3D printers have been around for a while, entering the Englishspeaker’s vocabulary in early 1940’s by Murray Leinster in 1945 through his short story Things Pass By. However, the very first patent for a 3D printers was handed out in 1974 to Johannes F Gottwald for developing the Liquid Metal Recorder. The idea behind this invention was-
As used herein the term printing is not intended in a limited sense but includes writing or other symbols, character or pattern formation with an ink. The term ink as used in is intended to include not only dye or pigment-containing materials, but any flowable substance or composition suited for application to the surface for forming symbols, characters, or patterns of intelligence by marking. The preferred ink is of a Hot melt type. The range of commercially available ink compositions which could meet the requirements of the invention are not known at the present time. However, satisfactory printing according to the invention has been achieved with the conductive metal alloy as ink.
– Johannes F. Gottwald
The Origins of 3D Printing
Although the concept of 3D printing was conceived in 1974, the first trials were conducted in 1981. Dr Kodama received the first 3D printing tries in recognition of his quick prototyping process. He was the first to explain a layer-by-layer technique to manufacturing, laying the groundwork for SLA (or Stereolithography): a UV light polymerized a photosensitive resin. Regrettably, he failed to meet the date for filing the patent required. A French team of engineers, Alain Le Méhauté, Olivier de Witte, and Jean-Claude André, were interested in stereolithography a few years later but deserted it due to a lack of commercial sense. Stereolithography was also used in this 3D printing endeavour. Carl Deckard filed a patent for SLS technology, a 3D printing technique in which powder grains are fused together locally by a laser, in 1988 at the University of Texas. Meanwhile, Stratasys Inc. co-founder Scott Crump has filed a patent for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). The three primary technologies of 3D printing were patented in less than 10 years; thus, 3D printing was born.
3D Printing : The Pan-Industry Catalyst
The first 3D printed kidney was created in the year 2000. The Spectrum Z510, the first high-definition colour 3D printer, was released by ZCorp in 2005. Another medical utilisation, the first 3D printed prosthetic limb, helped 3D printing gain even more media attention in 2008. This incredible medical 3D printing effort included all elements of a biological limb and was printed “as is,” with no need for later assembly. In his State of the Union address in 2013, President Barack Obama emphasised 3D printing as a critical issue for the future, making the term “3D printing” a byword. It is now very much on the minds of the general public and in the minds of policymakers. Technology evolves at a rapid pace, as do the applications of that technology. More small and large businesses are taking advantage of 3D printing’s inexpensive prototyping costs, and have fully integrated technology into their iteration, innovation, and production processes. Urbee was the first 3D printed automobile in 2010. Its entire body was 3D manufactured using a colossal 3D printer. On a regular new 3D printing materials are being investigated, from Daniel Kelly’s lab which is a 3D printing bone, to XtreeE, a French firm that is 3D printing concrete to transform the building sector. 3D printing concrete for architectural purposes is already a reality, and families are beginning to move into 3D printed homes. In 2018, the first family to live in a 3D printed home did so. It took two days to print the house, which is 1022 square feet and totally habitable.
3D Printing Saves Lives, Literally!
The medical community is growing highly engaged in 3D bioprinting. 3D bioprinting could have a wide range of applications. The numerous benefits of this technology are readily apparent. It has the potential to produce human tissue for burn patients. It is also a means to make human organs so that transplants can be performed. Today, we can see that there are not enough donors, and bioprinting could be a remarkable, efficient, and life-saving approach. Distinct molecular structures, such as kidney tissue and skin tissue, could be created using 3D bioprinting technology. Bioprinters use a computer-guided pipette to layer living cells, referred to as bio-ink, on top of one another to construct fake living tissue in a laboratory, rather than printing with plastic or metal.
These tissue constructs, also known as organoids, can be employed in medical research because they are small organs. They are also being tested as a less expensive alternative to human organ transplantation. Organovo, a medical laboratory and research firm based in the United States, is experimenting with printing liver and intestine tissue to aid in the in vitro study of organs as well as medicine discovery for particular disorders. A similar method was taken by the Wake Forest Institute in North Carolina, which developed a 3D brain organoid with potential uses in drug development and disease modelling. In May 2018, the university claimed that its organoids had a completely functional, cell-based blood-brain barrier that matches normal human anatomy. Another medical application of 3D printing is the creation of patient-specific organ replicas for surgeons to practise on before performing complex procedures.
