Imagine a world… a world very much like our own, but… different. You wake up in the morning, print a coffee mug, pour yourself a cup of Joe. Print yourself a pair of shoes, lace ‘em up, and you’re out the door. Go to your office (in this world you are an industrial designer, all those late nights at the library paid off) and quickly print off a full-sized 3D prototype of the plastic widget you’ve been working on – the one that would have taken several weeks and thousands of dollars to manufacture normally. Yes, this is the world of 3D printing. The revolution is upon us, and it promises to change the way we design, manufacture, and purchase the products that we use every day.
A 3D printer is a fancy little machine that deposits layers of plastic in order to ‘print’ 3-dimensional objects based off of a computer design. The same way you print documents at the office, you could print clothing, shoes, jewellery, kitchenware, even medical devices, prosthetics, and construction materials – all totally customizable and available within minutes or hours.
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People are even using 3D printers to print 3D printers (oh, the humanity!). There is an ongoing project known as RepRap that has designed “Humanity’s first general-purpose self-replicating manufacturing machine.” The machine consists of 3D printed plastic components, and easy-to-find general purpose electronics and metal parts. The whole thing is controlled by open source (ie. free) software. With some tools, time, and know-how, you could build a desktop 3D printer of your very own for under $1,000.
It isn’t just engineers and designers getting in on the three-dimensional action. Artists, crafters, and do-it-yourselfers are also jumping on the bandwagon. Case in point: The 3Doodler, a 3D printing pen that has driven crafts enthusiasts absolutely insane with delight. This fantastic machine is a handheld 3D printer shaped like a pen. It extrudes rigid plastic that you can form in any direction, making structures, sculptures, or anything your heart desires. To demonstrate the versatility of the 3Doodler, co-founder Max Bogue built a giant model of the Eiffel Tower for the Consumer Electronics Show this past January. Their Kickstarter campaign crowdfunded $2.3 million, allowing them to bring the pen to market for just $99 a pop – a truly remarkable feat for a technology that is still in its infancy.
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As with any new technology, there are some dangers lurking. There have been designs floating around the internet for 3D printed guns and associated components. (Although someone who thinks that it’s a good idea to fire a plastic gun probably isn’t a criminal mastermind.) Also, we may run into the same intellectual property issues that have come up with digital music, movie, and software piracy. People could share patented designs and print them at home for free, cutting out the patent-holders from their well deserved moolah.
It’s clear that 3D printing will change the world. Whether those changes take place in engineers’ offices or in our own homes remains to be seen, but it is an exciting technology – one that will become a prominent feature in our increasingly interconnected world.
Would you purchase a 3D Printer or a 3D Pen? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.