A number of startups are competing to grab the consumer market growing 3D printing

After six years of "just survive", Brook Drumm, a web designer based in California, had accumulated approximately $ 50,000 in credit card debt. To save your finances, decided Drumm in a solution unorthodox create a 3D printing company.

Like many business owners potential Drumm does not have the capital for your idea on the ground. While he considered his options. You could put a lien on your house, ask your friends for money or sell their cars. After consulting with his wife, however, decided to try Kickstarter, a funding platform online, the need to raise $ 25,000.

To purchase materials to create printers, Drumm maxed out their credit cards. Then he created a Kickstarter page and prayed.

"It was the darkest place I was by far the worst moment of my life," he said. "There is no debt was what I thought. "

Drumm Surprisingly, only 24 hours after the deposit of its launch, the project has achieved its goal. Thirty days later, the project was bombed printrbot of 1808 with $ 830,827 fans, surpassing their expectations.

"It was totally surreal," said Drumm, who is struggling today to respond to an influx of orders. "It changed my life."

What is perhaps most important to the history of Drumm is that, at least in the field of 3D printing to the growing consumption, it is not particularly sensitive. Several companies have 3D printers investment peaks shortly after its launch.

Kickstarter campaign last week to form Formlabs printer '1 raised almost as much as printrbot made its first day - and still have 21 days to go. Although many of these start-ups have used websites and other Kickstarter funding to help them reach their feet, others have taken the venture capital or simply used their own money to start their operations in the dark.

Men -

and are almost exclusively men - behind these companies come from all walks of life. Drumm went to school to become a pastor and got into 3D printing as a hobby. Formlabs The project started by a team of MIT engineers and design students. How much of this business is the belief that technology is the next big thing - big enough, according to some, be more damaging invention of this century.

3D printers
Most consumers use a manufacturing process in which layers of plastic resins are placed on top of the other to objects. While designers, architects and engineers have used for decades for 3D printers create physical models for design, fans have started to adopt the technology in 2007. Since then, consumer interest has skyrocketed and entrepreneurs are fighting for market share.

"You can not cope with the demand," said Drumm. "There are six of us full-time, including my wife and me, it is too small, really."

Drumm spoke with The Guardian at the World Maker Faire New York, an annual gathering of fans celebrated by Brand DIY magazine has quickly become an important showcase for printing companies. According to the manufacturer in chief of the journal, Sherry Huss, the number of enterprises 3D printing has increased every year since the first Maker Faire in New York in 2010, where there were only three companies. In 2011, five companies participated this year and about 20 businesses and dozens of subsidiaries that sell software, spare parts and other supplies, were present.

"With one or two companies in general, the price is quite high, but now with so many new people entering the market prices of these printers are beginning to flat line," said Suyu, Vancouver .

Erik de Bruijn, founder of Ultimaker, a 3D printing company which began in May 2011, came from the Netherlands.

"It was a real roller coaster, you know, a company," he said. "But we have already sold thousands. 'S Amazing how many people want this technology. "
Although more expensive commercial models retail for just under $ 3,000, most companies offer cheaper alternatives. Printrbot most affordable model costs only $ 400 and Deezmaker California-based company sells a smaller version of its Bukobot for $ 599.

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