Interesting, but a couple of quotes were to a degree self-serving if not just plane ignorant.
The first was:
Tibbits says that 3D printing is much over hyped – particularly by an overenthusiastic media. Not a view that appears synonymous with visionary, future-seekers, perhaps.
I think he is blinded by his own vision. Additive manufacturing is rapidly meeting up with substantive feedstock. Electrolytic processing is well on the way to giving us an economical method of producing titanium powder. Coupled with additive manufacturing, sintering titanium powder will provide a revolutionary 3D processing capability that is cheaper than aluminum today.
The second claim was the most astounding when he claims:
“You could have products that, if they fail, they repair themselves,”
That is a rather fantastical claim when it comes to materials and oxidation. It reminds me of a Neil Young song (even though it has nothing to do with oxidation):
Hey Hey, My My
Interesting, but disappointing at the same time.