The impact of 3D printing technology
Though 3D printing technology has existed for more than two decades but with only very few innovations in the space…Will the future bring any more promises? Well, the answer is a big “Yes”.
Introduction
3D printing, invented by Chuck Hull in the year 1983, using UV light to build objects layer by layer by curing and bonding photopolymer resin. A 20th-century invention, which got traction in the 21st generation. From the past few years, the growth of 3D printing has grown exponentially & diversified to many fields and simultaneously researching new techniques in 3D printing. Essentially creating endless possibilities for several new industries & requirements, paving the path for future research across sectors. 3D printing made us rethink, reimagine our thought process in building objects. This technology redefined the way we make things. Silently, disrupting the core fundamentals of the manufacturing process for a better tomorrow.
1. Healthcare:
When thinking about life-changing, the Medical field comes as foremost important and essential, where the scope is huge for 3D printing for life-saving.
Treating wounds[2] using 3D scanning technologies and by printing cells layer by layer right on the patients directly. The process goes like this, a scanner scans the wounded area, deciding how much printing/layering is required to cover the wound. Then, the printer prints on the wound directly. This essentially reduces the time during emergency situations, where the patient needs immediate care for their wounds.
Creating synthetic bio-organs, or also known as ‘Bio printing’. The process of printing using living cells, hydrogels, and chemicals for implants in the body taken from the patient itself, then creating structures using sophisticated 3D printing machines & processes. Examples, regenerating tissues, skin, printing a kidney and implanting them in the human body. The process is, taking very small pieces of cells from the injured organs, grow those cells outside the bodies in labs in large quantities and then replace those injured organs with these new externally cultivated organs.
One area is Medicine, the idea of personalized medication [3] has been around for a while. Now that we take multiple pills for different ailments, what if all these pills combined in just one pill or also known as ‘polypills’ were 3D printed right at the corner drugstore? This opens up the whole new pharmacogenomics [4] of personalized drugs. These adopt to each individual human body considering their health conditions like BP, sugar level, heart rate, body weight, age, gender etc.
“Lifelike rehearsal” [5] where doctors can perform operations n number of times, on 3D printed body parts of humans before them performing these critical operations on real humans. This gives them confidence by making the surgeons ready just like a sportsman having a practice session before the actual game.
With 3D printing technology, many complicated structures can be made. Adding to that, a process called “Digital Light Synthesis” [6], has taken designing complicated parts to a new level. Where not only are complex structures are designed but they are created 100x times faster than traditional 3D printing. Which enables the design stage to prototype in less time and manufacturing products in real-time. It transforms the medical field, especially in dentistry, were usually the time taken to make custom dentures will be in days but with the DLS technique, it will be in real-time.
2. Space & Aerospace:
Rocket science really means complicated, costly, very low tolerances of moving parts, precision, and accuracy. With traditional & well-established organisations which are usually managed & funded by governments across the world. But now the scenario has been changed. New start-ups are emerging with cutting edge technologies[7] to make humans multi-planetary species. Building reusable rockets, single-piece large scale rocket components now becoming a reality and the credit goes to 3D printing technology.
‘Blown powder Directed Energy Deposition’ or DED is a method where metal powder is injected into a laser-heated molten metal pool. With which large scale single piece rocket components such as nozzles and combustion chambers are being produced. With this technology over 2165 hours of production time, 50% of costs reduction can be observed & 247 parts reduced to 1 part.
The other innovation in the space industry is ‘In-space manufacturing’ where certain objects are made in space. These are on-demand manufacturing techniques that enable prototyping, rapid iteration, deployment of in-space requirements during long-duration missions. This allows smaller, efficient rockets to be launched into space, allowing critical parts to be made in less time & cost-effective manner, making astronauts self-reliant & confident in their space endeavours.
Moreover, building satellite components without any compromises. All these are significant achievements, in the space industry, which also leads to the design, fabrication of parts and even the whole body of an aeroplane.
3. Manufacturing:
An industry that laid the foundation for 3D printing technology or additive manufacturing techniques.
From industrial machinery, automobile spare parts, to homemade hobby toy parts. The future of 3D printing is unimaginatively brilliant. For example, Bell aircraft components, Williams Martini F1 Racing car wings, Hasenauer & Hesser ICE train spare parts.
3D printing cloths/textiles and accessories at our homes which comprises of intrinsic designs and patterns. ‘DDM’ (Direct Digital Manufacturing) is essentially a digitally created model and produced in an automation process with relatively very low human interference. DDM can also be used for other manufacturing applications.
It can be said as “A radical departure that fundamentally changes manufacturing”.
