Mass Customization with 3D printed systems

Appearing at the 2024 Bay Area Maker Faire

It may be tempting to 3D print the same thing again and again, but it is cheaper and faster to make the same thing using molding techniques. In order to really use the unique advantages of 3D printing, printed objects should be unique. They should be uniquely customized to an person or small group of people’s needs.

At the same time, CAD isn’t easy, so it’s unreasonable to expect that every 3D printer owner becomes an expert product designer using CAD software is

However, there are physical systems, generated by code or parametric modeling, that work with 3D printing’s core advantages and are easier to use. I’d like to show off some of the community-generated systems for organization that take advantage of this mass customization such as the Honeycomb Storage Wall and the Gridfinity system, along with metal extrusions, as an example of how to take advantage of 3D printing’s unique advantages.

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