• RandomStranger@piefed.social
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    2 days ago

    If you think 3D printing is advantageous for economies of scale, I have a bridge to sell you.

    Rockets are the complete opposite of mass manufacturing.

    • merc@sh.itjust.works
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      1 day ago

      Yeah, 3d printing only makes economic sense if you’re not doing mass production. It involves a lot of compromises.

      Also, OP argues that it’s better to be an “all-things manufacturer”. Most of the time that isn’t the most efficient way unless you have government assistance in some form. That might just be having patents or copyrights. BYD started as a battery company and has battery-related IP. Now they’re China’s leading company in patent filings, with over 13,000 of them.

      Most of the time it’s more efficient to specialize in something and buy parts from other specialists.