Download A Case

I have been playing with the Raspberry Pi recently. It is a single board Linux / Android computer for hobbyists. And browsing the Raspberry forums I found a discussion on designing a case for this gadget. The thread suggested downloading a PDF file and printing it on a piece of cardboard, then cutting along the lines and folding you would get a box for the Raspberry printed circuit board.

Download a case and print it.

Well, we could go much further than a folded cardboard case.

With the current crop of 3D printers, it would be very reasonable to download and print actual plastic case. Exactly the way Mr Madox created a case for the OpenWRT - converted TL-WR703N router with a USB expansion board.

3D printing is in its infancy. But it is one of the technologies poised for the fastest growth this decade. Remember, in the 1980's we had those expensive dot matrix printers. Then came the monochrome lasers and finally in the early 2000's we were able to print photo - quality images at home for peanuts.

This is what will happen to 3D printing. The reward of being able to define atoms, ship the definitions in the digital form and materialize them on demand to form just about any object you imagine is just too big. 3D printing will be the next revolution AFTER the Internet. It has already begun. It will lead to a total transformation of businesses and economies. UPS and FedEx will stop flying and Amazon will be offering same minute delivery. Directly to your hands or to the nearest Kinko's.