As 3D printers become more affordable and easier to use, the prospect of using the technology to simply print whatever we need — instead of having to go to the store and buy it — is becoming tantalisingly real. One day, we might even be able to quickly 3D-print the ultimate investment on the cheap: a house. Unfortunately, as this calculator shows, we’re still a long way off from that reality.
Using the MakerBot Replicator 2 as a speed and cost reference, the folks at Movoto cooked up this handy calculator that lets you figure out how long it would take, and the price tag for printing the bricks needed to build your dream home.
As far as costs go, 3D-printing a two-storey 185sqm dwelling would only set you back just north of $278,000. And, depending on where you live, that could be fairly reasonable. But that’s relying on a single 3D printer to keep the costs down. So while the cost isn’t outrageous, the 184 years needed to finish the job would probably be problematic. And one can only imagine what the safety inspectors would have to say about your plastic abode. [Movoto]