I've seen many recent efforts whose resolution is good enough the product rivals injection-moulded parts, and that resolution is being maintained in larger and larger parts. Something that was designed even a year ago looks positively wretched today with respect to striations and weird fringe-patterns.
The other thing interesting is the great increase in variety of materials and material properties. That nasty brittle resin that used to be bog-standard is now an array of materials from waxes that can be used as lost-wax masters to stuff that machines like metal. The people in that article are even experimenting with wood, as are some folks in Spain who have also been printing experimental housing units.
Those metal materials are attracting promising experimentation in automotive parts, especially in low-volume markets like the classic and antique automobile hobby. How long until a significant number of parts, even bodies and body panels, in production automobiles is anyone's guess.
Its all very interesting, and my gut says we're on the cusp of a revolution in manufacturing.
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