Listening to another pitch about how AI can empower workers at various jobs across my industry, I was striken by the comparison in the title
3d printing, just like generative models, have it’s actual niche uses, where it’s obvious downsides are irrelevant and they come handy, e.g. prototyping, replacements, small-series production
Where it comes to the top-down AI promotion trend, it feels not unlike the idea of printing the whole product - a car, or a house, from the smallest details - applying the least effective method, doomed to have a worse than average outcome due to technological limitations
And screws, the thing that we nailed down long before, and that is completely incompatible with that mode of production, is a screaming, growling, shrieking example of how helpful tech can be mispurposed in the most stupid way
Anyone suggesting Ford or Toyota start 3d printing their fastening hardware in-house should have the head checked.
That’s the point of the analogy. You can do this, but in most cases, you probably shouldn’t, and you will get better results for less time and money with the traditional method.
I just watched a thing on the expensive mustang gtd. They do use 3d printed titanium for some pieces, but they didn’t go into much detail.
Point I want to make though, it always starts on the expensive things, then advances as the tech gets better. If Ford is using it for basically hand built mustangs, it’s only a matter of time before we see it on normal production vehicles.
Idk about that. For some custom built things it might be a better manufacturing method than setting up a production line to cast the piece or forge or whatever. But outside of some really weird screws there are always going to be extremely competitively priced screws of almost every imaginable type. It’s hard to imagine you’re gonna beat that with 3d printing, given you can just buy the screws you need for not much more per pound than the metal its made from.
Who suggested major manufacturers 3d print their parts? That’s not what the analogy said at all. But hey, make your own shit up if that makes you feel smug and superior.