Gartner's 2013 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies features

[Batteau62]

I was listening to the radio in the car to a program listing the top tech prediction bust-i.e. "the iphone will never be a success" "no one will want a computer in their home" Based on this, what do we think of 3d printing's chances?

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130819- ... hines.html

[Eric]

Commercially, there's no question, and in that area it'll make great strides.

For the consumer market, in its current form, I don't think so. Right now it's a toy for hobbyists or people who see the commercial applications for the device. To become a consumer item it has to:
a) be easy for a non-technical person to use. Remember, programming a VCR is still beyond the grasp of many...fortunately for a VCR, it was useful without programming.
b) do something useful or entertaining. Printing food products comes to mind. Or printing clothes.
c) do it quickly enough to replace the alternative. Waiting 10 hours for your result, when you can go buy it at the store in 10 minutes isn't useful.
d) not break the bank in purchase and/or operating costs. The consumer price point is WAY lower than the commercial price point.

The extreme case is the star trek replicator...that's an imaginary form of 3-d printer that would replace the refrigerator, stove, and microwave in a kitchen. Also replaces shopping for food, except for those who like to cook.

[JohnStack]

I see Kiosks like Red Box...go to the mall to get your replacement part for x.