Will this put the parts industry out of business?

[Fritz The Cat]

And a few others as well?

http://www.wimp.com/printingchange/

[Jack]

Not for a long time. Internet sales is what has hurt my business.  The boss is talking about getting into it.  May be 5 years too late.

[hubcapsc]

A printer can only print what it has data for.

That's what that gun D00d is working so hard on: causing the data for an AR style
rifle to be publicly available. Once that is out there, they'll have to ban 3d printers!

Plus... I don't know the state of the art of 3d printers, but I don't think they
can print out chrome plated aluminum yet 

-Mike

[CajunRider]

Personally, I think 3-D printers will HELP the parts industry. 

Think about that 1968 Yamaha that you can't get parts for any more... like a valve cover...

All you need is the original (even if it's damaged) and a little computer modeling work.  You print the part with your 3-D printer... make a cast... and voila!!!! An inexpensive brand new part!!!

I have a few pieces I'd like to have made... I'm waiting on a company to start doing this. 

[BonS]

My motorcycle dealer has a gasket printing machine - sort of. He has rolls of material and a blade cutting plotter. He works from the OEM part numbers and the data base supplies the CAD info needed to cut a perfect replica gasket. Not as cool as all the fancy plastic parts in the video but very, very useful when compared to waiting a week or more for each gasket needed in a job. I call him with the part numbers and he has them waiting by the time I get there. 

[James III]

The future is here, metalic parts can now be produced. 3-D prototyping has been around for about 20 years now and with more powerful computer systems it has opened up with even basic "home" resin units available. Not only using CAD art but also 360 degree scanning input is used to produce an object. I first saw the process about 17 years ago at a trade show. They produced a complete working gearbox in multi colors during the show. The process is not fast.

[MCRIDER]

Think about that 1968 Yamaha that you can't get parts for any more... like a valve cover...

1968 Yamahas didn't have any valves.

[Hooter]

   Advancement, new technology usually is bothersome to people. There are pro's and con's to everything but this is the future, no different than robots are or were past and present. I don't like to see any company put out of business, large or small. But again, money is the issue for small business and they don't have the funds to stay up without going up to their eyebrows in debt, therefore they close. That part stinks.

  Its coming down to "get on the bus or leave the stop"! If we don't, other countries that do will get our business, thus they ever present "out sourcing" that we all hate. Just my 2 cents.   

[Fritz The Cat]

No doubt Asians will jump on this technology with the goal of making money with it. I fear America will see it as just another technological toy to be played with and never develop it beyond the toy stage.

[Hooter]

No doubt Asians will jump on this technology with the goal of making money with it. I fear America will see it as just another technological toy to be played with and never develop it beyond the toy stage.

Or ignore it, hope it goes away and lose their asses, then complain about it.   ???