The DreamVendor concept that has been
installed at Virginia Tech got lots of positive responses as it hit the news
waves recently. Pitted as an “interactive 3D printing station” for students at
the university, I must confess to mixed feelings on this when I saw it:
Of course I see the benefits of
making the printers more widely available, and as a consumer concept, I think
it is absolutely brilliant. I just can’t help thinking that for students in a
mechanical engineering department, putting the 3D printers behind glass is
self-defeating — they should be getting totally hands on with the machines and
the technology. For consumers, on the other hand, plug in an SD card, follow simple instructions and hit
print — spot on!
