Amazon Files Patent for Mobile 3D Printing Delivery Trucks

[Paul_Heery]

Amazon Files Patent for Mobile 3D Printing Delivery Trucks - 3DPrint.com

By utilizing ‘mobile manufacturing apparatuses Amazon would be able to send an STL file to a mobile unit that’s closest to a customer, providing it with instructions to print out an item which was ordered. When the item has been completed, it could then be within miles of the customer who ordered it and quickly delivered or picked up.

The mobile hubs, according to the patent filing, would include a means to both additively and subtractively manufacture an item. This could include a number of different 3D printing technologies as well as CNC machining tools, which would ultimately reduce Amazon’s reliance on warehouse space as well as the robots and employees needed to sort through these stored items.

I can actually envision a market for this type of service.

[LeeH]

I understand the concept of patents, but I don't see how you can patent this sort of thing. If pizza delivery hadn't been going on for years, someone would try to patent the idea.

[GH85Carrera]

Years ago we received a registered letter at work that we had violated some patent because we had clients email a file to us to print. The entire idea of sending a file on the computer to a service bureau for a service was not allowed.

We threw it in the trash way back then and have never heard from them again.

People file patents for all sorts of crazy stuff and try to make money off of it.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by LeeH

I understand the concept of patents, but I don't see how you can patent this sort of thing. If pizza delivery hadn't been going on for years, someone would try to patent the idea.

+1, its a US thing...

If you want to "Party Like It's 1989" to "This Sick Beat," you better ask Taylor Swift's permission first. The pop star has trademarked those phrases – along with "'Cause We Never Go Out of Style," "Could Show You Incredible Things" and "Nice to Meet You, Where You Been?" – with the U.S. government, according to the legal database Justia (via Vox).

Read more: Taylor Swift Trademarks 'This Sick Beat' and Other '1989' Phrases | Rolling Stone
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[M.D. Holloway]

I pitched the idea of custom blending chemicals (including various oils) at the customers site specific to their needs. The company never went for it. Later I thought about a store where you could customer make all your toiletries such as soaps, perfumes, deodorants, shampoos according to your personal needs. Never went anywhere with it.

The idea of small, portable factories is awesome. I like it a lot.

[M.D. Holloway]

Imagine a place like Autozone that could churn out a plastic replacement part for any make model year in 10 minutes? The warehouse costs as well as shipping and packaging costs would be nonexsistant.

Maybe Wayne should start thinking about the next 'big thing' in auto parts ?

[intakexhaust]

You mean like Harley Davidson attempting to patent their crappy fart sound?

[aigel]

Originally Posted by LeeH

I understand the concept of patents, but I don't see how you can patent this sort of thing. If pizza delivery hadn't been going on for years, someone would try to patent the idea.

I'll bite - literally - when they are able to print pizza to order on those trucks. AAMOF, a pizza home printer would be okay too.

The main problem with 3D printing is the fact that it is really tough to print a solid material that has the right properties to be useful. It is very useful in rapid prototyping and building models but I don't see Amazon print me anything I usually order there any time soon.

G

[M.D. Holloway]

The problem does rest with the materials - most of the stuff being done uses a thermoplastic resin which has properties like polyethylene. Not the best. There are other thermoplastics under consideration but if you really want a durable good then normally a thermoset is the way to go - but those can't be melted and molded - they are reacted and set. I guess if you had small reactors or better yet a small twin screw extruder that you can carry out a polymerization reaction in....that would be very interesting!

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by LeeH

I understand the concept of patents, but I don't see how you can patent this sort of thing. If pizza delivery hadn't been going on for years, someone would try to patent the idea.

The patent system has become a joke. The idea isn't to actually do something useful with the patent, but to squat on it to extract license fees later.

[gtc]

Hence Intellectual Ventures. They've developed some neat stuff, but they're really no more than patent trolls in designer suits.

Originally Posted by widebody911

The patent system has become a joke. The idea isn't to actually do something useful with the patent, but to squat on it to extract license fees later.