“Once the data parameters are input and the source materials are acquired and loaded I guess you can mash a button, and viola!”
It’s not that simple, of course. The material being “printed” needs to have physical properties that match the application. Right now they are working with stuff that is good enough to model parts that would ordinarily be cast, forged or stamped. But those parts are not strong or durable enough to last, and it’s not clear that you could make them fast enough for mass-production from this method.
3-D Printing might become a valuable tool for development labs. But you’re not going to build anything meaningful with it until the materials technology catches up.
You can 3-D print a viola?
It can save lots of time in manhours but it is not a mindless process.
I think a lot of people think you just will ask for something and mash a button, like Star Trek dinners.
3d printing does seem to be a good method to make one of molds for short production runs for proof of concept.