This method has been shown to speed up procedures and reduce patient trauma. Using a 3D printed model of her donor’s kidney, surgeons in Belfast successfully rehearsed a kidney transplant for a 22-year-old lady in January 2018. Her father, who was her donor, had an incompatible blood group and his kidney was determined to contain a potentially malignant cyst, therefore the transplant was laden with difficulties. Surgeons were able to determine the size and location of the tumour and cyst using the 3D printed duplicate of his kidney. 3D printers can make sterile medical equipment like forceps, haemostats, scalpel handles, and clamps. Not only do 3D printers create sterile instruments, but some of them are also based on the ancient Japanese art of origami, which means they are exact and can be created incredibly small. These devices can be used to operate on small areas without giving the patient any additional harm. One of the key advantages of employing 3D printing to manufacture surgical tools rather than traditional manufacturing processes is that the production costs are much lower.
The patient can also create a prosthetic that is tailored to their specific needs using 3D printing. Body Labs, for example, has developed a device that allows patients to scan their own limbs and model their prosthetic on them to get a more realistic fit and appearance. Amputees sometimes have to wait weeks or months for prostheses when they go the traditional way; however, 3D printing greatly speeds up the process while also producing much less expensive items that provide patients with the same functionality as traditional prosthetics.
3-D Printing For Sustainable Construction
3D printing for architecture is also increasing, and it has the potential to grow significantly in the next years. The advantages of this technology for the construction industry are numerous. Projects may be built faster, for less money, and with less waste. A concept model is the starting point for any architectural project. It is a crucial tool for architects, clients, and the general public to visualise the architect’s design vision. However, the path from blueprints to actual models is long and difficult. A hand-made, detailed, and scaled concept model necessitates a great deal of effort. When complex geometries are involved, the task becomes significantly more challenging. The process will be simplified thanks to 3D printing. It can create highly detailed physical models based on a CAD model using a variety of materials and colours. It is a time-saving method that allows architects to create models more rapidly and correctly. It also gives purchasers and clients a better concept of the ultimate structure’s appearance.
If they want to make any adjustments, they can suggest them and view them immediately in a fresh 3D-printed model. When compared to waiting until the building is nearly complete before understanding it requires some adjustments, this saves time and money. 3D printing can produce models in a matter of days, regardless of their complexity. For architects, interior design has always been difficult and time-consuming. They will be able to create complicated furnishings and detailed parts much faster thanks to 3D printing. Smaller decorative things can be prototyped cost-effectively without wasting resources or human effort. Some builders have recently begun offering consumers the option of selecting from a catalogue of ready-to-print designs and finishes. Customization of the customer’s options is possible without incurring additional fees or delays in delivery.
NASA and other organisations are working on ways to create habitable structures on the Moon or Mars using 3D printing. NASA’s general plan is to send a crew of robots to the target years before people arrive. A rover/collector would mine and supply raw materials, a filament plant would convert raw materials to filament for use by the printer, and a mobile printer would turn the filament into various structures. This would eliminate the need to ship masses of construction materials and a variety of tools on a long and costly journey to the destination. 3D printing has a variety of applications, ranging from creating idea models to constructing full structures while saving time and money. It also benefits designers and clients by allowing them to update the idea model rapidly and affordably.
The Future Looks Up To 3D Printing
More and more sectors of the economy are being impacted by 3D printing. It had only been utilised experimentally by colleges and large enterprises until recently. Architects may use 3D printing to create mock-ups, while mechanics can use it to create tools. It has discovered a niche in the media industry as a manufacturer of personalised promotional items. It is also a great tool for small businesses who need to make casing prototypes or even the casings themselves in low-volume production. People who desire to create their own business might also benefit from 3D printing. It can be used as a foundation for your business: make 3D printed models on demand or make money by printing certain items. However, in many spheres of the business, development without 3D printing is nearly unthinkable. 3D printing is an innovation that inspires more creativity. 3D printing is used to make low-cost prosthetics, spare parts, rapid prototyping, personalised objects, and low-waste manufacturing. The technology is beneficial, and it will become much more valuable in the future as a result of its widespread availability and continued development.