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Our three-dimensional future: how 3D printing will shape the global economy

Finally, an article that at least cautions readers not expect that the world is going to be changed by 3-D printing - at least drastically. What is it about the material and cost limitations - the economics of "3-D" printing that is so hard for reporters to understand. Don't you get comparing 3-D printing to the internet - is totally inappropriate and just logically lame. The idea that Home Depot is going to start repair shops using 3-D printers for parts is economically absurd. The idea that I'm going to go to a 3-D printing booth to make a new handle for the screw driver I broke yesterday is equally absurd, because the price of the 3-D printing material (assuming it is structurally adequate) is more than the cost of the a new screw driver. It's the economics - or the lack thereof that has and still governs the applications of 3-D printing - not the technology.

Why not just state the obvious -there are certain types of tasks - such as single material small number component product development where 3-D printing can excel, however these are relatively limited number of applications. At the same time 3-D P will be economically unfeasible for many other production processes where existing tech like die cast molding large numbers of products where 3-D printed products can't come close to competing - ever. It's just simple math. physics and basic economics.

There are two problems with 3D printing that will impact this.

First, is the issue of time. 3D printing is SLOW. Compare injection molding with 3D printing. In the time that the 3D printer can make a single part, the injection molding machine will make a couple of dozed, or even a couple of hundred. Time is a big cost. That's the whole reason for Mass Production.

Second is the issue of materials. because of the time factor above, any single 3D printer will not use a terribly large amount of material. Because of the larger throughput, the injection molding machine will use much more, so the amount purchased will be much larger, driving the cost per Kg down.

Adding these two factors together, relegates the 3D printer to a niche area of manufacturing.

Still, there is a place where 3D printing shines. That is in prototyping situations, and where there is only a very limited product run needed. Those are the areas where a 3D printer will really make an impact.

I wouldn't want to rely on a 3D printer if my business is selling screws or screwdrivers, but, it would be really valuable on say a spaceship, where a replacement part is vital, and we are weeks away from any factory. It would also be quite useful for a car buff that needs a part that hasn't been made for 40 years.

In industry, it is already very useful for making the parts that are then used to make the molds for mass production. 3D printing will never make everything we as a planetary economy want and need. It will, however be added as another valuable tool. Every new tool adds some value.

"Time is a big cost. That's the whole reason for Mass Production."

It's not the whole reason. Mass production replaces custom building each item. It takes far less labor to build each item -- not just the time, but the cost of paying all those laborers. Also, standardized parts are easier repairs and higher quality.

I've been designing in 3D for 25 years.
I've used 3D printing for prototyping for 15 years.
As others have said, there is little chance 3D printing will "Shape the Global Economy" much.
They are great prototyping tools, they can be cost effective for small runs of plastic parts as injection mold tooling typically cost over $100,000, and they will be a load of fun as home project tools.
Don't get over excited, it's not like they are cars or computers.

Lately, it seems like nearly everything has been reproduced by a 3D printer. Between the group that 3D printed a gun, the people who printed a drone, and the army of items sold at this small marketplace for 3D printed goods, there are plenty of novelty uses for these suddenly trendy machines. Were a long way from 3D printing a house, but its clear that the hobby is inching into the mainstream.
See this article: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-08/researcher-aims-print-3-d-print-entire-houses-out-concrete-20-hours
It is not as far out as it may seem. Some are looking at building a moon base with 3DP, a simple search will bring these ideas and forums up.

As a science fiction buff many of these inventions were thought of before but the economic result has not been planned for. Think of the effect on world economies that go from mass manufacturing to retail custom manufacturing. What do you do with the unemployed? How do we reintegrate personal economics into Global sustainability. How do we allow people to provide for themselves in a financially and socially successful manner.