3D Systems Makes 3D Printing Speed Breakthrough

[Compro01]

3DP/AM will never supplant traditional mass manufacturing technologies

That depends on the extent that 3D printing supplants traditional mass manufacturing.

In other words, how much of the traditional mass-manufactured off-the-shelf stuff gets replaced with 3D printed one-off customized stuff.

[Feign]

That depends on the extent that 3D printing supplants traditional mass manufacturing.

And that totally depends on what market you're looking at. Shoes, helmets, every kind of ergonomic handle, decorative objects, all will almost completely turn to additive manufacturing of some flavor for their products. Bulk goods, food handling items, shipping goods, office products all will perhaps touch on 3D printing, but will largely remain traditionally manufactured.

Things like furnature will see a hybrid process, with standard core components made traditionally, and surface elements made via 3D printing. Fully 3D printing large personal objects will remain impractical long after it becomes available. This goes for the really big stuff like cars and houses as well. Even though it's starting to look plausable to 3D print a house or car, a mixed manufacturing origin is more practical.