Shapeways: 3D打印重塑制造業

????今年以來，隨著像史泰博（Staples）這樣的公司開始推出普通消費者也買得起的3D打印機，3D打印熱潮開始受到各界的熱烈追捧。本月初，3D系統公司（3D Systems）制造的3D打印機The Cube在Staples.com上以每臺1300美元的定價開始銷售；七月就能在實體店買到。但和所有第一代科技產品一樣，這些打印機也沒法隨心所欲打出人們想要的任何東西。號稱能打出全球第一把3D手槍的說法也只是個博人眼球的小插曲而已。

????3D打印真正的潛力還是有賴企業界發掘——比如像空客公司（Airbus）這樣的企業就會探索如何用3D打印技術制造飛機零部件。正是這種遠景激發了魏瑪豪森的雄心壯志。隨著大企業對3D制造的興趣日益濃厚，原材料成本就會隨著下降，同時打印機技術也會不斷改進。而普通消費者也能買到用更多材料打印的更多種類的物品。今天也許還只能買到打印的iPhone手機殼。未來說不定就能買到打印的手機了。（財富中文網）

????譯者：清遠

????The 3-D printing buzz has been a bit overblown this year as companies like Staples (SPLS) begin making them available directly to consumers -- earlier this month The Cube, which is manufactured by 3D Systems (DDD), went on sale for $1,300 through Staples.com; it will likely be available in stores starting as early as July. But just as with any first-generation tech products, these printers won't be capable of doing all that much. The fanfare over the world's first 3-D-printed gun is also a distracting sideshow.

????The real potential for 3-D printing will be felt in enterprise -- as companies like Airbus explore using 3-D printing to make, say, airplane parts. That's the bet that fuels Weijmarshausen's ambitions. As big business takes an increasing interest in 3-D manufacturing, the costs of materials will come down. and the machine technology will improve. Customers will be able to order more types of objects in more materials. Today, perhaps it's the iPhone case. Tomorrow, potentially, the phone itself.