How Green Is 3D Printing?

[LambdaFF]

If it does become possible for people to print replacement parts for things they own rather than throwing them away and replacing them, then there's some potential for environmental savings, since consumer items could last longer, stay out of the waste stream, and offset the need for purchasing new products.

I hope that printing replacement parts could become a new consumer way. However, will industrials go that way ? I remember a few years back a car manufacturer put all new screw types on the oil filters and various consumables to try people to stop maintaining their car and provide more customers for their maintenance centers. Agreed, now you can buy the appropriate tools and still do it.

As Steve's message makes clear, we have to discuss specific machines and processes for this discussion to be meaningful.

I agree with that part too : the various processes and products are extremely different. For that reason and due to the specialized requirements of each process / product, perhaps it would make more sense to do it in a local pro facility rather than at home ? I know some hardcore DIYers can "build a nuclear plant at home", but SLS powders and SLA resins are nasty stuff.

[Papa Steve]

So if I go back and try to apply the carbon foot print to the liquid resin printer I used to operate ...
The starting point of the resin is a European country widely known for it's chemical engineering skills and while this country has been proactive in solar generation there is no doubt carbon energy is used in the refinement process.
This raw stock is then transported to a country on the Northern African continent to be blended and packaged into a proprietary container.
For use in North America it is shipped to a warehouse on the upper east coast.
Facility I worked at was on the west coast in a state known for it's progressive environmental attitudes forcing oversight and permitting etc.
Roughly 10,500 miles (16,900km) from it's starting point to end use.
The expensive machine and resin system is proprietary so there are no other options.
Also adding to the footprint, it is strongly recommended the machine and resin be used in a climate controlled environment.

The visual quality of the prints with this machine is excellent but realistically that is all it can accomplish. Strength or repeated used of the final product is not possible.

Open source printers using recycled feed stock from a local source is an idea that makes environmental sense ...