3D Printing - The Next Industrial Revolution?

3D printing is the process of making 3D solid objects of virtually any shape from a digital model. It is an additive process meaning successive layers of material are laid down to built up the shape. This more modern approach moves away from traditional machining techniques that rely on removal of material to form shape. The printer takes a viral blue print from CAD or animation modeling software and 'slices' them into digital cross sections for machine to use as guideline. 3D printers are most commonly used for prototyping and distributed manufacturing. They can be relatively cheap when producing relatively small quantities of a product. Traditional techniques, however, are preferred when manufacturing products in high quantities as still cheaper. The primary advantages of 3D printing is the ability to create almost any shape or form as well as reducing the construction time of model.

There are a few different types of 3D printing. For example selective laser melting (SLM) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) melt of soften material to produce layers where as stereolithography (SLA) cures liquid material using different techniques. Another type is laminated object manufacturing (LOM) where thin layers are cut to shape then joined together.

The method of printing also varies, some feed spool of plastic through head, others distribute powdered material like granular plastics onto build platform then use laser or binder to fuse layers and others use tray of liquid resin which harden on exposure to laser. The most common materials used are ABS, PLA, PVA, PC and soft PLA. Colour is added to parts after formation, usually through dying.

The first working 3D printer was made in 1984 and since then technology has become increasingly better and more impressive leading to these printers becoming more popular and so cheaper to buy. This means it may become increasingly common for 3D printers to appear in the home with children creating their own toys and adults easily replacing broken knick knacks.

3D Printing Motto: 'If you can draw it, you can 3D print it.' Yaaaaaay!

Even if you didn't take in any of the above waffle, have a look at these. There's a few links to videos and articles that show where the future of 3D printing is headed, some of which is pretty impressive!

3Doodler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r05gjLfDX2E

3D Printed Room: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2425446/3D-printed-ROOM-looks-like-beautiful-interior-cathedral.html

3D Printed Organs Used to Test Vaccines: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24125678

Mind Blowing Things that can be 3D Printed: http://www.policymic.com/articles/25011/9-seriously-mind-blowing-things-you-can-make-with-a-3d-printer

Also, here's a link to Shapeways, an online service provider for personalized printed products: http://www.shapeways.com/