3D Printer - Effects of Business and Information Systems - Essay Example

3D Printer Name: Tutor: Course: Date: 3D Printer History Upgrades Advancements 3D printing also called additive manufacturing is a digital model of making a three dimensional solid model. The technology is different from traditional machining techniques which comprise material removal like cutting or drilling (Stephens et al. 2013). The printer instead behaves like an industrial robot potential under computer control to bear additive processes. The technology of 3D printing came of age in the 80s but became widely available in early 2010s (Bird, 2012). The major advancements are extrusion deposition, granular materials binding, lamination, photo-polymerization and mask-image-projection-based stereolithography. Effects on society 3 D printing has been speculated by social commentators and writers to bring about cultural and social changes as a result of additive manufacturing technology that is commercially affordable. The relationship between the workplace and home as more 3D printers gain entry into people’s homes are likely to be eroded. Hopkinson and Dickens (2006) suggest that high speed freight services may no longer be needed as business transmit designs of new objects around the world. The current legislation on copyrights and patents may be at risk owing to the ease of replication since the new technology becomes widely available and frustrates protection of intellectual property rights (Hopkinson & Dickens, 2006). Space exploration is now easy given that 3D printing has made it more efficient and cheaper. 3D printable files for firearms is likely to present public safety risks as unqualified gun seekers engage in 3D printed distribution difficult to control. It has also been established that 3D printing is becoming a mass market item potential to offset capital costs hence allowing customers to lower costs like purchase of common household objects. Effects of business and information systems The growth of 3D printing technology has attracted few entrants into the market like the Digital press which came into the market in the mid 90s. Since the new entrants find it difficult to go past the 3D technology, the printer remains competitive and will continue being popular in the market for the next few decades. Suppliers are also few especially those handling thermoplastics, metal alloys, paper and photopolymers. This increases the power of suppliers making it difficult for the printer to control their prices. (Wright (2001) notes that customers of 3D printers are on the increase since 2000s as they find more applications in architecture, healthcare, education, metal casting, design visualization and entertainment. This increases the power of the printer and its negotiating ability. The printer is currently employing additive manufacturing applications which are popular in the market. The printer is not about to exit the market because it is still in the developmental stage where more applications are being discovered. It will take more years to reach the decline stage and exit the market. The existing competitors in the printing market are few, in fact the digital press offering different applications has offered 3D printing with more power over its traditional competitors like laser jet and thermal printers (Stephens et al. 2013). The 3D printer has radicalized distributed manufacturing and phototyping through utility in geographic information systems, biotechnology, industrial design and medical industries. Technological details, 3D features and production aspects environment impact 3D printing technology uses distributed manufacturing and phototyping. The printable models are developed using a 3D scanner or computer aided design. The three dimensional models are objects of 3D scanning and data collection that takes into consideration the appearance and shape. The production process involves a machine that reads the designs of 3D printable files and lays them on layers of liquid, powder, sheet material or paper successively to a series of cross section models. The layers are corresponding to virtual cross sections of CAD models are fused automatically to create any ultimate shapes or geometric features (Hopkinson & Dickens, 2006). The printer resolution layer thickness is about 100µm though the 3D Project and Object Connex series can print layers of 16µm. The X-Y resolution is similar to laser jet printers. The 3D dots are in the range of 50µm-100µm in diameter. With contemporary methods it takes hours to days to construct a model. Additive systems depending on size, number of models and type of machine can take some few hours. It is possible to achieve an oversized version of a desired object by printing in standard resolution and removing in a higher resolution subtractive process like LUMEX Avance-25 and IMTS 2014. The 3D technology is compliant to various environmental laws since it emits less noise and radiations. It is not harmful or dangerous to users and therefore recommended for use in medicine, fashion and footwear without any side effects felt. Its parts can also be recycled (Stephens et al. 2013). Technological breakthroughs Manufacturing of polymer products in huge quantities may demand use of traditional techniques such as injection molding. Fortunately, Easton (2008) agrees that the additive manufacturing associated with 3D printing has made the process much faster, less expensive and highly flexible when relatively small quantities of parts are to be produced. 3D printers offer concept development teams and designers the capability of producing concept models and parts with a desktop size printer. Multiple materials in the event of constructing parts employ the additive manufacturing techniques. Cignoni and Scopigno (2008) contend that multiple color and color combinations can also be printed. Unlike before, Supports can now be dissolved or removed upon print completion and can support overhanging features during construction. The 1970s printers were expensive, highly limited and originally large but the latest employing additive processes like direct metal laser sintering, selective laser melting , and fused deposition model and selective laser sintering now offer good speed, lower cost of printed prototype and 3D printer, and color capabilities (Easton, 2008). Earlier 3D printers working on metals were expensive but current less expensive printers can make moulds to be used in making metal parts. Conclusion 3 D printing has radicalized the printing industry by reducing the time and costs of printing in various components and surfaces. The future of printing has been established where science based applications and open-source scientific equipment in paleontology, archeology and forensic pathology are now feasible (Bird, 2012). The various users are adopting use of 3D printing technology since the 2D orientations have been overtaken and the world is now in vogue with 3D images reflected the real world perception. The use of 3D will gain more application in medicine, space explorations, architecture, firearms development, jewelry and geographic information systems. Some sectors like agriculture and fishing may not benefit from 3D technologies at the moment. 3D printing technology is a great invention and strongly recommended for adoption. References Bird, J. (2012). Exploring the 3D printing opportunity. The Financial Times. New York. Cignoni, P., & Scopigno, R. (2008). Sampled 3D models for CH applications. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage 1: 1-20. Easton, T. A. (2008). The 3D Train-wreck: How 3D Printing Will Shake Up Manufacturing. Analog 128 (11): 50–63. Hopkinson, N. & Dickens, P. (2006). Emerging Rapid Manufacturing Processes', in Rapid Manufacturing; An industrial revolution for the digital age, Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, W. Sussex. Stephens, B., Azimi, P., El Orch, Z. & Ramos, T. (2013). Ultrafine particle emissions from desktop 3D printers. Atmospheric Environment 79: 334.  Wright, P. K. (2001). 21st Century Manufacturing. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc Read More