3D printers may get all the press but there are growing numbers of other manufacturing tools and equipment that are enabling small-scale–even one-person–manufacturing to grow (as we’ve shared before). Kickstarter’s article Future Fab Lab and More at the 2016 World Maker Faire covers some of the more interesting of these tools. Steve King, a partner at Emergent Research and a regular contributor to SmallBusiness.com takes a look three such tools.
Wazer
A desktop waterjet cutter. It can cut through most any material, allowing industrial grade shaping of metal and stone. Wazer costs under $5,000, which is dramatically less than the $100,000+ cost of most industrial waterjet cutters.
Mr. Beam
A desktop laser cutter and engraver. It can be used to cut through materials like wood, fabric and cardboard or for engraving on most any material. It costs around $3,000, which is again substantially cheaper than most machines of this type.
Form Box
A vacuum former that’s used to shape plastic. One of the cooler aspects of this product is that it uses a vacuum cleaner to draw the suction power it needs. Form Box starts at under $500.
Editor’s Note | We feel certain that we’ve seen the inspiration for the Form Box, say, an awesome toy from Mattel circa the mid-1960s.
VIA | Small Business Labs, “Desktop Tools Driving the Growth of Small and Solopreneur Manufacturing”
Photos via Form Box, Mr. Beam, Wazer.
Do you know of more examples of tools that are enabling small scale manufacturing? Send them to [email protected].