The Almighty 3D Printing
As we all know, 3D printing was supposed to change everything. Well, has it really? Probably not as much as the most optimistic futurists predicted. Yes, the machines have become cheaper and accessible for regular yobbos like you and me. And yes, unlike the early machines, the output is nowadays a fraction more identifiable to your render as well. The material selection has also grown exponentially. So, what’s the problem then? When I was introduced to early 3D printing a very, very long time ago, I was staggered by the enthusiasm of the users. They expressed overwhelming joy, when an item they had on screen actually materialised into the printer’s bed. After that, I was again staggered by how rubbish quality the final item was, with massive printing lines visible and the blob hardly recognizable as the item on the screen. Sadly, in many ways even today’s FDM printing comes with the same drawbacks. The print will still have visible lines in it. In more expensive machines less visible p...