From the beginning of our existence, we as human have always invented ways to make our lives better and easier. The tools created over the span of human life have undoubtedly advanced the species. From fire to electricity to cell phones, humans have been developing survival tools for thousands of years, redefining technological limitations. Now, in a day and age centered around technology, we have the ability to create almost anything we want through various software and hardware that are easily attainable. The natural human drive to invent and develop has undeniably been the propeller for the rapidly growing technology industry. Various machines, appliances and tools can now be directly connected to the internet and it has become a norm in society.
3D Printing can produce Printed Circuit Boards
In recent years, the capability to control various technologies, such as the air conditioning, lights, and door locks in homes, has emerged. Compare this to just our recent past where all of these commands had to be physically set at the machine location, and the growth of technology through the internet has been vast, almost monumental. With smart fridges, we now even have the ability to set automatic ordering of food from the local grocery store.
The ability for all of these machines to connect with each other is made possible through a technology known as ‘the internet of things.’ The connections of machines through the internet of things is vital for inventors and entrepreneurs as they seek new business opportunities. In order for these new products that utilize the technology of the internet of things to be fully developed, prototypes must be made to perfect the flaws and provide physical content for product evaluation. This is where 3D printing comes into the picture, as its technological ability to create highly accurate prototypes with great efficiency, in both time and cost, is being used on machines made for the internet of things.
A rapidly growing industry, 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has been integrated into the prototyping process by various types of engineers across globe in recent years. The technology allows models to be developed with unmatched speed and precision, all the while cutting costs dramatically. 3D printing has armed engineers with the capability to produce both conceptual and functional prototypes. The technology has become one of the most useful instruments in creating new machines for the internet of things.
3D Printing & The Internet of Things
Integrating the technologies of additive manufacturing with the internet of things has been almost seamless. With both being cutting-edge developments in the field of technology, the combination of the two has come almost natural. 3D printing has the capability to produce prototypes of electronic devices, such as GPS systems and even circuit boards. This ability is being utilized by companies everywhere. For example, Nano Dimension, an Israeli company, has dedicated itself to creating a 3D printer capable of printing circuit boards to suit needs of the internet of things.
3D Printed Garmin GPS
3D printing technology has made a tremendous impact on how new innovations for the internet of things are able to develop concepts. The need for a prototype that is accurate and realistic is a vital component in new product development. Traditional methods of obtaining a prototype that meets these standards are rather expensive. With the use of additive manufacturing, however, these innovations can be developed at a fraction of the cost that traditional methods would require, all the while producing a more precise model in a shorter amount of time. Because of this, 3D printing has now become a crucial component in developing new products for the internet of things.
Additive manufacturing has become a integral part of new developments for the internet of things. The technology has provided the ability to turn digital models into physical models. It has armed developers with the capabilities to invent and construct highly accurate prototypes in a faster, more cost-efficient way. 3D printing has opened up new possibilities in the automotive, medical and aerospace industries, as well as various other fields. The combination of this technology with the internet of things will undoubtedly continue to evolve as technology advances.