While a little snarky, all these points are completely valid. Plastic has limitations, _physical_ limitations, that prevent its use in real mechanical parts. 3D printing is great for desk toys or rapid prototyping, but we will never be printing cars or printing computers like everyone implies.
Computer chips are complicated. Engines have to sustain miniature explosions thousands of times a second. Plastics have limitations, and people need to realize this before hyping 3D printing too far
Also, plastic 3D printing is a low-part-order replacement for injection molding, and is significantly cheaper for short-run or prototyping. And it is not designed to be a one-stop solution, but simply part of a workflow that can be brought to small fabrication shops to permit them to construct a wider range of things.
That said, the biggest limitation of the Makerbot series of printers in my opinion is the lack of a soluble support material. The Dimension printers [1] allow you to fabricate models with both a structural plastic (ABS) and a support material (unknown) that will dissolve in a lye bath, meaning you can make complex mechanical components in one pass and then dissolve out the unnecessary sections.
I think most people are aware 3D printing is available in other materials. However, all personally affordable 3d printers use plastic, mostly producing low quality goods that has limited uses. Not everyone can afford a $150,000 SLS 3d printer.
Makerbot does sell a water soluble PLA filament that you can use with your normal PLA filament on the dual extruder replicator. It's less troublesome than a lye bath.
Comments
While a little snarky, all these points are completely valid. Plastic has limitations, _physical_ limitations, that prevent its use in real mechanical parts. 3D printing is great for desk toys or rapid prototyping, but we will never be printing cars or printing computers like everyone implies.
Computer chips are complicated. Engines have to sustain miniature explosions thousands of times a second. Plastics have limitations, and people need to realize this before hyping 3D printing too far
They aren't valid at all -- 3D printing isn't limited to plastic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_laser_sintering
http://www.solid-scape.com/products/solidscape-3d-wax-printe...
http://www.contourcrafting.org/
Also, plastic 3D printing is a low-part-order replacement for injection molding, and is significantly cheaper for short-run or prototyping. And it is not designed to be a one-stop solution, but simply part of a workflow that can be brought to small fabrication shops to permit them to construct a wider range of things.
That said, the biggest limitation of the Makerbot series of printers in my opinion is the lack of a soluble support material. The Dimension printers [1] allow you to fabricate models with both a structural plastic (ABS) and a support material (unknown) that will dissolve in a lye bath, meaning you can make complex mechanical components in one pass and then dissolve out the unnecessary sections.
[1]: http://www.dimensionprinting.com/
I think most people are aware 3D printing is available in other materials. However, all personally affordable 3d printers use plastic, mostly producing low quality goods that has limited uses. Not everyone can afford a $150,000 SLS 3d printer.
Makerbot does sell a water soluble PLA filament that you can use with your normal PLA filament on the dual extruder replicator. It's less troublesome than a lye bath.