Nobody is talking about 3D printing much but it’s progressing for sure. The implications of this technology are vast and it has the potential for revolutionizing our society. It’s widely implemented in manufacturing, space, education, weaponry, and some other industries.
The rate at which 3D printing is progressing is changing the world as we know it. Let’s have an overview of that…
1. More Local Production
There was a time when the manufacturing industry relied on outsourcing. Now, 3D printing is allowing companies to manufacture an entire car in one place that too domestically. Not only has the expense of outsourcing labor reduced, but the technology has improved too. Local production like this is allowing companies to manufacture products at a cheaper cost.
2. Benefits to the Medical World
If you have watched CNN on Spectrum and followed health news, you must know how 3D printing is assisting in surgeries, medications, and prosthetics. Do you know that a research firm called Not Impossible Labs is using 3D printing for manufacturing prosthetics for the amputees? The best part is this technology reduced the cost of production, making it affordable for any individual to buy prosthetics.
Another 3D printing technology called Bioprinting makes it possible to use ink made of human tissues and cells to design internal organs. These organs will be used for surgery by 2025. Then comes the 3D printed pills, which are also an affordable and practical way of making lifesaving medical easily available.
3. Cheaper Home Construction
No matter where you are in the world, home prices are on the rise. With 3D printing, home construction is becoming eco-friendly and affordable. Recycled items are used in the construction process, making the future sustainable by producing zero waste in the process.
A company in China is already using 3D printing for building low-cost homes with recycled materials. It constructs 10 homes per day each costing $5,000 only! Imagine if houses become that affordable. Our lives will become so much easier, right?
4. Print Your Own Food
Yes, it’s happening. Some printers out there can be used for printing candies, chocolate, and even pizza. This could be so much useful for astronauts who don’t get to each such food.
A company named 3D Systems has designed a printer that lets you print candies and chocolates in unique shapes. Another company named Natural Machines has designed a printer that lets you print ravioli and pizzas. So instead of ordering home, soon, we all will be printing it.
5. Enjoy Fine Art
Do you know that only 2 percent of its 137 million objects are shown at one time as they are historically too important or fragile to be shown to the public? With 3D printing, museums can scan pieces of art and display the replicas for the public.
Such a masterpiece cannot only be viewed but touch as well. This technique will help countries in preserving great masterpieces. Plus, with the 3D printed sculptures, people will get educated about old as well as modern art.
6. Custom Apparel
So many people face the issue of not finding the right size in clothes and shoes. The standard sizes are either too small or too being. The 3D printer is here to solve this problem as well. It can make apparel in the user’s size exactly. Not only do you get to print clothes that fit you perfectly, but you become a designer as well.
Now a day multiple websites such as printshop by Designhill, where you can get custom clothing or handpicked printed apparels according to your requirement. These sites give you complete access to design your own clothing and use that design on various products such as t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops etc.
7. A More Sustainable Future
With 3D printing, local produce will increase and this will dramatically reduce fuel costs. This would reduce the use of fossil fuels and in the long run, even prevent climate damage. This technology has already stepped up the recycling game because of the use of recycled materials. Paper, metal, and plastic are used as ink.
Also, by its nature, 3D printing produces less waste than traditional manufacturing. This technology uses additive manufacturing whereby an object is created by adding a layer on top of another.
Traditional manufacturing, on the contrary, is a subtractive process. He manufacture starts with a block of material and carves it for producing the product. It involves a lot of material wastage, money, and time to produce the final product. 3D printing eliminates all that.
8. Better Education and Learning
Schools are encouraging teachers to use 3D printing in classrooms too. It’s a great way of teaching students lessons in subjects such as history and science in a more interactive way. Teachers can print replicas of historical artifacts, bones, and fossils to offer a better understanding of what these objects look and feel like. This technology can also be used to spark the creative skills of students.
Conclusion
3D printing technology will soon conquer the world, but in a good sense like some great cable TV providers in Kentucky have conquered the hearts of homeowners like me. The full potential of this technology is yet to be unleashed.