3D printing started as a novelty and a hobbyist toy. Those who could afford 3D printers used them mostly for toys and experimenting. However, the technology has evolved dramatically and there are many real-world applications for 3D printing across various sectors today.
Just like the computer, which was also only a toy for hobbyists, 3D printing is starting to reshape several industries. Here are some of the best 3D printing applications.
Medical industry
When 3D printers first hit the market, the only material that could be used to print was plastic filament. As technology has evolved, more and more materials are available for printing. Prosthetic limbs were previously extremely expensive to produce and the quality was very mechanical.
With 3D printing technology, patients can receive custom printed replacement bones. With bioprinting, organs can be manufactured to solve organ failure problems much quicker. Even dental 3D printers are being utilized to produce superior dentures that fit more accurately than any previous products.
Not only can dentists save on material costs, but they also save time. Carbon 3D printers use superior materials and produce products at a much faster rate than traditional manufacturing procedures.
Education
Somehow, whenever a new technological advancement is discovered, the education industry is a sector that greatly benefits from the development. 3D printing has unlocked a completely new plain of design and allows students to express their ideas in previously unimaginable ways. Instead of only doing theoretical physics, students can now put their designs to the test.
Some of the future engineers are already being shaped because of the invention of the 3D printer. 3D printing bridges the gap between having ideas on paper and making them a reality and physically tangible. As the technology becomes more affordable, more applications within the education environment are sure to follow.
Manufacturing
3D printing is the technology that the manufacturing industry has been waiting for. Where it used to take weeks to produce prototypes, 3D printing reduced the process to mere hours. However, the advantages do stop there. Prototypes need to be refined and tested and that is where 3D printing truly shines.
Currently, 3D printing is not a cost-effective replacement for mass production, but when it comes to product development, it is second to none. Furthermore, technologies like Selective Laser Sintering and Direct Metal Laser Sintering have enabled 3D printers to not only produce a prototype but the final product as well.
Construction
The construction industry is the other industry that has been longing for 3D printing technology to shine. The application of 3D printing in the construction industry ranges from architecture to fabricating building and construction components. Extrusion, powder bonding, and additive welding are some of the technologies that are being used today.
The technology is not only reserved for large construction companies but also for commercial and private contractors who are looking for custom building materials. Everything from modular components that are produced off-site to onsite building can now be done with large-scale printers.
Art and jewelry
3D printing was bound to spill over into the artistic field. Jewelers and sculptors are particularly pleased that the technology affords them to experiment with new designs. 3D printing allows jewelers to design pieces that were previously impossible to manufacture with traditional methods.
Metal 3D printing, in particular, has tickled the fancy of sculptors as they can let their imagination run wild. Artists like Banksy have taken their art from 2D sketches and paintings and turned them into physical objects. Gilles Azzaro even printed the soundwaves of voices in an exhibition.