How Will 3D Printing Impact The Manufacturing Industry?

I'll tell ya what, these 3D printers are really becoming something special. With one of these, I could make with no problem. Wow.

I hate when you are forced to register to read a linked article.

Agreed wholeheartedly. More spam is not the desired goal of learning.

"On the other hand, this might become a problem in some countries due to the political impact of unemployment." You mean like every country in the world? What are we going to do when there are no more jobs? Sit around and receive government "welfare" checks for NOT WORKING? Like farmers getting paid for not producing? Think of the obesity problem then!

There will always be jobs, both skilled and not-so-skilled in all areas. Some areas may change, move and adapt but there will always be a need for labour.

Remember when they said that mass production would put us out of work, then it was computers, then the CNC machine, then robotic assembly, recently it was the SAP computer software package "why you wont know what to do with yourself with all the free time you will have!"

(Ok so the last one was personal).

I myself am looking forward to the 3D printer as a welcome addition (but not replacement) to our existing factory lathes, CNC's and manual labour.

We even have a 3D printer but its current uses are fairly basic (prototypes, basic saleable labels, scale models, etc). I expect some major advances when material science catches up and more advanced stronger materials can be used instead of simple plastics.

3D printing will eventually improve industry the way the CNC did - new ways of doing things that were not possible or economically viable before.