3D printing is perhaps the most intriguing innovation of recent times, and the industry is only scratching the surface of the possibilities that such technology could bring. 3D printing itself is merely a platform, an idea for the creation of something solid from a set of materials based on an existing blueprint. The world has already started to see some of the most inspiring ways that 3D printing has influenced society.
- Accessible Replacements
Perhaps the most sought after feature of 3D printing is that it allows anyone to create new parts for things they might need in their daily life. This is far more convenient that having to go to a store or ordering online, and you can print exactly what you need from an archive of common items. Not only that, but it reduces waste by allowing the user to print only what is needed instead of being forced to buy in bulk.
- Affordable Prosthetics
If you or someone you know is missing a limb, 3D printing is definitely the way to go for securing a prosthetic. 3D printed prosthetics are much easier to produce than those made my hand, and they can be shaped into nearly any design imaginable. This not only helps the devices become more affordable, but it makes them more aesthetically pleasing. Some of the more advanced 3D printed prosthetics even have advanced functionality that is only possible because of the printing method of construction.
- Localized Convenience
3D printing is highly convenient not just because of what it can print, but also because of where it can print. Most 3D prints are highly portable, and some have even been taken into space to test their durability in zero gravity. In the future, astronauts won’t have to worry about taking spare parts with them. They’ll simply activate the space-station’s 3D printer and create what they need right when they need it.
- Distributing Recipes
“3D printers don’t have to be limited to plastics and metals for their source materials,” according to CADD Edge. Some 3D printers have started to use edible ingredients, and it won’t be long before a fully automated meal printer is able to recreate your favorite recipes. This will make it quite easy to share recipes across the globe through a network of printers all using the same recipe format. For now, most 3D printers that print edibles focus on candies and other simple foods, but some have started printing pizzas and small pastries.
- Reducing Waste
Some 3D printers are built so they can only function with recyclable plastics. Some studies have shown that the process for recycling plastic containers into the fibrous spindles necessary for 3D printing requires less energy than the current standard methods for recycling such plastic. The use of recycled plastics in 3D printing presents a new solution to plastic pollution, while simultaneously unlocking a source material for these innovative printers that has largely gone untapped.
- Sharing Art
One of the unfortunate truths of the world is that most people don’t get to enjoy the most inspiring pieces of art, namely things like sculptures and other 3D objects that can’t be adequately captured through a camera lens. 3D printing will be able to break down these barriers by offering museums a way to share printable versions of their most prized artifacts for people to create and admire in their own homes.
- Printable Weapons
That’s right, it is possible to print a fully functional gun using a 3D printer. Early versions of printable guns can only fire a few rounds before they become unusable, but as the methods and materials continue to advance, the guns will become more stable. Printable guns is a paradigm-shifting idea since the governments of the world can’t prevent someone from printing a gun in the privacy of their home.
- Organs On Demand
Imagine having a kidney fail and not having to wait for a donor. That is the future waiting just beyond the horizon thanks to 3D printing technology. Printable organs already exist, and the race is on to produce the world’s first functional 3D printed heart.