Is 3D printing overhyped?

Everyone's now aware of 3D printing — they've read about it in the papers, on blogs or seen it on TV. read more

Which in turn will supposedly decentralize manufacturing, bringing it back to the West. But like the cupcake, Daft Punk’s latest album, or goji berries, 3D printing is severely overhyped — and I should know, because it’s what I do for a living. read more

No. 3D printing is not over hyped. Many people make mistake of looking at 3D printing just as another method of making objects, which allows for greater shape flexibility at the cost of speed and accuracy. But that is a narrow point of view to look at 3D printing. In concept 3D printing is more like digital, discrete and free form manufacturing. read more

In 3D printing, you are building it in layers -- this means that it has laminate weaknesses as the layers don't bond as well in the Z axis as they do in the X and Y plane. This is comparable to a Lego wall -- you place all the bricks on top of each other, and press down: feels strong, but push the wall from the side and it breaks really easily. read more