3D printing

I rather doubt it. Look at the article, they've got a crane lower the wall segments into place, with at least 3 guys on the ground. Might cut out a few jobs but they'll be around.

The amount of time required to make the building is a lot shorter. People will be working less time, getting paid less overall. So yes, jobs will be cut one way or another.

I think you are leaping way ahead of yourself. It is one thing to set up exterior walls its another to build all the insides which is where a lot of the work comes in. There is also preparing the site for building the first place including preparations for a foundation. Same goes for buildings with steel support frame structures. Pre-fab housing is not new either and it hasn't managed to collapse the construction jobs.

Robots Could Use 3D Printing To Build Mars Bases Before Astronauts Arrive

That right there is the most exciting thing for me so far, and something I've been thinking about for a while. Even if it turns out that there has to be people there while it's being build, such printing machines would cut down on a lot of initial personnel and equipment requirements, I think.

Seems like cutting jobs would be a legitimate reason to oppose this sort of advancement then. But I think it's more likely the jobs will shift around some. People don't stop needing houses to live in, after all. In any case, I don't think this sort of thing will happen particularly quickly.

Sculptify Releases New Details on ‘David’ the 3D Printer That Prints Using Pellets

UConn makes 3-D copies of antique instrument parts

I'm waiting for the day car parts are made using 3D printing. Complex things. When they can be made easily/cheaply/quickly, whatever it takes to save money and drive costs down. The first company to do this successfully could lower their prices to compete, and thus lower prices for the industry.

Problem is car parts need either allot of strength, and/ or the lines 3D printers leave would be problematic.

Some parts maybe but I really don't think noisy parts could be printed any time soon. Sensors, alternators, pumps, all would be difficult, if possible at all.

Amazon opens its 3D printing store, with customizable items for sale.

edited 28th Jul '14 9:37:08 AM by TotemicHero

If there was a way to make cosmetic car parts with 3D printers to a quality sufficient to mimic original components, people who restore and maintain old cars would be quite interested. There are many parts, especially for more obscure makes or models, that are nigh-on unobtainable these days. Often manufacturers, especially American, would change those cosmetic parts annually so the original supply for an optional accessory may have been tiny. E.g. 1967 Ford Thunderbird passenger-side mirrors; they only made five hundred of them. Ever. They're practically unobtainable these days, but the demand for them is too low to make manufacture of them by conventional means economically feasible. If they could be 3D printed, it would be wonderful. They were fairly roughly cast from pot metal originally, so I think the strength of 3D metal printing would be quite sufficient.

You'd be surprised. My dad's got a 72 chevelle and he doesn't have a problem getting parts. There's a really expansive after market support for old car parts.

edited 28th Jul '14 1:46:53 PM by joesolo

3-D printing finds its 'sweet spot' through 'nifty shades of gray' (w/ Video)

edited 5th Aug '14 1:14:46 PM by rmctagg09

NASA engineer set to complete first 3-D-printed space cameras

3D Printing Fortunes Diverge As Stratasys, 3D Systems Report Vastly Different Quarters

Instructables User Utilizes 3D Printing to Etch Copper Circuit Boards

3D Systems and Stratasys were aimed at two different markets. The consumer printing market isn't really here yet, so 3D Systems doesn't have a big audience. Stratasys has been doing much better with the business market, which makes sense. I suspect as 3D printers gradually get better and less expensive and capable of using more materials and printing faster, business will be the first to adopt in large numbers, with consumers only eventually coming later, once people get the idea that 3D printers are actually useful. And that one will take a while.

Believe it or not that is good for the 3D market. It shouldn't be homogeneous or monolith market structure. Varying fortunes and market strategies suggests diversity.

That is a surprising amount of effort to make circuit boards.

3D Printed Bolus Protects Cancer Patients During Radiation Therapy, May Cut Treatment Costs Substantially

3-D printers used to create custom medical implants that deliver drugs, chemo

3D printing drugs – New technology to revolutionize medical industry

Conman used 3D printer to make false fronts for cash machines and cloning bank cards - before accidentally cloning his own and getting caught

Engineers Build A 3D Printing OS For All Printers Everywhere

That second one is one hell of a creative use for 3D printing. Criminals are using it now! Does that mean the technology has nearly reached prime time?

Also, he didn't clone his own card or fake ATM front. He got caught because he used his own card.

edited 24th Aug '14 5:51:58 AM by BonsaiForest

Nah, once it's being used for porn, then it's officially real.

pff, you think someone hasn't by now? Given the number of colleges that have them...

I already know that a certain rapper (I forget his name) made a dildo modeled after his actual penis.

3D printing will result in even more authentic dildos, modeled after more people.

And may heaven have mercy on us all.