Royal Mail has launched a 3D printing service

3D printing has been heralded as a revolutionary process, but since 3D printers have yet to make it big with the average consumer the potential largely goes unused. If only there was some sort of service where we could order 3D printed items and have them delivered straight to our homes… Oh, that’s what this partnership between Royal Mail and iMakr is.

Royal Mail is trialling a service that would see 3D printers installed in London’s New Cavendish delivery office, allowing consumers to order ready-to-print objects or have their own custom designs printed without the need for an expensive printer of their own. Those orders can then be collected from the delivery office in person, or they can be delivered through your letterbox.

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A pair of these will protect you from selfish chair recliners on your next plane journey ($10/£6)

iMakr is a 3d Printing company based in London that operates the world’s largest 3D printing store. Its purpose is to try and make 3D printing more accessible by selling and renting 3D printing hardware, offering training and consultation advice, as well as allowing people to share and sell their own 3D printed designs through My Mini Factory.

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Better than the cheap ‘leather’ case you found on eBay ($20, £13)

The details aren’t 100% clear, but presumably the partnership means that a large selection of the objects for sale on My Mini Factory will be available through Royal Mail. The kind of things available to purchase already range from things as simple as glasses frames and phone cases, to more complex things like statuettes and film props. If you’re so inclined you can even buy yourself a mini replica of a golden postbox.

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You will have to add the more intricate details yourself ($40/ £26)

The trial is to determine the public’s interest in 3D printing, and if successful it could see the service rolled out nationwide — putting affordable 3D printing within the reach of millions of people. We’d love to see it take off.

Featured image: Stefan Rousseau/PA via The Guardian

Tom Pritchard