3D Printing, Fad or Future?

MakerBot’s printer with a finished part

http://www.drupa.de/cipp/md_drupa/custom/pub/content,oid,31022/lang,1/ticket,g_u_e_s_t/~/Bitte_Einsteigen_Die_3D-Revolution_geht_um_die_Welt.html

3D printing long ago moved from fiction to being a reality. We all have had the dream of coming up with something then printing it off like in all the sci-fi movies. We can bring thought to reality and design to a hand held object. Experts predict a 3D printer will be a common household appliance in the near future. Many makers, hobbyists and normal people own a desktop 3D printer already and use it for multiple things.

People can now bring virtual designs into the real world in a plastic or plastic-based form. People can design or even just download objects people have make from the web and print those off. The way 3D printers work is material extrusion uses a nozzle to extrude a semi-liquid material to create layers to an object. The build material is a thermoplastic such ABS, PLA or nylon (normal plastics used in consumer products). Whatever material is used it is puts down as a thin piece of plastic which cools and many of these layers on top of another creates the object.These objects have many uses, these include practical uses like making holders for all your favorite objects to keep them organized, construction uses like being able to print a specific bracket to fit your unique project and visual uses to print sculpture or props for viewing.

Construction and prototyping

3D printers are used by many audiences but construction is a big one. Famous YouTuber James Bruton has a channel where he does amazing projects like building functioning droids from the movie Star Wars or creating self designed robots. He does this by designing parts in a CAD (Computer Aided Design) software and printing them on his multiple 3D printers. He has created many walking 3D printed robots and droids.

James Bruton standing next to his fully 3d printed Ultron Robot

https://www.youtube.com/user/jamesbruton

Prop makers also use 3D printing to create objects to make molds out of for high quality unique props, not only that but costume makers use them all the time to create part for their costumes and showcase them at conventions.

Is 3D printing the future of technology? Do you see yourself ordering a smartphone online and having it printed for you instead of delivered? Or is it just a passing fad that people will soon realize it is inefficient? In all honesty this is the future of production and personal production of products getting as close as possible to consumer-grade products. Already companies are using industrial 3D printers to create parts for airplanes, NASA rocket ships and much more. 3D printers will continue to build our future in a cheap and efficient way. Someday we all will be riding out 3D printed card around town.

Ultimaker 3D printer

https://bastiendesign.com/2016/02/16/3d-printing-vs-cnc/