Jon @ WoodMarvels.com

Nic Ward Able Says: “When someone asks us ‘what will a person be able to design and build through you’ – our answer is simply – ‘how far does your imagination stretch’”

I dont agree with the above statement.
The way Ponoko is working now is limited to the software skillset and knowledge of the designer. Ponoko is asking people to produce vector based designs in Illustrator, Corel Draw, etc, something which the vast majority can’t and won’t do. There are too many transaction costs associated with this model. If we look at Zazzle, they have witnessed rapid uptake because the entire design process can be completed within a browser. Wikipedia is also incredibly cheap to contribute and collaborate on.
The network effects which result out of a critical mass of users interacting will not be realised in my view on Ponoko unless these problems are addressed. So while their interface is clearly friendly, invitiing and informative, it is anyone’s guess as to how they can best smiplify the design process. Currently this cannot be done.
Ponoko made a big splash, time will tell if they will sink or swim.

Completely agree with everything you say. And we too are constantly checking out and waiting to see the next stage in all the unknowns! I recall from an earlier comment (can’t remember where tho’!) where a commenter, Pillar, said ‘who would have thought that nearly every western home would have a laser printer in so little time’. And that’s so true! And probably even moreso in today’s society where we are so much more open to new technologies – and the rate of ‘shrinking’ technology is so much faster now. So 10 years may potentially be a lot closer. But even though home desktop may be around 10 years away, your ‘local’ fab manutacturing centre I think is so so much closer. So definitely making the end-customer purchase a viable possibility. Cheers! Nic.

I believe that the founding of Ponoko could yet be a landmark in the development of e-commerce, design and even World trade. The biggest ‘unknown’ facing the company is how long it will take for the development of desktop manufacturing hardware to reach a stage where 3D printers are usable and affordable by individuals. If this does not happen quickly enough, it may be a number of years before end-customers seek to purchase designs instead of finished products or components.

If Ponoko succeeds, and I certainly hope it does, it could be the biggest event in industrial development since James Watt perfected the steam engine in 1765.