Originally Posted by
Davo
User education.
Each technology is potentially good for many things, great for some things, and perfect for a very few things.
I have a really nice Phillips screwdriver, P2. It's GREAT for P2 screws. It does a so-so job on P1 and P3 screws. I can't get it to provide much help with slotted, hex or torx screws - and don't get me started on nails or sockets! This is not a flaw with the screwdriver, this is using the wrong tool (or technology) to solve a problem for which better solutions already exist.
Uneducated people hear about a vast array of things that have been 3D printed, but they don't generally know that there are a variety of technologies (FFF, SL, SLS, etc.) that fall under this umbrella; nor do they generally realize that the images you see on the glossy websites have not only been post-processed to some degree, but are the final versions of objects that have been designed, printed, modified, reprinted, had recipes tweaked, reprinted, ad nauseam, until they finally arrive at the gem presented. Yes, the print took 45 minutes. The entire process may have taken days... or weeks.