I've been a carpenter hobbyist for a long time. Recently I got into 3D printing as a hobby. Many people are naive about the realities of 3D printing. It is not easy, extremely slow, and the technology is in its infancy. It is easier for a carpenter to build, in less time. Anyone who says otherwise, has not tried 3D printing or has deep pockets for expensive 3D tooling equipment.
I have formed metal and wood parts in my workshop. I've also designed and printed 3D components. I found that a lot of time needs to be invested in research and design, and repeated slow prints to achieve the desired outcome. For instance, wall bracket tool holders. PLA degrades. ABS is better in harsher environments. However, it can be structurally weak. I've combined ABS with metal fasteners to achieve more strength. However, I can make them faster and stronger simply with wood and metal without resorting to printing. I am now using nylon to achieve more strength, but still prefer metal.
3D printing is great for making 1-piece complicated designs that would be hard to mill and shape. But it requires a large investment of time for design and printing. Carpentry and metal work is faster and better (at this time).
I worked in tool and die, mold making, prototype, engineering and design, for most of my working career. I have designed and built prototypes that went into the space shuttle. My comments on this thread weren’t without knowledge on the subject.
I can see where 3D printing could be useful in prototype and pattern making, but it is miles away from a practical method for manufacturing much of anything in any kind of volume.
If carbon fiber car bodies were a good idea they would be in widespread use due to the weight/strength factor and federal fuel mileage standards. I wouldn’t want to be in that carbon fiber golf cart when it impacts anything.
“The impact resistance of carbon fiber laminates, however, is less than most other composite materials. Style 284, a 2/2 twill weave, is a light weight bidirectional fabric and an aerospace standard.”
http://www.tapplastics.com/product/fiberglass/carbon_specialty_fabrics/standard_carbon_twill/98