4. Architecture:
An interesting application of this technology is in Architecture. Designing furniture with intrinsic, contemporary styles & designs. Incorporating customized versions of interior decorative pieces.
The future of our housing lies in the hands of 3D printing. Within a matter of days, houses can be constructed, without high material loss. With design flexibility, sustainability and most importantly affordability. This simple housing solution is for the mass market, emergency shelters needed due to natural calamities.
Not only on earth but there is a need for habitats on other planets such as Mars for becoming multi-planetary species. This solidifies the path for humans to explore other planets.
5. Food:
Additive manufacturing in the food industry is relatively new yet very interesting. Delicious chocolates with the creative desired shape, branding designs making the chocolates unique to celebrate different occasions. Instead of ordering a pizza with a choice of toppings, a homemade pizza anytime with our choice of toppings opening new possibilities. Basically, 3D printing of food comes in two types, 1. Extrusion; 2. Moulding. The chocolates designing or pizza base, printing layer by layer comes under Extrusion type. Flavoured gelatine, jelly candies are made using the moulding process. The shapes of the food are just limited to our imagination.
These are a few of the applications described in each field. The impact it started to create is indescribable. There are many other applications in these fields to discuss.
6. Research limitations & Roadmap:
The current challenges of 3D printing are the slow process times and the use of plastics. Addressing and solving the following issues could potentially create a disruption in manufacturing by 3D printing.
1. Reducing the printing times
2. Use of eco-friendly materials and other wide range of materials
3. Bringing down the size of the 3D printer.
Increasing the speed of the printing process reduce the overall reduction in building a product. Though 3D printing technology uses fewer materials, the key is using more sustainable materials during the process. Changing to more eco-friendly materials like recyclable plastics.
7. Evolution of 4D printing or 3D printing with intelligence:
These are just one side of the coin. The real game-changer is when the object transforms itself when needed depending on its functionality and surroundings. “Transformation by design” or as Mr Skylar Tibbits calls it “4D printing”. Objects that are created by multi-material 3D printing process but designed and fabricated to reshape accordingly. That transformation can occur due to mechanical stress, water absorption, light exposure, or any other method(s).
7.1.Current research leading to better tomorrow:
As this process is still in the evolution stage, but the opportunities it presents are endless. 3D printed in liquid ‘Silicon cushion clusters’, have the ability to inflate individual cells altering their overall shape, stiffness, and movement. Thus, such objects can be used in cars’ seating which customises to each individual passenger. Another method 3D print liquid metal into powder was developed, creating fully formed parts that can be lifted out of powder. Those parts can be re-melted & remodelled to new parts with suitable materials.
With a breakthrough technology in 3D printing called ‘Rapid Liquid Printing’, major hurdles/challenges are solved. This process can produce structures within minutes that might be designed as large-scale products with industry-grade materials.
This process can be used to print products with silicone rubber, a material that no other traditional manufacturing technology can create. The highlight of this material is its stretchable properties, minimizing the size and duration of printing.
“Imagine a world in which humans live in a 3D printed house filled with 3D printed interiors & furniture, wear 3D printed outfits, eating food made by a 3D printer, drive a vehicle with 3D printed parts, getting treatment by a 3D printer”.
So far, it seems like the past is just a rice grain. Lifestyle changing real uses and impact of 3D printing like these can be experienced by an individual in a not so distinct future.
Conclusion:
All these above significantly create an impact on our lives. The uses and impact of 3D printing technology in the future are enormous. It grows leaps and bounds to an unbelievable phase as never before imagined designs, shapes and structures can be created moreover which can be transformable on its own. I think the full potential of 3D printing is still to unleash which enables a new era in mankind.
References:
[1] Global 3D printing industry market size | Statista
[4] https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/pharmacogenomics.aspx
[5] The role of simulation in neurosurgery. Childs Nerv Syst. 2016 Jan; 32(1):43–54
[6] Kim, S.H., Yeon, Y.K., Lee, J.M. et al. Precisely printable and biocompatible silk fibroin bioink for digital light processing 3D printing. Nat Commun 9, 1620 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03759-y
4. Sun, L., Zhao, L. Envisioning the era of 3D printing: a conceptual model for the fashion industry. Fash Text 4, 25 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40691-017-0110-4
5. ❤d printing in architecture research papers>
6. ❤d printing houses>
7. < 3d printing habitats for living in space>
8. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/3d-opportunity/3d-printing-in-the-food-industry.html
9. https://www.ge.com/additive/additive-manufacturing/industries/food-beverage
10. https://www.naturalmachines.com/dish-gallery
11. Transformation by design | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology