Home > Technology peripherals > It Industry > 10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Christopher Nolan
Release: 2025-02-18 12:31:10
Original
255 people have browsed it

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

3D printing technology has made significant progress over the past decade, from being used only by large manufacturers to being able to be achieved in the office at home. It is becoming increasingly affordable and provides a fast way to create products. However, as innovation exceeds regulatory speeds, ethical, legal and ethical issues of 3D printing are becoming increasingly prominent. The following ten forms of 3D printing show that 3D printing will become as popular as other forms of manufacturing in the next few years.

Key points

  • 3D printing is becoming more affordable and easy to use, and its applications range from health science to architecture and even fashion.
  • Bioprinting is a major breakthrough in the health sciences, with Wake Forest researchers creating a 3D bioprinter that can produce organs, tissues and bones that could revolutionize transplant surgery.
  • 3D printing technologies such as contour construction can revolutionize the construction industry by automatically building houses and integrating ducts for power, piping and air conditioning.
  • 3D printing has played an important role in improving the lives of poor people, and organizations such as "Refugee Open Warehouses" use this technology to create prosthetics for conflict victims.
  1. Application of bioprinting in health science

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image source: Wake Forest Regenerative Medicine Institute
Researchers at Wake Forest University in North Carolina have created a 3D bioprinter that can be produced in theory that can be implanted into living humans Organs, tissues and bones. Wake Forest researchers used plastic-like materials and living cells from humans, rabbits, rats and mice to create muscle, bones and ear structures. Surprisingly, living cells survived during 3D printing. The researchers also successfully implanted their 3D-printed structures into rodents. If the technology works as well for humans as it does for rodents, doctors may be able to use the patient’s own cells to print new bones, muscles, or cartilage for them in the future.

Before this, there was a printer capable of printing artificial skin. Various types of cells are placed in the wells of the actual cartridge, and the printer is programmed to arrange the cells in a predetermined order. Currently, researchers are using improved inkjet printing technology to "print" skins on site for soldiers suffering from life-threatening burns. In this technology, "skin cells will be placed directly into the printing cartridge along with the necessary materials that support them and will be printed directly on the wound on the soldier's wound site."

The concept of skull implantation seems to be something from science fiction, but last year, Chinese doctors were able to save the life of a baby with hydrocephalus by 3D printing and implanting three titanium skulls. 3D printed titanium is strong, lightweight and can be designed to fit perfectly in patients.

  1. Pharma printing

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image source: Aprecia Pharmaceutical Company
Recently, Aprecia Pharmaceutical Company in the United States released the world's first 3D printed drug, Spritam, a drug for treating epilepsy seizures in patients with epilepsy. The printing technology comes from a technology produced by MIT, using the company's trademark ZipDose technology. The technology is produced by sandwiching the form of a drug powder between liquid materials and combining them at a microscopic level, and the printed pills dissolve rapidly when in contact with the liquid.

3D drug printing is a huge step towards personalized medicine. Changing the surface area of ​​the pill by printing means that the size, dose, appearance and delivery speed of the drug can be designed to suit the individual. In the future, this could mean that clinics, hospitals and pharmacies, and even patients’ homes will have on-demand drug printing facilities.

  1. DIY Dentistry

No wonder, dentistry is another industry that is about to be transformed by 3D printing technology. Perhaps its biggest breakthrough recently was a 20-year-old college student who printed out his own set of clear braces—like those sold for thousands of dollars—all of which cost less than $60. While ostensibly this skill is limited to those who can use materials and related knowledge, it shows how 3D printing will make traditional products cheaper.

  1. Robot Bird

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image source: Materialise and Clear Flight Solutions
Birds are beautiful creatures. However, they can endanger passenger safety by damaging the plane, spreading disease or destroying crops. To this end, the Dutch company Clear Flight Solutions has created the high-tech “Robirds”.

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image source: Materialise and Clear Flight Solutions
As this article by Materialise explains:

"These remotely controlled robotic raptors, with a true appearance and weight similar to their living counterparts, act as modern scarecrows. Robirds push themselves by flapping their wings, and their flight performance is comparable to real birds."

These Robirds can be used in airports, orchards, fields and dumps to scare away real and more annoying birds. They have developed two types of Robirds: falcons, which can be used to drive birds weighing up to 3 kilograms, and eagles, which can be used to drive birds of any type.

  1. Bicycle

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image Source: Bastion Cycles Pty Ltd
Due to the cost and size of the required printers and various construction challenges, 3D printed bicycles have limited access to the retail market. Despite these initial hurdles, companies like Bastion Cycles are making life easier for bike riders with their 3D printed titanium parts and ETT Industries that provide 3D printed cycling parts that can be printed at home. This is good news for cyclists who embrace new 3D printing technology and want to incorporate it into their own riding.

  1. Shoes

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image source: New Balance
The concept of 3D printed shoes is really attractive. Who doesn’t want a pair of shoes that are completely customized to their own size? But 3D printed shoes are still limited to shoe parts or limited editions. New Balance released the Zante Generate running shoes this week, the first high-performance running shoes with a full-length 3D printed midsole. Last year, Adidas released a running shoe with a 3D printed midsole, and in March we saw Under Armour released shoes with a 3D printed midsole and 3D upper design that helps provide a precise fit.

Outside the field of sports, shoes seem to be limited to areas with high art, such as the premium fashion products of United Nude shoes. These products are printed in the store and in front of customers. Another interesting concept is Feetz's products, they 3D-print shoes based on photos of your feet.

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Source: United nude shoes
7. House

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image source: Contour Structure
Although it is impossible or impractical to build the entire house by 3D printing alone, the contour Structure shows a way forward. Contour Contour (CC) is a layered manufacturing technology developed by Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis of the University of Southern California. This technology could revolutionize the construction industry. Using contour construction process, “a house or row of houses, each house may have a different design, can be automatically built in one run, each house is embedded with all the power, pipes and air conditioners pipeline".

