Nutloose - apparently the grain can be controlled during additive manufacture - I have more homework to do, but am intrigued.
If the future is to include a supply chain amended by a remote server containing required parts drawings, with local manufacture of parts,potentially deployable manufacture of parts, I am really interested to know how the quality side works: what is the percentage failure rate of the manufacturing process, how do you qualify you remotely manufactured part - is control of the raw material, atmospheric conditions around the plant etc all going to require controls, or can it be made carefree to tight tolerances?
Alternatively, can certain parts be made with a more tolerant design to permit e.g. deployable manufacture world-wide? Interesting times.