Re: IN THE FUTURE...
"Are we going to end up with a similar situation with the compounds, that are used for fabricating the 3D objects, like we have with Printer ink now, that is the expense? As the prices for the 3D printers go down will we see the price of the compounds go up? Seems that we're swapping one 'Cartel' for another."
No.
Why not?
Take a look at who actually buys a 3D printer. Not who some marketing department would like to convince they need one, or who some "entrepreneur" wants to sell premium models to.. Or even who you invent to be a 3D printer customer so you can laugh at them..
Fact 1)
Entry level for a ready made 3D printer.. About a grand. Usually more.
How many people do you know who spend that much money on an impulse buy? Considered purchase.
Fact 2) The people who are actually buying 3D printers for themselves, rather than for schools or work or what ever, are the ones who will end up buying the consumables.
£20 a kilo, or £60+ for a 200M spool in a chipped cartridge (about a third of a kilo). Choose.
Fact 3) There can be no cartel, because the barrier to entry is so low it's buried. I can set up a small business for very little outlay gathering the parts to make a kit, and sell it for about £3-500. No knowledge needed, I can download parts, buy ready made control boards.. The works. This is how many of the companies selling the printers to the domestic market start.