On the other hand, how much of that institutional knowledge is still useful? Certainly some of it is, but I think experience with the F1-B shows that new knowledge, like 3-D printing, means that parts of the old knowledge aren't needed.
I am a mechanical designer by profession and just want to point out that even I who use a 3D printer on a daily basis can't think of any other manufacturing method it has made completely obsolete. It is more like just another tool in my tool belt that adds another way to make something. As with any tool it has it's advantages and it's drawbacks and will only make sense to use it in certain scenarios.
> Using state of the art manufacturing processes where possible actually reduces cost—even if a newer manufacturing method is more expensive, the cost reductions gained from the design simplifications more than tip the scales. In particular, Dynetics and PWR are using techniques like selective laser melting and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) to "grow" entire complex engine parts out of metal powders. The Dynetics team is focusing as much as possible on reducing welds and joins, and therefore reducing assembly and manufacturing.
