Future Tech - Part 2 - The Marvels of 3D Printing

“Three-dimensional printing makes it as cheap to create single items as it is to produce thousands and thus undermines economies of scale. It may have as profound an impact on the world as the coming of the factory did....Just as nobody could have predicted the impact of the steam engine in 1750—or the printing press in 1450, or the transistor in 1950—it is impossible to foresee the long-term impact of 3D printing. But the technology is coming, and it is likely to disrupt every field it touches.”

— The Economist, February 10, 2011

3D printing is the process of creating 3D objects by laying down layers of material according to a computer design.  Has been in research since the 1980s, and is more and more coming to commercial applications now.

Applications:

-          The obvious: rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing of complex items, mass customization (custom-made apparel for example), cars (check out Urbee), art, etc.

-          The less obvious: spaceflight industry, printing spare parts for the International Space Station, electric motor cores (check out MotorPrint ),

-          The future:

o   Medicine – patient-specific implants, prosthetics (replacement limbs for amputees for example), 3D bio-printing of body organs and body parts using inkjet techniques, bio-replacements of lost tissue due to cancer/ accidents/ artheritis/etc.

o   Construction – faster, cheaper fast construction, construction of habitats/ outposts on other planets.



Read also:

• Future Tech Part 1 - Nostalgic Intro
• Future Tech Part 3 - Renewable Energy Advancement