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Worthless: 3D printing is nothing but a nerd fad that won't leave hobbyist workshops.

6 (3%)

Unimportant: 3D printing will become common but won't be useful for much other than tiny full plastic objects.

8 (4%)

Minor Importance: 3D printing will function as a light industry that will coexist with existing manufacturing methodologies.

43 (21.4%)

Moderate Importance: 3D printing will challenge and slowly replace a large number of existing manufacturing businesses.

104 (51.7%)

Major Importance: 3D printing will completely flip the table on conventional manufacturing and quickly destroy existing business for anything you can make with them.

20 (10%)

Critical: 3D printing will disrupt conventional ideals of work and money so much that they collapse and are replaced in a paradigm shift.

20 (10%)

Total Members Voted: 199

[misko27]

Flying Cars had practical concerns though (Safety was first and foremost there).

[sneakey pete]

A casual observation: most people comparing the internet or computers and 3d printing seem to be doing so only because they want 3d printing to do similar things, not due to any really reasoning dictating the comparison being a sound one.

[Dutchling]

So...

Any chance my prediction of 'Worthless' is still going to come true :v?

[MetalSlimeHunt]

A casual observation: most people comparing the internet or computers and 3d printing seem to be doing so only because they want 3d printing to do similar things, not due to any really reasoning dictating the comparison being a sound one.

3D printers are capable of both highly specialized and highly generalized tasks in a wide field of areas, and are following Moore's law in regards to cost (as have 2D printers, for that matter). Not to mention that 3D printers and computers themselves are not without overlap. When you can hook something up to the internet it can mean big things. The signs are all there.

So...

Any chance my prediction of 'Worthless' is still going to come true :v?

Given that Staples and NASA are involved, I'm going to go ahead and say that it is not.

[forsaken1111]

So...

Any chance my prediction of 'Worthless' is still going to come true :v?

People said the same about the home computer, so you're in good company at least.

[mainiac]

If that's the case, why would I go to the effort of buying a printer, occasionally maintaining it, stocking myself up with the various printing supplies when I can just go to a nearby outlet and have them make whatever it is I need?

Maybe you wouldn't but there are early adopters out there who would jump at the opportunity to do that.  If they could exist post-consumerism by printing whatever they need then it shows that it is possible.  If the economics of it work out for them, maybe you'd be more interested?

[Eagleon]

Ok, let's go over this again. Let's say we manage to make a 3D printer that can make pretty much any common item you might need, a laptop, a phone, a desk, a chair, a bunsen burner, whatever. Pretty much anything you need. Thing is I only really see myself using something like this on a very irregular basis. Not every day, probably not even every week.

If that's the case, why would I go to the effort of buying a printer, occasionally maintaining it, stocking myself up with the various printing supplies when I can just go to a nearby outlet and have them make whatever it is I need?

3D printing may well change the consumer market, I'm sure it will eventually, but saying it will completely obliterate it, seems a bit ridiculous to me.

The markup retailers charge for their product is ridiculous, always has been, compared to the material involved. If manufacturers do exist, they'll be selling to the consumer for significantly less, because they have to compete with at-cost products on the platform of convenience. Not to mention that if we do get to that point, distribution of raw materials is going to become primarily a consumer-level business.

Put simply, do you want to spend $300 for your phone, or $15? The price point for materials is probably going to change, but if you're talking about eliminating retail...

[Lagslayer]

Ok, let's go over this again. Let's say we manage to make a 3D printer that can make pretty much any common item you might need, a laptop, a phone, a desk, a chair, a bunsen burner, whatever. Pretty much anything you need. Thing is I only really see myself using something like this on a very irregular basis. Not every day, probably not even every week.

If that's the case, why would I go to the effort of buying a printer, occasionally maintaining it, stocking myself up with the various printing supplies when I can just go to a nearby outlet and have them make whatever it is I need?

3D printing may well change the consumer market, I'm sure it will eventually, but saying it will completely obliterate it, seems a bit ridiculous to me.

