Do you think 3D metal printed precision parts would soon be a reality?

Now a days, we can see 3D Metal printers used for custom gold ornaments and other stuffs. The reason why gold is easy to 3d print is that it is having low melting point and high ductility. Other than that, there are people who are continuously developing iron 3d printing machines, which uses laser sintering method. But These 3D printers are not precision type. The technology is developing faster, so we may assume that it'll soon be available to the market.

Anyhow, Humans are intelligent and the idea of precision metal printers is not far-fetched

These machines are very precise and repeatable. Metal products can be used in medicine as implants.

The question is: what precision? - millimeters, micrometers or nanometers. Today, we can have an accuracy of 150 - 200 microns.

As for the danger. Unfortunately, you are right. Such attempts have been made and have been successful.

These devices can produce any shape. This is their advantage compared to the classical methods. Print speed excludes these devices from mass production. However, the production of low-volume are perfect.

They will never replace mass production equipment (CNC machine tools, casting, etc.). It excludes: the cost of buying a printer, the cost of the powder for production and the speed of their work.

In my opinion, the answer will be a Big No at least for coming near times.

There are several concerns regarding this:

• The time taken for printing a single cube takes lots of time.
• If time factor is removed, the metal 3d printing will open a new world for criminals. For example, 3D-printed guns.
• If any object can be replicated by means of a 3D Printer, then an impressive “black” market of cloned items might open up.
• Who will be held liable if objects created through the use of 3D printing technology, and distributed to consumers and other users, turn out to be defective and unreasonably dangerous?

For more information http://www.lawjournalnewsletters.com/sites/lawjournalnewsletters/2016/09/01/emerging-legal-issues-in-3d-printing-and-product-liability-2/?slreturn=20170417233215