Contour structures are touted as a valuable application for emergency housing, low-income housing and commercial housing. NASA is even exploring the possibility of contour construction building on other planets.

  1. Drawing

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image Source: The 3Doodler
3Doodler may provide the most interesting example of 3D printing, a handheld pen that allows you to "draw" your 3D printed objects.

3Doodler is usually compared with hot melt glue guns. You can start, pause and stop the pen by pressing the button. When you start painting, you press the tip of the pen onto the plane and then draw the 3D object you imagine in the air!

  1. Guns

10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality

Image Source: Defence Distributed
The most controversial example of 3D printing is probably the gun. In 2013, the world's first 3D-printed gun was successfully launched in the United States. Invented by Defence Distributed, the gun consists almost entirely of 3D printed parts of ABS plastic – the firing needle is the only metal (rather than plastic) part. The drawings of the 3D-printed gun were controversially released to everyone and were downloaded 100,000 times in two days. The U.S. government has been working to prevent the download and spread of these drawings, but the online release of such materials is difficult to revoke.

  1. Change life by creating prosthetics

3D printed prosthetics have played an incredible role in improving the lives of people in need around the world. "Refugee Open Warehouse" (ROW) is an example. They are a “global humanitarian innovation alliance with a mission to leverage advanced technologies to improve human rights fulfillment in refugees and host communities in conflict areas” (source). ROW provides training for displaced and host communities while finding solutions to the problems faced by conflict victims. They currently have a manufacturing lab in Jordan that trains locals to make and create 3D printed prosthetics.

Frequently Asked Questions About 3D Printing Changed Our Reality

What are the most innovative applications of 3D printing in the field of medicine?

3D printing has revolutionized the field of medicine in many ways. For example, it has been used to create customized prosthetics and implants tailored to the individual patient’s specific needs. This not only improves the comfort and functionality of these devices, but also reduces production time and cost. In addition, 3D printing has been used to produce realistic models of organs and tissues that can be used for surgical planning and training. In the future, people hope that 3D printing can be used to create functional organs for transplantation.

How does 3D printing change the automotive industry?

The automotive industry has adopted 3D printing technology because it is able to rapidly prototypify and test new designs. This technology enables manufacturers to create complex parts and components that are difficult or impossible to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. In addition, 3D printing can produce lightweight, high-strength materials, which can improve the performance and efficiency of the vehicle. Some companies are even trying to 3D print the entire vehicle.

What is the environmental impact of 3D printing?

3D printing has the potential to be more environmentally friendly than traditional manufacturing methods. It is an additive manufacturing, which means it uses only the materials needed to make objects, thus reducing waste. In addition, 3D printing can be used to produce items on demand and locally, reducing the need for long-distance transportation and storage. However, it should be noted that the environmental impact of 3D printing varies depending on the materials used and the energy consumption of the printer.

How is 3D printing used in the construction industry?

In the construction industry, 3D printing is used to create complex building structures, reducing waste and increasing efficiency. For example, it has been used to print concrete walls and other structural components. This not only speeds up the construction process, but also allows the creation of designs that are difficult to achieve using traditional construction methods. In the future, 3D printing is expected to be used to create entire buildings.

What are the limitations of 3D printing?

While 3D printing has many advantages, it also has some limitations. For example, for large-scale production, it may be slower than traditional manufacturing methods. In addition, the mass and strength of 3D printed objects will vary depending on the material used and the accuracy of the printer. In addition, copyright and intellectual property are also challenging because objects are easily copied using 3D printing.

How does 3D printing change the fashion industry?

3D printing is transforming the fashion industry by enabling designers to create complex and unique works that are difficult to produce using traditional methods. It also allows for larger customization, as items can be customized according to the individual customer’s specific size and preferences. Furthermore, 3D printing can reduce waste by using only the materials needed to make the article.

What is the future of 3D printing?

The future of 3D printing looks promising, and it has potential applications in a wide range of industries. The technology is expected to continue to improve in terms of speed, quality and cost-effectiveness. In addition, 3D printing is expected to be used to create more complex and functional objects, including electronic devices and biological tissues.

How does 3D printing work?

3D printing works by creating objects layer by layer. The process begins with digital design, which is cut into thin layers using dedicated software. The printer then constructs the object by depositing material layer by layer, following design instructions. The material can be plastic, metal, or even biological cells, usually deposited in liquid or semi-liquid states and then solidified.

What materials can be used for 3D printing?

3D printing can use a variety of materials, including plastics, metals, ceramics, and even biomaterials. The choice of material depends on the desired characteristics of the final object, such as its strength, flexibility and appearance. Some printers can use multiple materials in a single print, allowing for the creation of objects with complex structures and characteristics.

How do I get started with 3D printing?

There are several steps to get started with 3D printing. First, you need to buy a 3D printer and the necessary materials. There are many different types of 3D printers to choose from, from cheap models for home use to high-end machines for industrial applications. Next, you need to learn how to create or download digital designs, which can be done using 3D modeling software or online repositories. Finally, you need to learn how to operate the printer and troubleshoot any problems that arise.

The above is the detailed content of 10 Examples of 3D Printing Transforming Our Reality. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Statement of this Website
The content of this article is voluntarily contributed by netizens, and the copyright belongs to the original author. This site does not assume corresponding legal responsibility. If you find any content suspected of plagiarism or infringement, please contact admin@php.cn
Latest Articles by Author
Popular Tutorials
More>
Latest Downloads
More>
Web Effects
Website Source Code
Website Materials
Front End Template