The potential for 3D printing is like something out of Star Trek.
Fans of the TV and film series got a glimpse of 3D printing with the “replicator,” a device that could produce spare parts, food and other necessities aboard the USS Enterprise.
A few decades later, 3D printing has leapt from science fiction into the mainstream.
For manufacturers, the disruptive implications of 3D printing are massive. Evangelists envision that manufacturers can slash lead times and net huge cost savings in materials, labor and transportation.