The 3D printing revolution is coming. That means, it is about to go mainstream in a big way.
Most executives and many engineers maybe don’t realize it. But, this technology now has moved well beyond prototyping, rapid tooling, toys, and trinkets.
The Real 3D Printing Revolution
3D printing which is also known as additive manufacturing. You have probably already heard or read some articles about this topic.
Around the year 2012, a lot of articles predicted how every home would have a 3D printer soon. The 3D printer we will use for all manner of ingenious tasks.
But, that didn’t happen until now. Even home usage of 3D printers has not taken off, but this technology has been inveigling its way to our lives in other ways.
If you are aware enough, all custom hearing aids are now 3D printed in acrylic resin and have been like this for years.
Additive manufacturing is widely used in dentistry. Teeth aligners right now are increasing by taking the place of traditional wire braces. You need 3D printing to make this.
Big brands like Adidas and Nike use the technology in their shoes. There is 3D printed art on all new aircraft and a number of cars.
Rapid Prototyping to Home Factory
At the time in the early 2000s, only around 500 companies and major research universities had access to 3D printers. The machines were massive and expensive.
But. more than a decade ago, a professor in Britain had the intriguing idea of making a 3D printer that could print itself. He released the design with open-source licenses on the web.
Right now, many people use that design to start their own companies to produce variants of these 3D printers and the price is more affordable.
That’s why 3D printing is becoming a trend right now. We can call it the 3D printing revolution.
Beyond Plastics
Making functional toys and household products at home is easier for beginners. By using 3D printing, making adaptive aids for arthritis patients and other medical products and sporting goods are also easy.
Metal and ceramic 3D printing is now already available. This even expands rapidly for a range of items.
From high-cost medical implants to rocket engines to improving simple bulk manufacturers products. Printable electronics and larger items like furniture are now starting to become available or will be in the near future.
These more advanced 3D printers make so many people need them to help accelerate the trend toward distributed manufacturing, even if they don’t end up in people’s homes.
Now, 3D printing is more common because it is less expensive and the design of it. It’s one of the signs that the 3D printing revolution has already begun.
