Printing in the Third Dimension
It’s like a technology from Star Trek. The ability to “print” a 3D object is now available, and can even be done in color. Although not quite ready for the home, industrial 3D printers for rapid prototyping have made spectacular advances over the past few years. Speed and cost are the primary concerns with 3D printing, but recent advances in the technology enable relatively complex models to be made affordably in less than 24 hours. These “printed” models can even contain moving parts!
Photo Credit Oskay
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How does 3D printing Work?
The technical term for 3D printing is ’stereo lithography’, and is accomplished through the layer by layer construction of a 3D object. In one method, a layer of liquid resin is “printed”, and the resin is then cured by a laser in the exact pattern for that layer. The object is slowly built in this manner, and the non-cured resin is then removed, leaving only the portions of the object that were cured by the laser. Wikipedia offers a better technical explanation for those so inclined.
Photo Credit Diaper
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3D Printing in Action
Below are links to some videos which demonstrate the abilities of 3D printing. Some are company promotional videos, but they give good insight into the state of these particular technologies.
Future of 3D Printing
Will we see 3D printing in the home? Quite probably, but the technology will have to advance beyond its current prototyping role to the point that it can create usable objects for a consumer at an affordable price. It is doubtful we will see it in the home any time soon, but once the technology matures, consumer applications are found, and there is a dollar to be made–there is no reason to not expect it.
