3D printing has been around for years but no one has pursued the full potential it offers, until recently. It is simply the process of making a three dimensional solid object that can be any shape or size. 3D printing is used for making prototypes and also full-scale distributed manufacturing. 3D printing allows the user to 'print' physical objects, using different materials. Nearly every Engineering degree makes use of this technology along with architects, dentists, fashion, footwear, food and many other fields. Although it has only been around for a short amount of time, 3D printing has the potential to enhance our lives in many ways.
How it Works:
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| 3D Prints can be in all shapes and sizes |
For hundreds of years, traditional machining techniques have always consisted taking a block of material, and trimming it down to the desired finished product. This trimming process consisted of milling, drilling, grinding, sanding and anything else that can help achieve the final product. Unlike this common method, 3D printing is just the opposite. It consists of starting from scratch and adding material. There are over 100 different materials including silicon or metal that you can chose from, depending on the usage of the desired product. These materials can also be printed in any color that is desired. The concept of a 3D printer is easy to understand and logical. A normal printer works by putting ink and paper into it, which then forms forms words and pictures that are two dimensional. 3D printers are no different, you create your design on Computer Aided Design (CAD) program and send your final figure to the printer. The only thing different that you are putting into your printer is going to be the material you want your product to be made of. The printer then prints layers on top of each other to produce a 3D end product. The printer reads the design from an .stl file and lays down successive layers of liquid, powder, and other materials. Some models will have holes or need support during the printing process. The printers recognize this dilemma and will implant a different material with higher resolution into these gaps. This material can then be removed by the user at a later time by hand with the assistance of hot water.
Benefits of 3D Printing:
3D printing holds a very bright future and many large businesses are starting to utilize this technology in their production. These businesses are reaping from the benefits of 3D printing and those include:
- Increase in Production
- Cheap Manufacturing
- Less Waste
- Win Business
A 3D printer can produce your desired design in just minutes depending on how big it is and the complexity of it. Businesses can own multiple 3D printers to ultimately increase the overall production. The only thing the printers need is the material, which leads to cheaper manufacturing because you don't need any other manufacturing tools. Because 3D modeling starts from scratch, there is generally no wasted product left over. If there is, it can be recycled and used in later models. 3D printers are quick and efficient, so an Engineer could have one in their office to make models of their products to bring to meetings with prospective clients. This allows an Engineer to describe their product physically instead of by looking at drawings two dimensionally. This process can also be termed as additive printing. It is considered distinct normal manufacturing, which relies on the removal of material through different methods.
Who's Doing it:
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| Jaw Transplant Made From a 3D Printer |
There are multiple brands and levels of printers that are available. They possibilities are comparable to normal, 2D printers. Different companies are producing 3D printers with different qualities. Producers making these products include 3D Systems, Stratasys, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and also IBM. These manufacturers have grown exponentially large and are playing major roles in the stock market. 3D printing has been around since the late 80s. Thanks to these companies, they have made it widely available commercially. Coca-Cola has introduced 3D printers into their assembly line. Instead of designing a whole new production line for newer bottles, they are using 3D printers to make all of their smaller pop bottles. Medical companies use 3D printers to make any soft-issue organ such as an ear, finger or kidney. They can also produce hip implants, skull implants, and jaw transplants. NASA is going to introduce 3D printers into space in 2014. They will assist astronauts by producing parts and tools in zero gravity. Scientists must develop a whole new 3D printer for NASA so that it can withstand the vibrations from launch and the change in air pressure.
The Future:
The future for three dimensional printing is very promising and can help assist everyone in our everyday lives. President Obama recently endorsed 3D printing in his recent State of Union address and the possibilities it has. He acknowledged that 3D printing is the next revolution in manufacturing. CNN claimed that 3D modeling can help make future weapons for our military by making them completely out of plastic. This has never been possible before and by making weapons out of plastic, they will be undetectable by radar. Whatever application it is used for, 3D printing will only continue to grow and to affect our lives more and more.
As an industrial engineer, 3D printing will be a very popular topic in my future. There are no doubt the many benefits of being able to incredibly make individual products minutes after designing them, but everything in engineering is always more complex than that. Ultimately, the goal will always be to produce as many products as cheaply and as fast as possible. Common sense suggests that the best way to do this would continue be standard, interchangeable parts produced in mass. It will be interesting to see 3D printing's place in such an environment.
ReplyDelete3D printing is something that has come a long way over a very short period of time. Two years ago they were rare machines that were very expensive to make. Today, 3D printers can be made for as little as $100, and the applications are endless. Not too long ago the first 3D gun was printed, NASA has created rocket parts, and McDonalds has started looking into 3D printing for their happy meal toys. Medical advancements like 3D printed organs are becoming increasingly more realistic as well. It will be amazing to see all of the different advances in the coming years.
ReplyDeleteI would like to point out one problem with this blog, 3-D printing does not increase production. 3-D printing allows companies to design a product and test the product before mass-producing it. This helps companies cut down on waste and money, but most companies do not use 3-D to make their actual product. On the other side 3-D printing is extremely useful when making rare or unusual parts such as the jaw picture above. The 3-D printer makes it easy for parts to be customized for each individual person. Though I do not have a ton of experience with them, 3-D printing seems to have a major positive impact on the mechanical engineering society.
ReplyDeleteSo at what point will companies start making their products from some sort of 3D printing method, and not only for prototype purposes? Right now the obvious problems is that each printer can only make one unit of something at a time, and having an accurate model does take longer. So I guess the question is do you think that there is the potential of certain methods being able to be used in a mass production of a real product?
DeleteIn some assembly lines for mass production, 3D printers are already apart of that production. Some parts may have a unique design so it may just be easier to use a 3D printer. 3D printers can easily adopt new designs and changes in the assembly line. But present day, they are mainly just for prototypes as John stated. But in the future, I believe they will be integrated into mass production more because of their versatility. Automobile, plane, computer chip and medical companies are looking to produce their parts by 3D printing. I don't think they will dominate mass production, but will play a big part in it.
DeleteJosh, just curious as to your opinion on 3D printers and their capability to potentially manufacture firearms in polymer form somewhere down the road? Especially due to the nature of 3D printers being available to the general public to use themselves and own in their own homes.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting blog and the images used definitely benefit. I didn't know much about this since I am not into engineering nor is it in my future. However, I find it very interesting that technology has taken us this far where we are able to use 3-D printing. As stated above, I don't know if it would be logical to use for mass production, I feel there is a more cost efficient way but maybe not. It makes sense to use this technology if it is saving money and resources, definitely a positive that if there is left over materials they can be recycled and used in a later model.
ReplyDeleteI like the pictures you used, they really helped understand what 3-D printing is. I also liked how you stated how 3-D printing is being used right now and its future applications.
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