3D printing is known for its ability to create items fast. But what about its durability? The professor singled out two main points: first, that it is a “relatively young technology and has certainly not yet reached its ‘heights,’ and the second being that its quality and durability depend on what these items are being made for. 

“Articles can be made by school children (various models, toys, figures, simple jewelry) and professional engineers who manufacture parts for aircraft and spacecraft, unique machines, prosthesis used in medicine and in dentistry, and build houses or bridges. The requirements for children and engineer products are likely to be very different,” commented Dr. Jurkonis. He also assured us that “there are many areas today where 3D printing products are already considered reliable and used in machines or devices (aviation, engineering, design, science, medicine, etc.). I think over time use of 3D printing will increase much more.”

For some, the rise of 3D printing technology use might seem like a threat to their job. But the professor here sees more opportunities than threats. “History has already confirmed this: the emergence of efficient machines did not lead to an increase in the number of unemployed, but simply to the emergence of new specialties.” According to him, people now will have to learn or get better at mastering some of the skills related to digital technology. He also stressed the importance of creativity that is required in 3D printing and the freedom to express one’s individuality through different shapes and materials.

Šarūnas Paulauskas, who is a Chief Technical Officer at 3D Creative, also agreed that people shouldn’t be worried about 3D technology taking over the major job industries. According to him, this technology “requires maintenance, operation, understanding similarly to CNC or lathe machines, and they have been in the industries for a quite long time already. 3D printing is not unlimited, they have their own limitations and uses.” 

Will humanity ever reach a point where everyone will be into 3D printing? The specialist remains hopeful but he also presented a more realistic view: “knowing that 3D printing has its own uses and limitations, realistically I think we won't be able to print whatever we need and want. We need to have knowledge on how to 3D model the part using 3D modelling software, if someone else has created a specific part (thingiverse, myminifactory, grabcad), to acquire it from some kind of library. We need to have certain types of materials, and not every kind of material is 3D printable because of its molecule structures and behavior in different states—melting, cooling, solidifying, etc.”

Professor Jurkonis believes that everyone is different and “we all have very different aspirations, hobbies, dreams, and it will hardly ever be the case that we will all rush to use one technology at a time.” Even though this technology might seem like an invention that can change our everyday lives, at least now it seems like another technological choice. 

“Even today, not everyone makes sandwiches or canned foods for the winter, not everyone knits socks or repairs their cars. But could… Almost everyone has a mobile, takes photos, but a professional photographer is unlikely to ever disappear,” concluded the professor.