Was sorta half watching, half listening to the "Morning Joe" show
being broadcast from Ford's Mustang assembly plant in Detroit this
morning.

One segment of the show caught my full attention. Ford manufacturing
reps were demonstrating their expanding use of 3D printers to produce
prototype parts for use in new car designs. They showed the printers
making parts and one engine air intake housing that was just finished.
It was taken from the printer, installed in one of the new Mustangs
and the car was driven away.

The prototype part took 10 hours to print. The Ford representative
said that before 3D printing, the process of making the single,
prototype part would take about 16 weeks using traditional sand
casting technology.

So, contrary to my "handle", I am not as much of a luddite as some
may think. I don't play much in the stock market but I had
purchased some shares in one of the emerging 3D printer companies last
year and have watched the stock slowly more than double. Not pimping
for any stocks, so I won't say which one, but I think there's a solid
future for this technology. It's not really new. What is making it
attractive now is the combination of material sciences where more
useful materials can be printed and advancements in the software and
hardware associated with the printers.