Additive manufacturing or 3D Printing is the process of printing a 3-dimentional object, layer by layer, from a digital diagram. 3D Printing has been around since the mid-80’s, but only recently has the technology advanced enough for printers to be affordably mass-produced. 3D Printing is utilized in a variety of industries including: aerospace, dental, medical, architecture, automotive, etc.
3D printing has many advantages over current manufacturing techniques in both small scale (home) manufacturing and on a mass scale of manufacturing. The biggest advantage comes from the customization aspect of 3D printing. Since products are printed from a digital model, they can be replicated exactly how the creator envisioned. This aspect is really useful in the medical industry. Doctors use the printers to customize prosthetics and braces specifically for each individual patient, increasing effectiveness and decreasing the price of these devices. Customization also helps when trying to create replacement parts. Imagine that a handle on your fridge broke and the fridge was either discontinued, so replacement parts were not available, or the replacement part was too expensive for you to repair. With a 3D printer, you can design a replacement handle to exactly replicate the broken handle in minutes. Now you do not have to worry about the headache of finding a replacement part or even replacing the fridge all together. Other advantages include cheaper manufacturing, less waste, better quality, more accessibility, more sustainability and more combination possibilities of materials.
The two biggest companies in the 3D printing industry are 3D Systems and Stratasys. Both companies are currently racing to acquire market share in the industry seeing that 3D printing is at its most pivotal stage in its development: the implementation stage. Last month Stratasys acquired Objet (at the time the third biggest 3D printing company), giving them a clear advantage in market share. Currently, 3D System has the cheapest 3D printer on the market, the Cube, which costs $1,300. Stratasys’ cheapest printer is the Mojo, which costs $9,500. If you are looking at the feasibility of implementing 3D printers from a consumer’s, price prospective, then 3D Systems is the clear-cut leader of the industry. Now, for $1,300, consumers can create 3D objects in their own homes in minutes. Imagine the price of 3D printers, when they are fully implanted in households. Experts in the industry believe they can be as cheap as ink printers are now-a-days.
Below are videos and links to more information on the industry.
Videos:
Printers:
http://www.makerbot.com/
3D printing is the start of the future. The evolution of this will be incredible. Now we can print objects easily with PU plastic but in the future the question will become what we shouldn't print. Imagine a world where instead of going to the store you go to the kitchen and print outa loaf of bread. With the current trend of stealing information and placing it on the internet, item's blueprint could be simply downloaded and then printed out in your home. This can all be down with nanotechnology. Arm yourself with knowledge and good luck with your finals.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzgVWpa4fzU
To be honest, I heard rumors about this advanced technology, but didn't think much of it because I didn't think that an advancement like this could be possible. I'm still skeptical on the idea because personally, I don't think it's necessary. With technology taking off as of late, I feel that some things will be beneficial, but I don't think a lot of it is necessary. Time will tell how technology continues to change our lives and how it will effect us in a positive or negative way.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree Oke. In time people will see how beneficial 3D printing is. It will raise the efficiency of many vital industries. The aerospace industy is undergoing budget cuts of up to 20% in the US. 3D printing provides a great opportunity for those companies to cut production costs. If you look at the medical industry the benefits of 3D printing will make personalized prosthetics and braces far more efficient and significantly cheaper.
ReplyDeleteBelow is a follow-up video for two of 3D System's latest printers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlT-3HzLM8M
I wouldn't have believed this type of technology would be available to consumers this quickly. I think back 5 years how much things have changed and I can't wait to see what happens in the next 5 years. If they can manage to get the price down a little more I could see this becoming the next big thing in the everyday household.
ReplyDeleteYea Darryl I agree technology now a days seems like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I can't wait to see what will people come up with next
ReplyDeleteWhoa, this is crazy, 3d printing will definitely revolutionize the market. Items, such as car parts and everyday household items can be replaced by simply printing them out. That will be cost efficient and better for our future. Also, to go beyond 3d printing they will probably create ways where we can create food by just creating or printing them out. Technology is fascinating and scary at the same time and makes me wonder where technology will be 20 years from now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above comments. Technology is moving at a much faster rate than expected. Soon we will have human like androids like I,Robot
ReplyDeleteThe ease of accessibility to a wide spectrum of products that 3D printing now makes available is quite overwhelming to believe, but I cannot yet imagine how greatly impactful it will become in the future as the 3D printers advance to become an everyday norm. The possibilites are endless and may be too much, too quickly. But the progression of technological breakthroughs will not slow down for anyone or anything.
ReplyDeleteOke, why are you so inclined to say that this technology isn't necessary. After watching the videos, I began to think about micro-manufacturing possibilities and the implications this would have for small business. Take for example a smartphone case made from a specialized compound which you can forge the material for on your own. Instead of having to rely on outsourcing to a larger manufacturer, you could pay for a 3D printer, which will come down in price as with all technology over time, and manufacture yourself. Think about the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI found this post to be extremely informative. I'm interested into seeing how this technology will transform the manufacturing industry. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the amount of opportunities that 3D printing will provide.
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