tent to a dozen brands of 3D printers, many of which are sold at faire or delivered later. While all people have the same basic functionality They built a shape with plastic layer by layer. They all have slight design changes. Their supporters are passionate about the potential of printers. \"It\'s like a new industrial revolution,\" said Siert Wijnia, founder of the Netherlands. Based on Ultimaker. \"[3D printers] It was home to a microcomputer 30 years ago. \"It\'s true in a way: at the beginning of 1980, there was a computer and top- Apple or IBM- The price of the machine is $1,000. $1,500 range, about $2,200- The current dollar is $3,000. 3D printers are cheaper if available. Ultimaker sells its version for about $1,600. The software is open. Source, which works with most computers- Including some auxiliary design packages provided free of charge online. In contrast, early computers were not open source. So, there are two questions: What is the \"killer app\" that lets everyone print things, and how do different entrants compete in markets that have little access barriers? Makerbot, the old man of 3D- The printer universe has turned to proprietary software and design- Perhaps it is a recognition that it is difficult to continue to innovate without intellectual property to maintain a competitive advantage. [ Why does DIY pioneer not like 3D printing] At the same time, design continues to emerge. For example, Rostock Max is out of the typical box shape of most 3D printers. Built by PartDaddy, an engineering company that manufactures machine parts in Ind Goshen. It used three. The armed system moves the print head along the horizontal and vertical axes. Steve Wygant, CEO of PartDaddy, said the software is also different from other 3D printers. He will seek $10,000 by November. 24 Rostock Max named after his SeeMeCNC brand in the crowd- Fund website Indigogo. The price of a fully assembled Rostock should be around $1,500, while the price of a self-made kit is about $850. Unlike most other 3D printers, Rostock can be reinstalled Used as a \"pick and place\" circuit Because the arm is not limited by horizontal movement, the plate assembler. Wygant\'s background is engineering, but it\'s worth noting how many people come from the design background. The open- SOURCE technology has become simple enough to design and build 3D printers more than just hard areas Core engineer. Vancouver- Taking Justin Xi as an example, he studied design at Simon Fraser University in BC. Tinkerine, founded by Sy and friend Andy Yang, has produced several 3D printers, the same as above. The acrylic version shows the same aesthetic feeling as solid engineering. John Cabrer of Tjiko points out that most 3D printer designs have run out of patents, which is why so many people can build them. He came up with a kit that didn\'t require screws, so it could be slotted like Ikea furniture. \"I have made a lot of improvements in my career,\" he said . \" He refers to his background in software engineering. He added that the need for tools was eliminated by simplifying 3D printers. So, what are the restrictions with this enthusiasm? On the one hand, few 3D printers print more than one color at a time. Some can be equipped with multiple \"extruder \"( The part that puts the plastic down). But in general they only have one, so they have to be assembled outside the printer if you want colored parts. The resolution of the machine or the thickness of the plastic layer is also subject to some restrictions. Generally about 200 microns, or 0. 2mm, this is not a lot, but enough to give the pieces a rough \"feel\" that must be polished down \". There is also the choice of plastic. Most 3D- Printer manufacturers choose to use a biodegradable compound called PLA or PLA \"green \". Others use a material called ABS, which is known for the materials used in Lego bricks. But don\'t expect your bricks to look, feel or work the same. As we all know, Lego\'s tolerance is very tight, far less than the tolerance that can be achieved by homemade machines. The printer also does not work on the metal side, and the metal is still the field of industrial equipment. That is to say, these machines can do a lot of things. One trick is to make a ball bearing that the machine can make into a single part. The printer creates a ring around the bearing ( Connect the plastic with a thin piece that can be broken). Bearings are not aircraft- But they may be good enough for many applications. But while the idea of making your own toys or craft projects is exciting for some, it\'s not clear yet that the massive market for these printers will appear like desktop publishing. Most of his sales, for example, are in universities and schools, says cabble. It is worth noting that the biggest impact of desktop publishing may be to save a lot of money on existing printed publications, as the technology eliminates paste Space is provided for smaller operations, making it possible to cooperate with large printing plants. 3D printing is of course a lot of money. For any company that does a prototype design, saver, but the reason for using it at home is not quite clear. However, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of some customers. At the Makerbot booth, which is showing the latest model, several approached and asked if one was to be purchased, and at least one sought a guarantee that a new version would not appear until he shipped it. A common question in Ultimaker\'s position is, \"Can we take one home ? \"? \"This story is provided by TechNewsDaily, a sister website in life science. Follow TechNewsDaily Twitter @ TechNewsDaily, or on Facebook. Copyright 2012 livesscience, a technology media network company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or re-distributed.