Just like motorized automobiles, 3D printing is making an impact on every industry it comes into contact with. Very simply put, a 3D printer is a robot that creates a three-dimensional object by layering certain materials.
Various types of businesses are taking advantage of the endless opportunities 3D printers provide. If you’re looking to capitalize on 3D printing (or better understand it), below are a few of the industries utilizing 3D printing. Take some notes!
Healthcare
Science and 3D printing are coming together to create real-life miracles. Current projects include: the printing of human skin to help burn victims and those with skin conditions, printing of organs and body parts to advance research and work toward the goal of full organ replacement, printing of precise patching to repair heart conditions, and printing cost-efficient prosthetics.
Why it’s important:
By utilizing 3D printing, the healthcare industry has been able to make leaps and bounds. With more detailed 3D models, researchers and scientists can test theories in new ways without harming a living person or animal. Teaching becomes more advanced, and the flat paper of a medical textbook turns into a lifelike 3D model.
Architecture
Revolutionizing the way things are made, it’s no surprise that 3D printing holds a significant impact on the architectural industry. Scale design models are created faster, with more durability and more detail-giving clients a better visual of the final project. This process saves time and leaves no question unanswered. Instead of architects or assistants pouring over meticulous detailed models for hours, days, weeks, or months, 3D printing allows for exact dimensions and precise creation in less than a day (depending on the size and scale of the project).
Why it’s important:
By saving time, architects and their support staff can tackle more projects. They can deliver quality models in less time, and work more closely with clients on adjustments because those adjustments won’t take extraneous amounts of time to create. And with the specificity of 3D printing, measurements and dimensions don’t get lost in the creation of the model.
Fashion
Jewelry, accessories, shoes, avant-garde design-when it comes to fashion, 3D printing is limitless. Well-known fashion giants like Nike, Adidas and Chanel have incorporated 3D printing into their pieces, including Nike’s 3D printed duffel bag made for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Why it’s important:
Because of 3D printing’s exact measurements and ability to create almost anything, the fashion industry now has no limits to what they can create. The human element has been eliminated in the sense of having to rely on a person to figure out how to create an item. 3D printing produces the item down to the last millimeter, which allows for exact designing.
Manufacturing
3D printing brings a variety of benefits to the manufacturing industry such as increased customization and output. From aerospace to consumer goods, 3D printing gives companies the tools they need to be more innovative and specific. Because 3D printing has the ability to eliminate certain manufacturing verticals (those that produce smaller items from common materials), some companies have to be careful how they utilize this new technology.
Why it’s important:
Manufacturing has to be vigilant about how they use and promote 3D printing. As of now, large items are still created the old-fashioned way, so industries revolving around those types of items are safe. But when a person can print his or her own fidget spinner at home, why would they buy one? See the challenge?
Education
Schools with access to 3D printing are going beyond textbooks and teaching in three-dimensions. Since 3D technology is the future, this hands-on experience can help children get bigger, better jobs after graduation. Understanding the world as it really is-in 3D-will allow for better comprehension and retention. 3D printed models will be especially helpful for courses that rely heavily on hands-on training.
Why it’s important:
The more educated and fulfilled our children are, the more advanced the world becomes as they progress into the adult environment. By using 3D printing to give them the best education possible, we’re setting ourselves up for success in the future.
Electronics
Consumers demand three features for their electronics-mobility, design, and efficiency. And 3D printing makes this much simpler. 3D printing allows manufacturers to easily fit detailed parts together, to create high-quality prototypes, and to use unique materials for production.
Why it’s important:
The technology and electronics industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of our world right now. New products come out constantly, and technology companies are always fighting each other to be the best and biggest. How will they do that? Successful prototypes, useful products, and the ability to create new things from new materials as quickly as possible can catapult one company ahead of another very easily.