3-D Printing Moves Into the Mainstream

 3-D Printing Moves Into the Mainstream

3-D printing is the future of manufacturing, but it still has some maturing to do before it can truly be called mainstream. Recent developments, however, suggest that the technology will soon reach mass adoption. Here are five ways 3-D printing will move into the mainstream in the next few years...

The World's First 3-D Printed Car

Local Motors, an American manufacturer, has created the world's first 3-D printed car. The car, called the Strati, was made using a giant 3-D printer. The Strati is made from ABS plastic and carbon fiber and took 44 hours to print. Local Motors plans to sell the Strati for $18,000.

How it works?

3-D printing technology has come a long way in recent years, and it is now being used for a variety of applications beyond its original novelty roots. 3-D printers work by layering thin sheets of material on top of each other to create a three-dimensional object. The printer reads a computer file that contains the instructions for creating the object, and then it builds the object layer by layer.

What makes the technology so exciting?

3-D printing technology has come a long way in recent years, and it shows great promise for a wide range of applications. The ability to quickly and easily create three-dimensional objects from digital files has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing, design, and even art. Plus, 3-D printing is becoming more affordable and accessible all the time.

What is 3-D printing good for?

3-D printing is good for a lot more than just creating novelties. It has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing, as it is able to create products quickly and cheaply without the need for expensive molds or tooling. Additionally, 3-D printing can be used to create customized products, which means that no two products need to be exactly alike. This technology is still in its early stages, but it has already begun to change the way we think about manufacturing.

Where will this leave physical retail shops?

3-D printing is slowly but surely becoming more mainstream, as evidenced by its increasing use in a variety of industries. This shift could have major implications for physical retail shops, which may need to adapt their business models to stay competitive. On the one hand, 3-D printing could make it easier for consumers to create their own products at home, which could lead to less foot traffic in stores. On the other hand, retail shops could use 3-D printers to offer custom products that consumers can't get anywhere else.

Where do we go from here?

The technology behind 3-D printing has been around for decades, but it's only in recent years that it has become more affordable and accessible to consumers. Now that 3-D printers are becoming more commonplace, we're starting to see them being used for more than just prototyping and novelty items.