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3D Nation aims to bring printers to the people

How many underutilised 3D printers are there out there, and is there a surplus of demand for their services? That’s what recent graduate of Cambridge University and MIT Fraser Atkins is looking to find out, with a new matchmaking designed to bring together, um, makers and makees in order to make beautiful stuff.

Say you’ve built yourself a 3D printer and not sure what to do with it next – which is an interesting question, because I find myself in exactly that situation, having finally produced usable lumps of sculpted plastic from RepRap Oxford over the last couple of weeks. I’ve made a few spare parts but now the machine must find a true purpose beyond producing endless numbers of octopus heads. I’m in the minority, though. More likely is that you have an idea for something you want 3D printed but don’t have access to a machine to make it.

For example, you’ve finally come up with an idea for the world’s best mouse trap, but need a particular thingamajig to complete it. Here in South Africa, there’s a few companies that will 3D print on demand. Like 3D Printers or 3D Print Systems, for example. But frankly, for your first couple of runs that you don’t need perfect prints for, you might well find someone like me who’ll be only too happy to make it for the price of the plastic and/or a six pack of English beer.

The trouble is, how do you find me?

While studying Mechanical Engineering, Atkins says, he was repeatedly struck both by the revolutionary power of 3D printers and the fact that students had no access to them.

“At both [Cambridge and MIT], it was the case that access to 3D printers was difficult,” says Atkins, “For such an incredible technology, it was frustrating that, as students, we were barely exposed to it. Worse still, the high price points of many printers made them inaccessible for me to purchase individually

“Having experienced these problems first-hand, I decided to develop The 3D Nation, which aims to connect those with under-utilised 3D printers with those who are looking to get things printed.”

Using 3D Nation is simple. You sign up either as a printer owner or a printer seeker, and the one can contact the other via the site without having to give away too many details.

The plan for 3D Nation is to become a global swap-shop which will eventually be a self-sustaining enterprise – and one that could have most potential in countries like South Africa where ideas are cheap and plentiful but access to resources extremely limited. I’m going to be encouraging other RepRappers I know to sign up. You can check out the 3D Nation site here.

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