Just a few weeks ago we reviewed the book Makers: the New Industrial Revolution, a book focusing on the growing movement toward “small batch” manufacturing, enabled by the powerful combination of computers, the Internet and an exploding array of very capable high quality tools. In the few short weeks since, there have been some interesting developments and comments, underscoring the points raised in the article.
Chris Anderson, the author of the book and editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, announced he’s leaving Wired to become the full time CEO of 3D Robotics, the company he created to build DIY Drones. It’s been growing rapidly, just received some big funding and was literally built from nothing except an idea and is now on track to $5 million dollars in sales this year, not bad for a keyboard jockey trying to get his kids interested in technology.
While everyone talks about the hot new tech startups with great new software or a flashy app for your iPhone, there’s a growing trend of companies building hardware, real things, imagine that! What’s different now is the convergence of computers and tools that can do things the home tinkerer couldn’t even dream of not many years ago. Paul Graham of Y Combinator wrote a nice little essay about the number of hardware companies getting funding.
There is no one single force driving this trend. Hardware does well on crowdfunding sites. The spread of tablets makes it possible to build new things controlled by and even incorporating them. Electric motors have improved. Wireless connectivity of various types can now be taken for granted. It’s getting more straightforward to get things manufactured. Arduinos, 3D printing, laser cutters, and more accessible CNC milling are making hardware easier to prototype. Retailers are less of a bottleneck as customers increasingly buy online.
Many of you work on hardware every day. You already have a lot of skills in the “hands on” technical world of things, and if you look around you’ll see you’re in a great position to take advantage of this new “hardware renaissance” as Paul Graham calls it.
It’s easy to be disheartened by the economy, but look at the possibilities. The new industrial revolution is within the grasp of many of us, the same people, people like you, who love the technical world of real, tangible things, can start companies of your own. It’s all around you, don’t let it slip out of your grasp. Opportunities to get in early as a huge trend is beginning don’t come along every day.
It isn’t easy, as the old saying goes, “If it was easy, anybody could do it” but it is possible, like never before. Learn what you need to know, you can learn anything today at no cost or low cost and then dive in. Don’t look back in ten years asking “Why didn’t I?” instead, start now, so you can smile in ten years and say, “Look at what we did!” It’s your choice.
B50 Jim says
With 3-dimensional printing now available as desktop equipment and powerful software that can model nearly anything, we’re seeing the start of a new era in manufacturing, in which anyone with setup at home can download a product digitally and then run it off. The technology is advancing rapidly in the direction of printing products from varying materials; the equipment will be able to build up almost anything, such as a set of cases, cylinders and heads for a custom motorcycle engine. Within 20 years everyone might have the equivalent of the replicator aboard the Starship Enterprise. Just download the product you want, charge it to your account, hit “build”, come back in a an hour, and there it will be. Science fiction is irrelevant; it can’t keep up with reality.
Franco says
Thank you Kneeslider to remind us and keep us updated with this amazing opportunity.
15 years ago i sold my beloved 1929 indian scout.It was scratch,uncompleted and rusty.I sold it because i couldn’t find the parts to make it alive again.God know if i could have it today,i could make a project with ducati heads or whatever and build the new parts.Sunday in London there was a technology exhibition and i have seen these 3D printers in action,£400 and you can buy one DIY.This is an historical opportunity,we can change the economy.
Stephan P says
B50 Jim you are correct. I read recently where this technology has huge implications for the space industry, no need to carry spare parts to space. Bring some raw material, call earth for the proper file and make what is needed.
David says
Hi Paul, thank you for writing these kind of inspiring, motivational and educational articles. I will read this book.
I agree that today, the mix of cheap access to powerful technologies (CAD, 3D printing, CNC, reverse engineering tools, powerful computing) and internet (global market) is offering a great opportunity to start small and imaginative global business. In the following years we will assist to the development and spread of thousands of micro-multinational companies highly specialized covering very small market niches.
I recently read a couple of books related to this subject, I recommend both of them.
One is “Race Against The Machine: How the Digital Revolution is Accelerating Innovation, Driving Productivity, and Irreversibly Transforming Employment and the Economy.”
The other one is: “It Will Be Exhilarating” by Dan Provost, Tom Gerhardt, Clay Shirky.
Paul Crowe says
I read Race Against The Machine a few months ago. I’ve actually done a great deal of reading on many aspects of this topic. It’s fascinating and at the same time extremely important for more people to recognize what’s happening, so they understand how it will affect them, in the immediate future and long term.
Grant says
And with all this technology realistically accessible now, I still find myself in my garage with my hacksaw, hand drill, and files, customizing my bikes one bit at a time…
B50 Jim says
Grant —
I still use the set of Craftsman mechanic’s tools my parents gave me for Christmas in 1968, and that I have added to greatly over the years. My hacksaw, drills and files get a regular workout, but I sure would like to have the ability to download a high-flow, optimized head for my BSA A65 twin that I could run off on my bench, bolt on with minimal machining and grab an instant 10 horsepower. There’ll always be an important place for fine hand work, especially when building custom machines; but technology as always provides us with a means to make things faster and more consistently than by strictly low-tech methods. First we had turret lathes and automatic screw machines, then CNC machining, and soon stereolithography to build nearly anything. It’s an amazing world.
Grant says
True, we live in technologically amazing times. I do not dislike the advances that have been made. In my job, I have the occasional pleasure of creating 3D models, sometimes rapid-prototyped into plastic show-and-tell tools, more often merely used to generate detail drawings for parts that are then machined into existence. I also get to assemble and test prototypes of the tools I design. I enjoy my work,but I am excluded from the actual machining of parts, so I scratch that itch by doing what I do with my motorcycles. Perhaps one day I will add a lathe or milling machine to the garage tool collection. Perhaps one day I will come up with an idea for a part that is worthy of creating a solid model, worthy of sharing with others. In the meantime, I’ll keep measuring, sawing, drilling, filing, brazing….and reading the posts on this site!
kevin says
It’s amazing how technology is opening up industries which were previously capital intensive to enter. To forward looking designers and engineers this is just the tip of the iceberg.
On a somewhat relater note my wife and I we’re discussing the future of jobs and work and she thinks we’re going to transition into a more entrepreneurial society as a whole and rely more on those businesses which are community based rather than the large multi-nationals. I see some of that and technologies like the ones mentioned in the will help.
Funny thing is these same technologies allow you to sell a design worldwide from the comfort of your home.
B50 Jim says
It’s an ironic return to cottage industry, only on a global scale, if you can stand the contradiction.
Robert M. says
Thanks Paul for the tip off on this amazing book. I am in the process of reading it right now. I am embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of 3D printing before reading this.
I looked at some youtube videos and my mind was blown.
There are huge opportunities out there for folks with some imagination.
Tin Man says
Being able to manipulate electronics to replicate a design is ok, but, the real power is in the design of the part your replicating. One task is just a tech job, sort of like operating a cell phone, or playing a video game. Your not creating anything. My money is on the few who actaully create the original, this is and always has been where the talent comes in.