Evaluating Current Uses of 3D Printing and its Potential Future - Essay Example

AN EVALUATION OF THE CURRENT USES OF 3D PRINTING AND THE POTENTIAL FUTURE OF 3D PRINTING By Introduction 3Dprinting, an idea that once appeared in 1980s has overtime gained popularity among the people. As people embrace technology, coupled with the need for efficiency among manufacturers, 3D printing has become synonymous with average person. The fact that majority of the objects we use today are products of 3D printing makes it important among the people. Its popularity has even received much boost from policies seeking to revolutionize the industry. However, the future of 3D that makes the whole idea even more interesting among the people. Experts believe that people will have the ability to print their desired objects, if not from the comfort of their homes, then from places nearest them such as from street shops and offices. This revolution will create huge economic and societal benefits, if the challenges surrounding the ideas were addressed. THESIS: While critically evaluating the current state of 3D printing and its future, this essay will address the challenges the idea faces and it’s potential in revolutionizing lives if these challenges are addressed. 3D concept 3D printing is a manufacturing process that builds objects based on a layer-by-layer model with the help of cross-sectional slices. They use the traditional laser or ink jet printers to pour liquid plastic to an already created digital object on a computer to make the final object. However, instead of using the multi-cultured ink, 3D printer uses powder, which when piled together in form of layers creates an object (Bak, 2003). There are speculations that when more user-friendly robotic makers hit the market, more people will buy them. Current Uses of 3D printing 1. Popularly, 3D printing is used to make household objects and appliances such as customized coffee mugs, headphone components, and tripod stands. 2. People can also use 3D printing to repair common tools used in the house such as broken kettle handles and cellphones. 3. Doctors have also started using 3D printing in printing organs. Surgeons can now print some body parts such as broken legs, and repair of broken skulls. 4. Apparel manufacturing has also embraced 3D printing, with fashion designers using the technology to design bikinis, shoes, and dresses. For instance, Nike used 3D to prototype and manufacture shoes for the 2012 Vapor Laser Talon football shoes used by players in the American football league. Some companies are also using 3D printing to design eyewear for customers on demand (Urry & Birtchnell, 2013). 5. The automobile industry has also embraced the use of the technology, with car manufacturers using 3D printing to manufacture various car parts. Among these, include the side mirror internals, air ducts, exhaust components, as well as turbo charger components. 6. The construction industry has also embraced the concept as architects now print prototypes of buildings for their clients’ representative of the real buildings. Because customers want to see the actual building on air before the actual construction, then such models come handy for architects. Challenges of the current 3D printing Currently, the model is not only slow, but also complicated, with a single object taking hours to complete as few have little knowledge and understanding of the concepts. Further, gravity, coupled with friction is arguably the biggest challenge facing the models currently. Complex objects require extra material for support to avoid them from falling apart during the creation process (Bak, 2003). Creating objects in 3D is a challenging tasks as it involves looking through the object in 2D and using cameras for positioning, something people are not used to in their daily lives. Unlike in computer software where we type things and print directly, 3D is a long process that involves much more than just the creation and printing through a printer (Campbell, 2012). On the other hand, there is a risk that the object could remain stuck on the baseplate, or even parts fall apart, forcing the maker to restart the entire process (Weinberg, 2013). Conscious people will also be concerned about copyright issues. The thought that one is engaging in something illegal is likely to discourage people from printing their own items (Weinberg, 2013). Future of 3D printing The evolution of printing has seen the introduction of machines with the ability to print many 3D shapes. Specifically, the difference between these printing machines is the process of building up the layers of the print on top of each other while developing the print. Additionally, the printers differ in costs, with the existence of low-end machines going for a few thousand pounds and high-end industrial printers going for millions of pounds (Campbell, 2012). GRAPH: 3D printers’ sales between 2007 and 2011 The graph shows the progressive sales of 3D printers from 2007 to 2011. Only 66 units were sold in the year 2007 compared to 23.265 units sold in 2011. The fact that the idea has progressively gained popularity among the people is responsible for the sharp growth in 2011. There is a slow growth between 2007 and 2009, with only 355 units being sold in 2008 and 1816 units in 2009. It is important to note that there are no declining sales of 3D printers over time, and as such, as people embrace the concept, it becomes popular among the people (Campbell, 2012). Additionally, with the government supporting the idea through policy formulation and the anticipated cost saving benefits of owning one, coupled with the convince potentially accruable from the printers, these numbers will only grow with time. Potential for 3D printing Solving the current problems in 3D such as systems of manufactured production and the long distance transportation and consumption is one of the major breakthroughs for the future of 3D orienting. Urry & Birtchnell (2013) believe that the revolution of the 3D printing, or rapid prototyping, is how many objects would be made as near the consumers as possible and how consumers personally could create these objects on a just in time basis. This revolution would considerably influence the economy and the society (Bak, 2003). 