Comments on: 3D Printing on the Horizon: Can You Spot the Trend?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:29:32 +0000

@john I can only imagine what you said about the internet when it first popped up… If you take a few moments and (look it up), you’ll find that 3D printing has advanced quite significantly since its inception and like any other emerging technology, price point will decrease and quality will increase with greater investment as it gains momentum. Hype has passed but the fact that it is still garnering this level of attention (especially from government/defense, see National Network of Manufacturing Innovation and major corps like GE, EADS and Airbus) IMHO, points to this being a disruptive technology of the very near future. Only time will tell I guess, but I think you’re being a bit shortsighted.

By: on3dprinting

on3dprinting — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 03:18:01 +0000

@John are you saying there is no role for 3D printers? There is a gap between high volume manufacturing and low volume mass personalization.

By: John Phillips

John Phillips — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:39:19 +0000

You guys have no idea what you are talking about. 3D Printing has been around for a long time but it will never replace tradition high volume or large part manufacturing. Its too slow and too expensive. 3D Printing has hit the top of the hype curve (look it up) and soon will be returning to where it belongs as a prototyping tool used in the product development process. These DIY printers are slow and build poor quality parts with low resolution at best. High end 3D Printers cost 10′s of thousands of dollars for a reason.