Thirty years ago, if you wanted to make something, you’d take a
big brick of metal, then cut and melt away until you had the
shape you were looking for. It works, but it’s not exactly
optimal. There simply wasn’t any other way, though. Meanwhile,
emulating nature – which builds new things from nothing, rather
than whittling stock down – is always a good approach for those
seeking optimal processes. And the rise of 3D printing does
exactly that, if a little less elegantly than a sequoia popping
from a pine nut. USA Today opines that 3D printing (or additive
manufacturing, as it’s more descriptively called) could remake
American manufacturing in a new image. Additive manufacturing
has come into its own in the past few years, barreling past its
embryonic application as a rapid prototyping tool. Parts made
via additive processes are increasingly on par with their more
traditionally-manufactured brethren: everything from strength to
surface texture has improved dramatically. The process, which
assembles whole part