The markup retailers charge for their product is ridiculous, always has been, compared to the material involved. If manufacturers do exist, they'll be selling to the consumer for significantly less, because they have to compete with at-cost products on the platform of convenience. Not to mention that if we do get to that point, distribution of raw materials is going to become primarily a consumer-level business.

Put simply, do you want to spend $300 for your phone, or $15? The price point for materials is probably going to change, but if you're talking about eliminating retail...

Hold on, now. Most of the human race consists of middle men. There will be huge consequences for cutting them all out without something to fill the void. Even with something to replace all those jobs, that's a huge social-economic upheaval.

Just food for thought.

[Scoops Novel]

I wonder what would happen in China.

[Eagleon]

Hold on, now. Most of the human race consists of middle men. There will be huge consequences for cutting them all out without something to fill the void. Even with something to replace all those jobs, that's a huge social-economic upheaval.

Just food for thought.

I'm not convinced this is a bad thing at all. There are jobs, and then there are jobs that actually contribute something. No offense if you're in retail.

[DWC]

Ok, let's go over this again. Let's say we manage to make a 3D printer that can make pretty much any common item you might need, a laptop, a phone, a desk, a chair, a bunsen burner, whatever. Pretty much anything you need. Thing is I only really see myself using something like this on a very irregular basis. Not every day, probably not even every week.

If that's the case, why would I go to the effort of buying a printer, occasionally maintaining it, stocking myself up with the various printing supplies when I can just go to a nearby outlet and have them make whatever it is I need?

3D printing may well change the consumer market, I'm sure it will eventually, but saying it will completely obliterate it, seems a bit ridiculous to me.

The markup retailers charge for their product is ridiculous, always has been, compared to the material involved. If manufacturers do exist, they'll be selling to the consumer for significantly less, because they have to compete with at-cost products on the platform of convenience. Not to mention that if we do get to that point, distribution of raw materials is going to become primarily a consumer-level business.

Put simply, do you want to spend $300 for your phone, or $15? The price point for materials is probably going to change, but if you're talking about eliminating retail...

Hold on, now. Most of the human race consists of middle men. There will be huge consequences for cutting them all out without something to fill the void. Even with something to replace all those jobs, that's a huge social-economic upheaval.

Just food for thought.

All the unemployed middle men can become raw materials for the cartridges used in 3d organ printers and food printers. Win-win.

[Sheb]

PTW

[kaenneth]

Ok, let's go over this again. Let's say we manage to make a 3D printer that can make pretty much any common item you might need, a laptop, a phone, a desk, a chair, a bunsen burner, whatever. Pretty much anything you need. Thing is I only really see myself using something like this on a very irregular basis. Not every day, probably not even every week.

If that's the case, why would I go to the effort of buying a printer, occasionally maintaining it, stocking myself up with the various printing supplies when I can just go to a nearby outlet and have them make whatever it is I need?

3D printing may well change the consumer market, I'm sure it will eventually, but saying it will completely obliterate it, seems a bit ridiculous to me.

The markup retailers charge for their product is ridiculous, always has been, compared to the material involved. If manufacturers do exist, they'll be selling to the consumer for significantly less, because they have to compete with at-cost products on the platform of convenience. Not to mention that if we do get to that point, distribution of raw materials is going to become primarily a consumer-level business.

Put simply, do you want to spend $300 for your phone, or $15? The price point for materials is probably going to change, but if you're talking about eliminating retail...

Hold on, now. Most of the human race consists of middle men. There will be huge consequences for cutting them all out without something to fill the void. Even with something to replace all those jobs, that's a huge social-economic upheaval.

Just food for thought.

All the unemployed middle men can become raw materials for the cartridges used in 3d organ printers and food printers. Win-win.

Ahh yes, the 'B Ark' solution.

[Scoops Novel]

Actually, could i get statistics on the numbers of people employed in manufacturing etc. in as many countries as possible? Anyone know some of the big names in that regard, aside from the obvious?

[10ebbor10]

Actually, could i get statistics on the numbers of people employed in manufacturing etc. in as many countries as possible? Anyone know some of the big names in that regard, aside from the obvious?

Just look at employement demographics, I suppose.