They ain't here yet but getting closer every day. Your Cube 3D printer is ready for printing straight from the box. No more pesky inventory or overbearing peddlers taking up your valuable time. Customer selects a frame style and color from their iPhone app and sends it to your iPhone app which sends it to the 3D printed as soon as they swipe their credit card on your iPhone.
We live in interesting times.
http://cubify.com/en/Cube/Order?gcli...FWFp7Aodh3gAFA
I know nothing about 3d printing, so how long do you think it'll be before they print the whole eyewear frame and lens?
I was just having this conversation with one of the greatest speakers I know. The patent on laser sintering is set to expire within 5 years and my belief is 5 to 10 before we see adoption.
The current abs and pla plastics are only good for prototyping, laser sintering opens up metals as an option, aluminum, titanium, etc.
abs and pla printing is not really suitable for printing eyewear. At least not anything of quality or durability. Plus there is a lot of post processing to make it look even close to acceptable to sell. Think about all the hardware that makes a good frame good. nice hinges/springs, metal cores, accent plaques, etc... Not possible unless you have do a ton of post processing which would lower the integrity of the frame. Laser sintering is better but there would still be post processing.
I don't really see a future in 3D printing and eyewear. Just because you "could" doesn't mean you "should".
In regard to printing lenses I think there is a real future in that although still post processing. I wrote an article about "printing" a replacement crystalline lens as an IOL alternative using a 3D bioplotter & Si hydrogel. I should have patented it because B&L recently emailed me to inform me of their newly acquired patent. Ahhh, if only opticians had the funds to explore our ideas....
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