3D printing and YOU
Now, the technical details might make it seem like 3D printing is a field only for those who can afford or use the equipment from the get go—but as the technology becomes more streamlined and user-friendly each year, that is less and less true. With downloadable templates for most types of printers, and gradually lowering costs, the printer can turn anyone into a 3D creator, regardless of their background. And you wouldn’t be limited to printing plastic models, either, should you decide to ever try your hand at 3D printing. A few of your options…
food...???
Now, stick with me for a moment. This might seem like the most outlandish of the possibilities, at first, because, that’s too sci-fi, right? I mean…
...right? Well, in the future-that-is-now....WRONG. A. J. Jacobs in an editorial piece for the New York Times recently just put together a dinner for he and his wife, entirely from things made via 3D printing. Everything from the plates, cutlery, food, even his tie were generated using 3D printers. Now, due to time and cost limitations, he didn’t make everything himself. In fact, he had an actual member of engineering PhD candidate come to his house to run the equipment for the evening. So even something like 3D printing has a big learning curve—but I don’t think that should detract from the sheer amount of promise this field holds. With the ability to print food, as Jacobs says, manufacturers are working on ways to make this technology more reliable to help get food to areas that otherwise cannot produce or sustain it themselves. Ultimately, "The hope? We can more efficiently ship powdered food to developing countries, where it can be printed into a variety of meals." 3D printing is engineering a whole new frontier of possibilities for humanitarian efforts the world over, and food is just the beginning.
MEDICAL
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In her article “How is the ‘Internet of the 3D Printed Products’ Going to Affect our Lives?”, emerging technologies specialist Satwant Kaur lists many of the different routes 3D printing has taken that is already making an impact; one of these areas are advancements in the medical world thanks to this new technology:
· Ability to more quickly map personalized prosthetic limbs and hearing aids, making it easier and cheaper than ever for those who need them to have access, and the hearing aids and limbs are as precise as possible for maximum comfort for the user
· Use of rapid prototyping to be able to re-create a bone from scanned data
· 3D printing new organs for those in need so there isn’t a wait for a transplant
· 3D printing dental gear to more precisely fit each person
With the growth of the printing materials that can be used, the possibilities will only grow, and this might be one of the top reasons why 3D printing is such an important expanding field—and identity.
· Ability to more quickly map personalized prosthetic limbs and hearing aids, making it easier and cheaper than ever for those who need them to have access, and the hearing aids and limbs are as precise as possible for maximum comfort for the user
· Use of rapid prototyping to be able to re-create a bone from scanned data
· 3D printing new organs for those in need so there isn’t a wait for a transplant
· 3D printing dental gear to more precisely fit each person
With the growth of the printing materials that can be used, the possibilities will only grow, and this might be one of the top reasons why 3D printing is such an important expanding field—and identity.