When Will 3D Printing No Longer Be Awesome?

Awesome ABS Slug!

What is it about 3D manufactured parts that creates a sense of intrigue, if not outright excitement in those ages 1-100? Is it the creation of something out of nothing? Or is it something else? The certainty of how these machines create is even lost to the every day user. Obviously you can have an understanding of a large percentage of what is going on, but inevitably when something goes amiss it is increasing difficult to pinpoint the problem. There are many intricate interactions between the hardware, software, and the material used to produce 3D parts.

We are now several years into this rapid manufacturing renaissance. Articles related to 3D printing are filled with words such as, "Amazing", "Incredible", and "Sooooooo Awesome!" When you turn on your car in the morning do you throw out an exclamation of such joy? Unless you are a proud super-car owner, probably not, but you really should. Most technology that we use on a daily basis is taken for granted. For example, we take for granted the little miracle in our pocket that is the modern cellphone. Take away everything from texts to tweets and you still have a device that brings humanity into closer contact than any other time in history.

We are currently experiencing the cutting edge of 3D printing. Everything is relatively new and exciting, but it is not all roses. Machines have evolved to the point where they show the promise of reliability. Things are running smoothly, until they aren't. Everything seems perfect until the magic smoke escapes (sometimes, quite literally). Truly we can taste that it's just around the corner from happening, but it's plain to see we aren't quite there yet.

I look forward to the day that 3D printing isn't considered out of the norm, but taken for granted. There will always be room for the DIY spirit because of the culture that brought 3D printing to mainstream consciousness, but as much as I'd like to fiddle with my toaster, I still want toast.