Platform Design has an interesting article and video on the topic of personal fabrication. Presenter Neil Gershenfeld speaks less on specific device and technologies, but more on the social aspects - including the sense personal power that appears when individuals have the ability to create the things they want. He also discusses the issues that result when society changes from one that consumes products to one that manufactures its own products. According to Gershenfeld.

This thought provoking 18 minute video was originally presented at the TED conference. On the same page there is a second 2 minute video where Gershenfeld provides a brief overview of personal manufacturing.

3D printing is being used to manufacture custom objects for psychological experiments. The shapes are of typical objects, but they are not robust enough for normal use, since most 3D printers today cannot produce objects of sufficient strength. However, the psychological experiment involves subjects merely touching the objects to identify them by shape. This use avoids the strength problem and permits great flexibility in creating shapes for use in the experiments. Also, note picture of the wash-up chamber that's used to get rid of deposition residue.