3D is likely to have a considerable impact on people’s lives, as it will revolutionize people’s shopping experiences. People will rarely shop for the common objects they need in the house such as cellphones, utensils, and simple household items. Rather, they will create these from their homes using their 3D printers. However, this is only possible if the idea survives the practical, economic, legal, and societal forces likely to be waged (Urry & Birtchnell, 2013). The potential future of 3D in saving costs excites the current designers and researchers. Through customization of specific consumer objects, on demand printing and the ability to make simple modifications to various products at incredibly low prices are the possible ways through which 3D could help in saving costs in future. The impact of this on the economy is likely to be profound. Further, the demand for raw materials will reduce significantly with the use of futuristic 3D printing. Scientists are looking at the best possible ways of material and power recycling, while at the same time, majority of the raw materials will be adopted to specific environments. Hence, there will be little or no wastage of muda (Bak, 2003). Research into the future innovations in 3D seeks to introduce machines with the ability to print mixed materials on real time basis and at the same time. Such materials include active systems including batteries, electric circuits, and actuators and assembled machines among others. Further research into 3D printing could help in biological printing of organic stem cells, organisms, and cultures. If complete, this will be a remarkable step in the future of 3D printing and the society in general (Campbell, et al, 2011). As the world seeks for options on savings costs form utility maximization, experts are designing models that will enable customers to print their objects from their homes, their offices, or places close to where they need the materials (Berman, 2012). Transportation costs for the printed materials and incidences of damage as with the current printing system. With a little government, investment in pro-3D policies would help set up quick shops in up street shops to offer less complicated objects. Further, there is a high potential that 3D will see a greater localization of manufacturing for various less critical products. Additionally, its ability to scan these objects to make endless copies is yet another contribution of future 3D in cost saving strategies (Berman, 2012). In future, equipped with the ability to print objects at our convenience, how we view the world and the objects we use will change. Just as we download music and videos, in future, it will be possible to download objects we use in our homesteads and print them with much ease to suit our unique needs. What is even more intriguing about the futuristic 3D printing lies with the opportunities it will present to average person when they get the ability to print the simplest objects they need, regardless of their lack of skills (Berman, 2012). Conclusion 3D printing is an idea that is gaining a lot of popularity among the people. Having been used in factories for mass production of objects and tools, there are hopes that the concept could come closer to the people, just like common printing methods. Currently, there are many uses of 3D printing, among them creation of tripod stands, mugs, headphone components and household utensils. There is however, a brighter future for the concept if the presented research going by the available literature. Fusing science fiction and 3D printing, people will be in a position to print their own objects, thus reading the transportation costs and inconveniences of buying unwanted products. However, this is subject to overcoming challenges already witnessed by the model. In future, 3D could play a big role in complex industries such as manufacturing of motor vehicles, architecture, and geology, among others. References Bak, D. (2003). Rapid prototyping or rapid production? 3D printing processes move industry towards the latter. Assembly Automation, 23(4), 340-345. Berman, B. (2012). 3-D printing: The new industrial revolution. Business horizons, 55(2), 155-162. Birtchnell, T., & Urry, J. (2013). 3D, SF and the future. Futures, 50, 25-34. Campbell, M. (2012). Absolutely fabricated: the sceptics guide to 3D printing.New Scientist, 216(2895), 46-49. Campbell, T., Williams, C., Ivanova, O., & Garrett, B. (2011). Could 3D printing change the world. Technologies, Potential, and Implications of Additive Manufacturing, Atlantic Council, Washington, DC. Dimitrov, D., Schreve, K., & De Beer, N. (2006). Advances in three dimensional printing-state of the art and future perspectives. Journal for New Generation Sciences, 4(1), p-21. Available from http://reference.sabinet.co.za/webx/access/electronic_journals/newgen/newgen_v4_n1_a3.pdf Weinberg, M. (2013). Whats the Deal with Copyright and 3D Printing?. White paper from Public Knowledge’s Institute for Emerging Innovation. Read More