What position with 3D printing have in let's say 2 to 3 decades from now?

I think the biggest thing with 3D printing will be multi color. Right now we have it, but it is very poorly implemented.

This is a good example. See how much waste (and time) to produce a simple object with two colors. This is because the nozzle has to be constantly purged prior to switching colors and when there are color switches in the same layer it causes a lot of waste.

Single color 3D prints are boring, and lack any visual depth. While I love 3D printing and it is really cool, I am more into it for functional prints, prints that solve a problem.

There are many other things I think that are important as well, speed, resolution, line reduction, but I believe multi-color is the biggest hold back.

Will we see the promises of 3D printing being materialised?

I think we have already, granted we still have a ways to go. For example, during the rough times of Covid, many have donated their time to print 3D masks to help hospitals. They also printed other devices that cost a fraction of what the official device costs while helping supply during major shortages. I have seen people missing hands print their own replacements offering a cost effective alternative to unavailable solutions. There are companies actually 3D printing houses.

3D printing's best claim to fame is rapid prototyping, and not final products. Companies who manufacturer products are able to use 3D printing to quickly validate their designs and ideas without expensive short run manufacturing. This is a huge boon to companies and can save them tons of money while allowing them to be far more agile.

That being said, 3D printing has a lot of room to grow to become what you see in Sci-Fi movies.

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