Is the future 3D printing?

There's been a lot of stuff in the news for the past few years about Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing.
People have been saying that it will be the new Industrial Revolution and a lot of governments around the world seem to be promoting it.

Do you think it'll take off?
Do you think it's a good field to be studying in university (UG,PG and PhD)?
Would you be willing to buy a 3D printer?
Is it an industry that you'd like to be involved with?

I think that it's progress and could have big manufacturing implications but i don't think it's quite the miracle its made out to be. I did find printing DNA to be interesting, that could be a big step forward to genetic engineering and perhaps liberal eugenics.

Yeah that's a possibility. I was actually thinking that it would be revolutionary. Was talking with my personal tutor and he said he feels it's like the internet in the early days. Ready to explode :P ... hopefully lol

[video="youtube;v9AKH16--VE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9AKH16--VE[/video]

The video was being withheld by company because it is too politically controversial; it discusses 3D printing for guns. Pretty cool, still don't get it but whatever.

What is this lol?

I guess there would also be a fear that technology is moving way faster than governments. If we can literally print nearly everything the number of people in the manufacturing industry would fall dramatically. They even made a fully printed electric car a couple of days ago!

If one tracks the development of the electric car or virtual reality, then 3d printing will probably follow the same path - a long tine in development with still no cost-viable mass production solution or take-up.

The technology will need to mature to the point that the printing costs will need to both significantly undercut current manufacturing methods and also not compromise quality and aesthetics in most cases.

There will be significant legislative hurdles to overcome, like safety certification for home printed products, insurance implications not to mention loss of tax revenues etc.

So for the foreseeable future, it is a niche product - albeit with potential.

I did. But still needed to ask the question lol

Sigh! BeCAUSE they used 3D printing to make the guns in the video and the statement in the lyrics. But the video was prohibited till M.I.A. fought to get it released because it was "controversial." Now why is 3D printed guns controversial, I dunno. Maybe because the NRA or National Rifle Association (very very very rich) will not make as much money if people can make their own guns