14 DAY TRIAL // 3D printing is already branching out, having been used in everything from toy making to food creation (even pizzas can be 3D printed now), but it still has a long way to go. Epson disagrees though.
Well, not quite. Epson acknowledges that there is a lot that 3D printing technology must accomplish. What it does not believe is that it will, or should, take long to accomplish it.
According to information unearthed recently, Epson wants its 3D printers to be able to create “anything” 5 years from now.
In fact, Epson has a very grand view, of additive manufacturing being used to make cars and other sophisticated devices.
It's not surprising that Epson would be so ambitious. After all, it made sure to secure a large stake in the 2D printing industry too.
Still, saying that it wants its machines to make “anything” is a bold move. Then again, it's not like Epson is rushing things.
In fact, despite companies like HP revealing plans to enter the market this year (2014), Epson's President Minoru Usui said that they wouldn't be ready for another five.
So, the company is basically holding back. When it finally makes its move, it wants to have all bases covered, and then some.
We'll have to wait for the next five years to actually pass before we can figure out if its goal was achieved though.
“We are developing our own printers, but our aim is to change everything. When it comes to 3D printing… we want our machines to make anything,” President Minoru Usui told Engadget. “Not many people need to print a plastic figure.”
It's kind of incredible to think that we'll be seeing 3D printed cars in 5 years. We'll not let go of our skepticism just yet, but we suppose that at least some parts will be 3D printable by then.