A 3D printer?

In a few years, it will be possible to make these items yourself. You will be able to download three-dimensional plans online, then push Print. Hours later, a solid object will be ready to remove from your printer.

I remember seeing this a few years ago. Probably on Beyond 2000 in the late 90's. REALLY cool stuff. Takes the whole crazy office parties of people photo copying their ass to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL!

Three-dimensional printers have been seen in industrial design shops for about a decade. They are used to test part designs for cars, airplanes and other products before they are sent to manufacturing. Once well over $100,000 each, such machines can now be had for $15,000. In the next two years, prices are expected to fall further, putting the printers in reach of small offices and even corner copy stores.

The next frontier will be the home. One company that wants to be the first to deliver a 3-D printer for consumers is Desktop Factory, started by IdeaLab, a technology incubator here. The company will start selling its first printer for $4,995 this year.

Now what in the WORLD will we need a Desktop 3D printer for?
Seems like fun maybe for like arts and crafts. Hell I can even see it in school but at home?