As discussed before, I can't see any item that suitable for 3D printing in
mass scale, not even toys let alone electronic assembly.
C.H.Ling
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Norcutt" <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Design engineers can still work in America even though the products might
be produced elsewhere. For further thought: Several months ago I read an
article (wish I remembered where) whose author maintained that 3D printing
would eventually kill Chinese manufacturing by bringing production of
numerous products back home. 3D printing is already well into using
metals and other very durable materials. As the technology rapidly
improves and the size of printers grows it will be possible to directly
produce many very complex products with little or no assembly required and
also to make custom versions or variations in very low volume.
The effect of this will be to eliminate much of the manual labor involved
in making consumer products and thus eliminate the Chinese low labor cost
advantage. Unfortunately, it also means that those unskilled labor jobs
are not returning with the products. I have no answer to the economic
problems you pose but have no doubt that more efficiency will ultimately
be economically beneficial.
Chuck Norcutt
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