Report: Despite Popularity of 3-D Printing, Mainstream Consumer Adoption Is Five, 10 Years Away

3-D printers and printing have started to catch on, but their use over the short term will focus more on business and medical applications, market researcher Gartner said in a report Tuesday. As such, the widespread use of 3-D printing among consumers is at least five and possibly 10 years away, according to the research firm.

3-D printing of large structures and 3-D printing in the classroom already shows some promise, but widespread adoption in these instances is projected to be more than a decade away, according to Gartner. Such a lengthy time frame is due to the cost and difficulty