patrick.net

The real question is: can you print a 3D printer?

Heraclitusstudent says

The real question is: can you print a 3D printer?

Right now, only some of the parts of it.

Perhaps, a set of 3D printers will soon be able to collectively print all the parts for each printer in the set. Then replication can take off.

A fantasy world.. where metal isnt mined or forged and trees are no longer harvested.
Thats the whole idea behind these printers. Actual 'precision' computerized manufacturing has been around and 'widely' used for a very very long time.

And if your "low quality" part fails constantly, no problem buy another fabricated 'low quality ' replacement parts.
I see a big trade off between quality and "green agenda". Dont hold your breath
if you think it will be "better".

Don't forget that the input to all 3D printers is some type of thermoplastic and/or organic material, if I am not mistaken. As well as substantial amounts of direct electrical energy.

I do not see 3D printing making trees nor metal and especially not oil obsolete in any way.

What are the effective CO2 and organic solvent emissions of a 3D printed object, pound for pound?

I don't have time to look into this right now but here is one reference

http://www.rtcc.org/2013/09/02/how-green-is-3d-printing/

justme says

I do not see 3D printing making trees nor metal

I don't know about the trees, but there are firms working on customized metallic parts using a laser to singe the powdered metal layers.

http://3dprinting.com/materials/metal/3d-printing-metal