Question 1: I want to buy a 3D printer, how much does it cost approximately?
3D printers range in price from two thousand to over a million dollars, and some are even DIY creations by netizens.
Why is there such a big price difference between 3D printers, ranging from those costing a few thousand yuan to those costing millions? The reason lies in the fact that 3D printers are classified according to their technical principles, including SLA (photopolymerization) molding technology, FDM (fused deposition modeling) molding technology, and other molding technologies.
Different molding technologies have different costs. FDM (Fiber Direct Molding) 3D printers are currently the most common and lowest-cost type of 3D printer. The price of FDM 3D printers generally ranges from several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan. Generally, the larger the print size of a 3D printer, the higher the cost, sometimes reaching tens of thousands of yuan, because 3D printers with larger print sizes have higher standards in terms of manufacturing processes and machine stability.
Question 2: Can only plastics be used as materials?
Plastic is currently the most commonly used and lowest-cost material, meeting everyday printing needs. However, nowadays, paper, ceramics, metals, food, biological materials, and more can all be used for printing.
Question 3: Is the 3D printer market really that hot?
According to a recent market research report, the 3D printing market is projected to reach $30.19 billion by the end of 2022, with an annual growth rate of 28.5% from 2016 to 2022.
The report predicts that the Asia-Pacific (APAC) 3D printing market, including China and Japan, may grow at a faster pace than the United States during the period from 2016 to 2022, due to government policies and funding support, coupled with extensive industrial infrastructure.
Question 4: I recently saw a news report about a resident using a 3D printer to make guns. Are there any legal or ethical issues regarding the use of 3D printers?
Guns are strictly regulated in all countries around the world. Even in the United States, government oversight of guns remains very strict. If one day, anyone in any corner of the world could use their own 3D printer to print guns at will without leaving home, the world would inevitably descend into panic and chaos. While those who maliciously use 3D printing technology should be punished, whether 3D printers themselves should also be subject to legal restrictions remains a point of contention. Currently, the vast majority of countries support the development of 3D printing technology, and governments and relevant public institutions are actively promoting 3D printers.
Question 5: Is 3D printing a relatively new technology that has only emerged in recent years?
3D printers have actually been around for nearly 30 years, with the first one invented by an American named Hull in 1986. However, many people in China say that they only seem to hear about "3D printing" frequently in recent years. Why is that? Because starting in 2012, with large-scale media promotion, 3D printing technology gradually gained popularity in China, and many companies invested in the 3D printing industry. Competition in the domestic 3D printer market has become increasingly fierce, and 3D printers are increasingly trending towards civilian applications.
