Below, is but a snippet of an absolutely fascinating article on ‘Additive Manufacturing’. Take the three minutes to read the article. You won’t regret it.

To hear enthusiasts tell it, the technique of additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, has the potential to change not just manufacturing, but the world.

3D printing today makes prototyping and manufacturing complex, custom objects simpler but tomorrow, everyone will have a 3D printer on their desk and make their own sneakers and hats.

3D printing is getting hyped right now, with a front page story in The Economist and a long article in the Times, but we actually think it is underhyped…

Then have a look below the fold:

http://www.businessinsider.com/s?q=3d+printing

MakerBot sells the Thing-o-Matic

http://www.businessinsider.com/makerbot-2012-2#

Imagine the applications in a post-economic collapse world: