For sure, 3D printing is a neat technology, but people like Neil Gershenfeld at MIT's media lab are doing even more advanced things literally programming atoms to assemble in certain patterns which could then be used to make larger structures. the whole notion of "manufacturing" is going to be very different in 20 years.

Many people object to nanotechnology when they think that we can't self-assemble anything of significant size in any reasonable time.

I think that rather than it being "3D printing" vs. "molecular self-assembly", it will be a matter of joining the strengths of the two approaches together, with 3D printing helping to provide large-scale coherence and guidance (probably by embedding some sort of guide into the object for the nano-assemblers), and the nano-assemblies focusing on the small, detailed work like embedded circuitry or whatnot.

As cool as self-assembly may be, this hybrid approach will be much more practical, much sooner.

I think you are right jerf, 3D printing is an awesome technology,but it also is not the only awesome technology. print on demand, Laser cutting, cnc milling and embroidering all allow customers to manipulate different media. Hybridizing these tools will allow for greater choice more rapidly.

Wow! Thanks a lot. Very interesting. I'll look him up and learn more.

Kirubakaran, Here is a video of Neil speaking at the Ted conference a couple years ago, he gets into some of the programmable molecule stuff. He is a true genius. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/neil_gershenfeld_on_fab_l...