SF State School of Business Invests in 3D Printers
This spring semester San Francisco State’s College of Business invested in three Printrbot Jr.’s, small 3D printers that can make almost any object and range in price from $700 to $1200.
According to Professor Sameer Verma, the manufacturing capabilities of the machines will help business students design and create prototypes of products that could be shown to potential consumers.
“This isn’t so much about 3D printing, but about something new and interesting. What this does is get the gears going in student’s minds about creativity and innovation, which is what we want to capitalize on,” Verma said.
While speaking to a product development and design class at San Francisco State’s downtown campus, Printrbot founder Brook Drumm joked to students about a fictional group of do-gooders that use 3D printers to help people all over the world in need. He and another student referred to it as “Printer Force.”
“I want to change the world and that is not a pitch.” Drumm said. “Helping the third world, needy people or even kids catch a vision of what is possible through their own creativity and hard work — that’s the payoff for product design and business.”
Although Drumm envisions his printers will be used to make the world a better place, others have set their sights on using 3D printers in potentially harmful ways.
“As a creator that makes a product that could potentially be used for nefarious purposes, you have to come to grips with the fact that you can’t control people,” Drumm said. “All around the world this technology is doing a tremendous amount of good and I think the printers out there helping people far exceed the printers out there hurting people.”
