Artifacturing

Artifacturing is the creation of physical artifacts from digital data files. Examples of artifacturing are rapid prototyping and 3D printing. Artifacturing extends the concept of rapid prototyping to creation of personal artifacts. Personal artifacts will be custom made objects that are currently mostly mass produced. It is expected that artifacturing will expand rapidly as the cost of the technology becomes cheaper and more common.

An artifact may be defined as an object that has been intentionally made or produced for a certain purpose. If an object is an artifact, it has an author.