Since then I have been intrigued by 3D printing and have been keeping an eye on the topic. Friends and colleagues have looked at me in disbelief when I have talked about this topic. I think it's fair to say that the technology is gaining momentum, but few people are aware of it. So here are a few points that may surprise you:
What is 3D printing?
Using an electronic file, but instead of printing to paper a 3D printer can produce an item in 3D from a variety of materials.
It is known as additive manufacturing, because the printer adds material as it builds the item. If you keep squeezing a toothpaste tube, you will be adding to your toothpaste creation. Opposed to traditional methods such as woodwork - e.g) chiseling away at a piece of wood to create something new. (If like me in school, you may have made a kitchen utensil from wood)
If you really want to step in to the details, examples of printing methods include:
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Stereolithography, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Laminated object manufacturing.
Using an electronic file, but instead of printing to paper a 3D printer can produce an item in 3D from a variety of materials.
It is known as additive manufacturing, because the printer adds material as it builds the item. If you keep squeezing a toothpaste tube, you will be adding to your toothpaste creation. Opposed to traditional methods such as woodwork - e.g) chiseling away at a piece of wood to create something new. (If like me in school, you may have made a kitchen utensil from wood)
If you really want to step in to the details, examples of printing methods include:
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Stereolithography, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Laminated object manufacturing.
What can it print?
Before looking at what can be printed, you may be surprised that the following materials can be used:
Before looking at what can be printed, you may be surprised that the following materials can be used:
- Stainless-steel
- Steel
- Ceramics
- Titanium
- Nylon
- Aluminium
- Sugar
- Cellulose
And now hold on to your glasses, the following can also be used:
- DNA
- Cells
- Embryonic-Stem-Cells
- and more.... (by the end of this blog post, your mind will be blown!)
- Toys, models, jewellery, bicycles
- Parts to make a clock
- Majority of parts for a racing car - made by students
- Aston Martin DB10 (I think they were used in a Bond film - much cheaper than writing off the original versions!)
- Bionic ears
- Parts for Formula 1 car engines
- Parts for F-18 fighter jets
- Individual dental braces for hundreds of thousands of patients
- Guns (as seen in the news)
In a recent trip to London, I spotted that Selfridges are offering a 3D printing service, you can print yourself!
Interestingly, 3D scanners can be used to create the file to print. This is leading to amazing advances in health and medicine. Scanning the patient can result in replacement structures that have an exact fit, with a low cost and easy to make!
I believe a leading supermarket currently offer, or are going to offer a 3D printing service. You and your family can be scanned and then have your own statues printed. Just imagine what you might see in peoples gardens or as water features! lol
It also seems feasible that a 3D printer can print most of the parts to make another 3D printer. I understand one manufacturer provided an upgrade by sending out the digital file, the owner could then print the required part themselves!
How much do they cost?
3D printers are becoming more affordable, with some as low as £800. The high end, industry models can cost tens of thousands of pounds. They are appearing in Colleges, Universities, work places and the high street.
News items:
Astronauts to use 3D printing in space [via www.space.com]
News item: BBC News - Working gun made with 3D printer
Some food for thought:
What will happen to the supply chain? The "supply chain" is basically all of the companies involved in making something. If a company can print that "something" themselves, without the need for the other companies, this saves money. But not so good if you are one of the other companies. This could be beneficial in war zones or space for example.
What happens to the financial system if money can be printed (by a 3D printer)? Will this lead to virtual currency or bitcoins for all?
If you just need a file and a 3D printer to make something - there are some major security concerns. How can we protect against this? People have already printed fully operational and tested hand guns.
This could also lead to printing life forms, body parts, vaccines, bio-fuel.
Being able to print food (is your mind blown yet?)
Online Repositories:
Here are some websites, where you can search for and download the file that is needed to print something.
www.thingiverse.com Over 100,000+ models
www.youmagine.com
www.grabcad.com Computer Aided Design (CAD) models
www.makerbot.com Makerbot seems to be the 3D printer of choice
3D Printing on Twitter:
I have created a list for everything 3D printing related - see @theitguydoes on Twitter.
Summary
If this is new to you, your mind may be blown. I hope you have found this post interesting and useful. There is a lot more that can be said on this topic. If this post is well received, I may return to this topic. Feel free to comment below - all RETWEETS @theitguydoes or LIKES on the Facebook page below are appreciated.
Interestingly, 3D scanners can be used to create the file to print. This is leading to amazing advances in health and medicine. Scanning the patient can result in replacement structures that have an exact fit, with a low cost and easy to make!
I believe a leading supermarket currently offer, or are going to offer a 3D printing service. You and your family can be scanned and then have your own statues printed. Just imagine what you might see in peoples gardens or as water features! lol
It also seems feasible that a 3D printer can print most of the parts to make another 3D printer. I understand one manufacturer provided an upgrade by sending out the digital file, the owner could then print the required part themselves!
How much do they cost?
3D printers are becoming more affordable, with some as low as £800. The high end, industry models can cost tens of thousands of pounds. They are appearing in Colleges, Universities, work places and the high street.
News items:
Astronauts to use 3D printing in space [via www.space.com]
News item: BBC News - Working gun made with 3D printer
Some food for thought:
What will happen to the supply chain? The "supply chain" is basically all of the companies involved in making something. If a company can print that "something" themselves, without the need for the other companies, this saves money. But not so good if you are one of the other companies. This could be beneficial in war zones or space for example.
What happens to the financial system if money can be printed (by a 3D printer)? Will this lead to virtual currency or bitcoins for all?
If you just need a file and a 3D printer to make something - there are some major security concerns. How can we protect against this? People have already printed fully operational and tested hand guns.
This could also lead to printing life forms, body parts, vaccines, bio-fuel.
Being able to print food (is your mind blown yet?)
Online Repositories:
Here are some websites, where you can search for and download the file that is needed to print something.
www.thingiverse.com Over 100,000+ models
www.youmagine.com
www.grabcad.com Computer Aided Design (CAD) models
www.makerbot.com Makerbot seems to be the 3D printer of choice
3D Printing on Twitter:
I have created a list for everything 3D printing related - see @theitguydoes on Twitter.
Summary
If this is new to you, your mind may be blown. I hope you have found this post interesting and useful. There is a lot more that can be said on this topic. If this post is well received, I may return to this topic. Feel free to comment below - all RETWEETS @theitguydoes or LIKES on the Facebook page below are appreciated.
New Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/theitguydoes
So what would you print?
-theitguy
So what would you print?
-theitguy
Some strategies use melting or softening material to provide the layers. Selective optical device sintering (SLS) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) are the foremost common technologies exploitation this fashion of printing. Another technique of printing is to get liquid materials that are cured with totally different technologies. The foremost common technology exploitation this technique is named stereo-lithography (SLA). Thanks for sharing such kind of nice and wonderful collection. Click here Best 3D printer manufacturer company in China.
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