Low cost custom plastic parts

If you haven't read Chris Anderson's theory about the Long Tail of markets yet, the theory is that products in low demand or that have a low sales volume can collectively make up a market share that rivals or exceeds the relatively few current bestsellers and blockbusters, if the store or distribution channel is large enough. The Long Tail is the potential market and the manufacturing, distribution and sales channel opportunities created by the Internet often enable businesses to tap that market successfully.

What does the Long Tail theory have to do with the MakerBot? Most of the case studies with respect to the Long Tail are related to distribution channels. However, the MakerBot (or other low cost fabrication machines) enable individuals to manufacture products in extremely low volumes with decent margins. An example is a custom cylindrical bushing that I was asked to manufacture on my MakerBot. The price to machine this bushing out of ABS plastic was quoted around $225 per piece. Needless to say, the machined price for the part would be prohibitive for the everyday person. However, the price for the part off of the MakerBot will probably be a tenth of the machined version.

The low cost of the custom plastic part will enable those potential buyers at the end of the "tail" to participate in the marketplace. As the sum of all those buyers is greater than the few, large buyers currently in the market, the actual sales opportunity is tremendous.

The question now is how to tap into that market which is not currently being served and may not even know that they have options.

Micro Manufacturing with a MakerBot

First, I am the proud owner of MakerBot 997. While I thoroughly enjoy making parts for myself, I believe that the MakerBot is the beginning of a new type of democratized manufacturing. Call it whatever you want, cloud manufacturing, distributed manufacturing, or even micro manufacturing. However, this type of low cost technology has the capability to put the common person back in the drivers seat of choice by allowing the manufacturing of low cost, low volume, high mix products.

My question is this, who else out there is using their MakerBot or other type of low cost manufacturing equipment as a part of their business? What is your business model? Pricing structures, etc.?

The "future of manufacturing"

So what is "cloud manufacturing"? Here is the ultimate premise:

1. A readily available, low cost, easy to use, personal fabricating machine is in every household.
2a. 3D models are available for download from the Web, the "cloud", for free (see Thingiverse for an idea of the possibilities) or for a fee, depending upon the demand. Think E-books for the Kindle, old classics can be downloaded for free while you pay for the newly released top sellers.
2b. 3D modelling software accessed through the Web (or "cloud") is so easy to use that the average person can create a representation of what he or she wants or modify a current design relatively easily.
2c. For replication purposes, change the tool head on the personal fabricator to a scanner, place the desired object for copying into the machine, press scan, and the personal fabricator creates a 3D model of the object ready for duplication (sounds a lot like a copier!)
3. After finding, creating, scanning what he/she wants/needs, the file is loaded into the home fabricator, and manufactured on demand.

Literally, you reach into the "cloud", find what you want, and make it right then, right there.

Why would we go in this direction:

1. The ultimate in one piece flow
2. Literally, on-demand manufacturing
3. Little, to no transportation, inventory, overproduction, over-processing (i.e. the seven deadly forms of waste)
4. The ultimate in consumer choice, no more buying what is available, buy want you want, when you want it!

How would this work? Imagine a child wanting a toy:

1. Child desires toy
2. Parent searches Web, "cloud", for toy child wants
3. Parent downloads 3D Model of toy into fabricator and makes toy
4. Child gets the exact toy they want, now.

Are we there yet? No. Is this just the beginning? Yes. Remember the original Heathkit computers? All but the early adopters were saying, why would we need a computer at home? Look at us now.

How will it begin? With early adopters building personal fabricators from kits, i.e. the Makerbot. In the beginning until the technology catches up, those technically inclined will fabricate for those not so adroit at it. The automobile started out this way, owners were mechanics up until they were mass produced for the every day person. With the rate that technology is changing, it is hard to predict how soon this transformation will occur. Will everything go this way, probably not. Toys seem to be a natural fit. Maybe even replacement parts for appliances? Medical devices, maybe not. It is hard to tell what industries will grow up around this. No one could have predicted what would come out of the personal computer. No one will be able to predict what will come out of the personal fabricator either.

This is literally a "if we build it, they will come" approach. The market is undefined and unimaginable, but it is there. We just have to find it. My goal is to be part of it.