1. Patents will expire.
This means more ideas and processes will be legally available to inventors. And that means that more products will be available to consumers. In 2014, some SLA patents expired and in 2015, some SLS patents will expire as well. So maybe this will be the year that FDM isn’t the only type of 3D printer available for at home use.
2. The resin market will be more competitive.
Again, meaning cheaper printing for you. More people will be drawn into the hobbyist space with these less expensive, but more expansive, options. So if you’re the only person you know with a desktop 3D printer, that might change this year.
3. Better software will be developed.
A greater variety of programs will have a direct-to-printer option like Adobe introduced with Photoshop.
4. Stock will go up.
Everyone seems to agree that, even after a slightly less than ideal 2014, stock in 3D printing companies will go up.
5. 3D Scanners will be developed.
They’ll hit the market to complement the 3D printers. These might be in the form of actual, handheld scanners or smartphone applications, but they’ll be available for you to experiment with.
6. Schools will integrate 3D printing into the classroom.
Although some schools already use 3D printing as a way to get kids interested in STEM, this trend will continue to expand as the costs go down (good for schools with tight budgets) and curriculum is more widely available.
Where do you think 3D printing will go in 2015?
