XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics, sci.electronics.design   
      
   In sci.physics Jeff Findley  wrote:   
   > In article , jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com   
   > says...   
   >> Arm waving nonsense.   
   >>   
   >> You need multiple 3D printers if you need to print with multiple materials.   
   >>   
   >> Consumer 3D printers print small parts from cheap plastic and cost hundreds   
   >> of dollars.   
   >>   
   >> Industrial 3D printers that print large parts with metals cost hundreds of   
   >> thousands of dollars and the printing material costs more than raw metal   
   >> stock.   
   >>   
   >> 3D printing is advantageous for parts with complex shapes that are difficult   
   >> or impossible to make with other techniques but is disadvantageous for   
   >> most parts that ARE manufacturable with conventional techniques as they   
   >> can be made faster and cheaper.   
   >>   
   >> 3D printing makes PARTS that still need to be assembled.   
   >>   
   >> 3D printing an electric motor is just silly.   
   >>   
   >   
   > I'm generally in agreement with all of the above.  That motor which was   
   > 3D printed is a toy.  That toy motor is far simpler than a stepper   
   > motor, so any thought of 3D printers printing other 3D printers is just   
   > a fantasy at this point.   
   >   
   > Today's "state of the art" of 3D printing does not make it a panacea for   
   > manufacturing.  Furthermore, 3D printing with locally produced (non-   
   > earth) materials is decades away.   
      
   3D printing requires special raw stock manufactured just for 3D printing   
   no matter what the print material is.   
      
   3D printing is slow and expensive compared to any other method of making   
   parts so only become economical if the part in question is so complex that   
   3D printing it is cheaper than any other method.   
      
   The cost and speed of 3D printing will obviously never match that of   
   stamping out sheet metal, casting, or NC machining.   
      
   > But progress is being made in the field.  GE is working on producing a   
   > 3D printer capable of printing 1 meter x 1 meter x 1 meter parts.  This   
   > is coming from its aircraft engine division.  3D printing is a very hot   
   > topic these days.   
      
   Yes, for very complex parts that would otherwise have to be made in   
   pieces then somehow assempled.   
      
   >   
   > Jeff   
      
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