Printable airplanes

Many a science fiction novel has included a device that can spit out any kind of product automagically simply by feeding in design specs for it. Neal Stephenson's Diamond Age is just one example with that kind of technology. But in this case, gee whiz scifi ideas are fast becoming ho-hum reality. Lockheed's Skunkworks airplane design facility has printed out an entire four ton airplane using 3D printing technology, which until recently has been used largely for models and short run fabrication of small parts. Most of the parts in the plane were fabricated using the 3D printing system and then assembled.

Economic developers: When was the last time you held a seminar for local businesses on this technology and its uses? What local businesses could benefit from this technology to improve its products or lower costs?

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