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More on “How 3D Printing is changing everything”
Bre Pettis, founding member and CEO of the 3D printer firm, MakerBot Industries
describes the prototype Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner in the
Consumer Electronics Association
(CE). (
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Everything.aspx
) A YouTube video (referenced and described above in the “
More on scanners
for home use”
section) is located at (
). “This is
something you would envision being science fiction, but in fact, it is real—and it is so
cool,” Pettis says. “If something gets broken, you can just scan it and print it again.”
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)
The CE.org site lists these future trends in 3D printing:
3D Printing Trends to Watch
It’s all in the parts:
Expect to drive more cars and fly in more planes that are
built using 3D printing. Parts that are created from this additive process will become more
common, not only in heavy machinery, but also in household appliances and other
devices. Lose your iPhone case? Can’t find your wrench? More households will
implement 3D printers into their homes to make these smaller items.
Let’s go shopping:
Expect to see 3D printing kiosks at the mall alongside the
phone accessories hut. Not only will these destinations make 3D printing more of a
household word, but they will also introduce a new generation of consumers to the
technology, a lot like custom printed t-shirts and coffee mugs did a decade ago (before
everyone had their own photo printers). Expect to order and pick up a 3D print the same
way you order your digital photos.
It does the body good:
The future of 3D printing isn’t just for inanimate objects
anymore. It’s being used to develop products that can assist in the medical industry,
including prosthetic limbs and orthodontic devices. Scientists are even
experimenting with soft tissue printing that could change the way patients are treated for
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a variety of health needs. And 3D printing is also being used to take living cells to
produce a transplantable kidney.
Surgeon
Anthony Atala recently
demonstrated an early-
stage
experiment
.
The kids are all right:
Forget the construction paper and clay, tomorrow’s
students will bring home 3D prints that they make right in the classroom.
Progressive schools around the country are already starting to introduce the technology
in the classroom, but as the price points come down on 3D printers, a new generation of
innovators will have the opportunity to experiment with the endless possibilities.
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More on 3D printing a kidney
To watch surgeon Anthony Atala use living cells to 3D print a kidney, see the video (with
interpretation in 27 languages) located on this site.
