3D printing - Sci Fi or Reality?

Creating an object out of ‘thin air’ seems the technology of Science Fiction, yet 3D printing makes this a reality. 3D printing has come a long way in the past 10 years or so, getting a lot of coverage from the media and a lot of interest from every day people who want the technology in their homes. Although it seems like the most advanced technology, 3D printing has been around for a while, since 1984. . The inventor of 3D printing is Chuck Hall, the co-founder of 3D Systems. Chuck invented the process of stereolithography and the STL file format that controls 3D printers.

3D works by layering or ‘printing’ thin layers of material on top of one another to make a 3 dimensional object. It is often compared to CNC manufacturing, although, there is a huge difference. CNC machining is a subtractive process – it uses a larger object and cuts away unwanted parts of the material to achieve the desired shape. 3D printing is an additive process – It uses smaller layers of material and adds it on top of each over to create the desired form. The advantage of 3D printing is that there is a lot less waste in some cases none, unlike CNC machining. The process is similar to CNC machining you start with a CAD model and use that model to create an object. Printers use a STL file, this is the file that tells the printer what to do, how to move, what to make, etc. This STL file is created from a CAD model and translated into the file that the printer can understand, very similar to CNC.

3D printing has been used for a while to create prototypes of products. Printing a prototype costs a lot less than actually making one the same way you will produce the product in the future. There are no tools to be made; no operators to pay and no manufacturing material to waste. You just create the model and print it out. 3D printing has become a lot more accessible in recent times, and is now available for the ‘everyday’ person to have at home. Prices for home printers start from £200-£300 for the base models.

Currently you can get 3D printers to print in more than one colour and even more than one material. The materials that you can currently 3D print include: plastics; powders; Resins; ceramics and metals such as titanium, stainless steel, bronze; brass, silver and even gold. For objects that need more structural strength you can use water dissolved or removable supports to help hold the weight of the material until it is complete.

3D printing has raised many questions about whether companies that sell certain products will be able to compete with 3D printing, and the possibility of consumers being able to just print their own products at home. Obviously companies with copyrights will be still be protected by law but the same thing has happened to the music industry, with people being able to download their own music for free instead of buying a CD. The music industry has had to adapt either by selling artwork with CD’s, artists doing tours, selling t-shirts and other products etc. The manufacturing industry will have to do the same and move forwards with the times.

The future of 3D printing is very promising, with the possibilities and capabilities of 3D printing still unknown.

•      Scientists are now able to print organs and human tissue using living cells, yet they are estimated to be about a decade from any 3D printed organ transplants.
•    Designers have been using 3D printers to create clothes – the possibility of printing spare clothes may soon be a reality.
•      Food such as burgers, chocolate and pizza have all had edible results.
•    Aerospace engineers have successfully produced air ducts to be used in aeroplane production.
•    Part of the suit in the film Iron Man 2 was created using a 3D printer
•    A project to build a house made entirely of printed bricks.
•    There is even an organisation in America using the technology to make the regulated components of guns readily accessible to the public.

As you can see, 3D printing is a reality, and it will soon be a part of everyday life. Remember mobile phones that could take pictures and online shopping seemed impossible 20 years ago.

I would like to know what you think, is 3D printing at home workable? We will one day have the technology in our homes to 'print off' any product we want? Could this technology be used for the good or bad of mankind?

Please comment your thoughts and share.
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