Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc (KBLB)

[es1]

While I agree that 3d printing has amazing possibilities they are where printers were in the 1970s. When they get up to speed and can produce with finer detail out of stronger components they will be everywhere.

Problem being that they can not get the properties of the proteins to interact while printing in any sort of 3d printer.

Where a 3d printer will work with silk protein will be in a 3d printed knee joint with stem cells growing on it. That will be a job for any pure silk protein. It would/will be where Amsilk goes into the market IMO.
To make spider silk in fiber form is not anything that will ever be made from a vat. They may get close someday but not cheaply. The chemicals needed to make the goo react correctly are way too expensive.
Maybe someone will find a larger bacteria that can make better goo. Maybe they will use slime eels to produce it(I would) but they wont ever compete with the silkworm for costs.