Bre Pettis Opening Remarks

SXSW 2013 Opening Remarks

@Bre, Bre Pettis, Founder Makerbot

I’ve been following Makerbot the last several years, as my SXSW buddy John Biehler has been a big advocate and user of 3D printers (in fact, he’s got a session on the topic at SXSW this year). It’s really cool to see all of the things they can do, and can’t wait until the technology becomes more commonplace.

Here’s a bit of what Pettis shared with the audience:

• In the same way Photoshop changed the way photography works, Makerbot is dedicated to helping change the playing field for innovative explorers.
• They just announced a digital scanner which can help to scan existing 3D items to replicate them using 3D printing, as well as a partnership with AutoDesk which will allow designers to design and make things much more easily.
• While the Makerbot primarily uses the extruder to melt plastic and form it into your design, you can use different types of extruders to make all sorts of things – from a syringe filled with icing or chocolate for cupcakes to metal and other things.
• The vision is to have makerbots everywhere, from schools to homes.
• Yes, you can build your own legos, but it takes quite a long time. It’s primarily used right now to help designers and inventors prototype items. Even Ford Motors is using 3D printers to design and prototype car parts.
• They’ve grown Thingverse – a website for designs of various 3D printed items to over 40,000 items, with nearly a fourth of things submitted in just the last few months.

All in all, 3D printers are very cool and have the potential. It should be interesting to see what happens to things like the toy industry and how big an impact it can have on things like that. Much like Pettis, I think this has the potential to be huge for future inventors – in fact, most of the Kickstarter campaigns I’ve seen recently have used 3D printers to prototype their inventions. Imagine how this levels the playing field!