The promise was that Fab Labs would help launch the next industrial revolution by giving the general public access to 3D printers and help them realize their entrepreneurial dreams.

Turns out, the average user wants to print trinkets, doodads, Christmas ornaments, and other knickknacks, according to a story by the Wall Street Journal, 3D Printer Users Opt for Trinkets.

Surely this is not what Chuck Hull and Scott Crump, the founders of this industry, intended when they individually created their initial 3 dimensional printers to speed up the development of engineering design prototypes.

At more than $100,000 needed to set these Fab Labs up, and about the same to keep them running, obviously something is missing.

It’s not the fault of the 3D printer, although better materials would certainly help, and potentially inspire more useful parts.

It turns out the problem is the individual user.

Who would have thought?

The problem is most of the general public lack basic business skills. I would suggest they also need education and training in design and basic engineering and physics.

It’s time for some tweaking—obviously Fab Labs can’t do it alone. More University and college involvement, and maybe more involvement on the part of individual engineers is probably needed. Any Fab Labs in your area?

Leslie Langnau
llangnau@wtwhmedia.com