There have been many advances in technology over the past few years, but few of them show the magnitude of potential for mainstream applications as the invention of 3D printing. 3D printing is a multi-purpose form of additive manufacturing that has recently exploded in popularity for both personal and professional use.
Over the past few years, 3D printing has become a much more commonplace due to a dramatic decrease in price for both printers and printing. Because of that, we are seeing these machines starting to pop up all over the place, including at the University of Waterloo’s Architectural Campus for rapidly creating prototypes. New printers are constantly being developed for lower costs, including some with the ability to print themselves! Soon, everyone will be able to have one of these machines.
With their increasing popularity, companies have already started to take advantage of 3D printers for their products. Recently, Nokia released an entire 3D Autocad file of a phone case for their brand new Nokia Lumia. These files can be directly taken and printed out using a 3D printer. That’s right; you now have the ability to print your own phone cases!
However, the uses extend far beyond the simple commercial use, becoming a quick favourite with professional companies. Advances in 3D printing allow for materials appropriate for manufacturing to be printed straight from the printer, allowing them to rapidly manufacture a multitude of components from an army of printers.
As well, many professions are finding a home for the 3D printer right in their workspace. Movie props are now being printed, up to and including a 1:3 scale model Aston Martin used in the latest James Bond film. Prosthetics can be made easily using 3D printing as well as CAT scans in the medical industry.
And to put these printers even higher, in a blend of technology and design, 3D printing has even become a form of art! Through sculptures on CAD and a variety of possible mediums to print in, even the artistic world is changing from this innovative technology.
It is very rare that a technology comes along with the ability to revolutionize our daily lives. However, with such a wide range of uses, and an increasing availability to the public, 3D printers might just change our daily lives within a handful of years.
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