Shelly Palmer Radio Report – July 31, 2014

MakerBot’s Replicator Mini, the company’s entry-level 3D printer, has made its way into Home Depot stores. Calling the Mini an “entry-level 3D printer” is a terrible name for it, because it’s spectacularly interesting. 3D printing – or additive manufacturing – lets you create almost anything you can imagine, one layer at a time. 3D printing is not meant to make stuff you already know. Sure, you can print combs and replacement parts, but you can also create things no one’s ever imagined, like new action figures, home crafts and jewelry. You can take files that already exist and 3D print them, or you can create brand new files using 3D software. You can 3D print just about any material – including wood, metal and even food. The Replicator Mini, which costs $1375 and is now available at a dozen Home Depot stores and on the company’s website, is a key to unlocking your imagination. You can put it in your home, connect it to your computer and change the future of creativity.