It's probably worth reminding ourselves that although 3-D printing has been around for more than 20 years (having only recently become affordable), it has previously appeared centre stage as Stereo Lithography and Rapid Prototyping (amongst other monikers).
I'm not convinced that the materials currently available for 3-D printing (especially when it comes to plastics) necessarily have the properties one would choose were one doing a production run using conventional injection moulding techniques.
Where 3-D printing has the edge over conventional moulding techniques is
A) The ability to quickly produce low quantity prototype forms without having to resort to expensive tooling, and
B) The ability to produce forms which would otherwise be impossible using conventional tooling.
I don't think 3-D printing (where we are with it today) was intended for producing stressed components, which rely on the properties of their material for their robustness and performance.
That, I think, is yet to come.
It's probably worth reminding ourselves that although 3-D printing has been around for more than 20 years (having only recently become affordable), it has previously appeared centre stage as Stereo Lithography and Rapid Prototyping (amongst other monikers).
I'm not convinced that the materials currently available for 3-D printing (especially when it comes to plastics) necessarily have the properties one would choose were one doing a production run using conventional injection moulding techniques.
Where 3-D printing has the edge over conventional moulding techniques is
A) The ability to quickly produce low quantity prototype forms without having to resort to expensive tooling, and
B) The ability to produce forms which would otherwise be impossible using conventional tooling.
I don't think 3-D printing (where we are with it today) was intended for producing stressed components, which rely on the properties of their material for their robustness and performance.
That, I think, is yet to come.