3D printing research

We used to use it in my job for printing prototype electrical enclosures. It would cost 10's of thousands to make up the tool to make the real finished case - so made a lot of sense for the business to make several versions as 3D printed prototypes to see what looked and worked the best.

The home kits - Its fun - but I cannot see many real uses in the home just yet - despite all the hype in the media and makers groups - there are only so many Yoda statues and twisted flowerpots you need. Maybe if you were into printing D&D figures or something...
Its a fun hobby - just getting it working is in itself is a great achievement - but the finished product is expensive, isn't 100% smooth, and it can take a long time to calibrate and print.

Its going mainstream - Maplins are selling a kit right now - HP will sell one shortly - maybe they will produce something reliable people can use.
Someday we might be able print electronic wires/tracks into the model and that will open up new uses - maybe a home version of the 3d printers that can print metal models.

but until then I think its good 'maker scene' bit of kit - for the fun of it - or (more rarely) if you regularly have need of various brackets for stuff you make - and (even more rarely) for mockups/demos of a product before you go to market.