I am fascinated by this technology. I first heard about it years ago at a chess tournament, of all places. One of the other chess parents was working on an early prototype. I had trouble understanding how such a thing could be. Creating a 3D object out of a copy machine?
Now that such things are functioning, I have a better understanding but the same fascination. I’ve written several (yet to be published) stories featuring 3D printing, and backed a kickstarter (the Buccaneer!) to create household versions of the printers.
Imagine! You need a new garbage pail – print one out! Your child draws a cute Cthulhu monster – print one out.
Next step – animating such creations. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa……
LEE HALLISON 
When I was in grad school, we used the 3D printer to make the chassis for the robot prototypes. Great fun, but lacked structural integrity in a crash…