3D printing is the future of manufacturing (infographic)

We’ve already written about how far 3D printing has come in 2012, but as 3D printing service Sculpteo shows, the technology is set to go much further in the coming years.

In a very well-thought-out and comprehensive infographic, Sculpteo lays out not only the basics of what 3D printing is but also how current manufacturing businesses can integrate the technology into their own operations (one option: Use the cloud).

Another notable bit from the infographic comes via 3DPCase, which Sculpteo launched in September. Via the service, customers can customize their own iPhone case designs, which Sculpteo prints out and ships back to them. It’s a peek at a future that’s becoming more and more common by the day.

Check out the full infographic below.