Once, 3D printers excited us all haha.

When they first came out, I thought, "A world is coming where I can make anything at home like Iron Man Tony Stark in the movies!"

There was a time when articles were flooding the internet about 3D-printed guns, shoes, cups, and even houses. 

Imagining that "in the future, people will have a 3D printer next to their microwave, and when a cup breaks, they'll just print a new one, and change their phone case once a day" was common.

But the reality is that 3D printers remain just expensive hobby toys, not a 'revolution'.

Why did this happen?

The first reason is 'speed'. It takes an enormous amount of time to print anything. Advertisements make it look like they print quickly, but when you actually use one at home, it can take hours just to print a small keychain. If the filament tangles even once during the process, the print gets messed up and turns into a grotesque creature. There's a saying, "Time is money," but 3D printers have yet to catch up to that truth.

The second limitation is the materials.

While simple materials like plastic can be used, what we really need are sturdy items that can be used for a long time in real life. However, the printed items often feel like cheap toys. Cups can be printed, but they warp quickly when hot water is poured in, making them unusable. Ultimately, there's almost nothing that can be 'actually used' at home.

The third issue is the cost and maintenance.

Not only is the machine expensive, but the costs of materials like filament and resin are also significant. With that money, it's often cheaper and more convenient to just go to a dollar store and buy what you need.

Another funny thing is that during the time when people thought "3D printers could solve everything," it seemed like the entire social structure would change, but now they are only active in small hobby groups like DIY clubs or makerspaces.

Of course, they are still used in industrial settings for medical implants and aerospace parts.

But from the perspective of the average consumer, they have become just 'something interesting to have but not really necessary'.

Even if I go to a friend's house and see a 3D printer, the "Wow, amazing!" lasts for 5 minutes, and after that, it just sits unused in a corner of the room.

In fact, looking back, this isn't just a problem with 3D printers.

Technological revolutions don't always turn the world upside down in an instant as the public imagines. The internet and smartphones took decades to develop into the conveniences we have today. One day, 3D printers might also reach a point where they can print exactly what we need at home.

But for now, they are just positioned as 'machines that make model kits a bit more difficult'.

So nowadays, every time I hear about new technology, I chuckle a little inside.

"Hey, another adult toy has come out," I think. Ultimately, neither our lives nor technology change overnight.

However, in that process, some will play happily with these toys, while others will create real industries.