Arguably, one of the coolest scenes from any of the “Mission Impossible” movies is when the character of Ethan dons a disguise, a life-like mask, designed by computer software and formed from a special machine that carves out the facial image from a blank mold by chipping away at it until the facial image is created.
It is usually not long after being exposed to many technological marvels in movies that they seem to make their entrance into mainstream reality.
Jeff Dunham, an extraordinary, award winning Ventriloquist, uses a similar “machine” to create his characters.
Welcome to the world of 3D printing……
In the next few articles, I will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of 3D printing. But first here is an overview of 3D printing as explained from Wikipedia.
3D printing (also called additive manufacturing) is a process of making three dimensional solid objects of virtually any shape from a digital model. 3D printing is achieved using an additive processes, where an object is created by laying down successive layers of material in different shapes. 3D printing is considered distinct from traditional machining techniques (subtractive processes) which mostly rely on the removal of material by methods such as cutting or drilling etc. 3D printing is usually performed by a materials printer using digital technology.
While 3D printing technology has been around since the 1980s, it wasn’t until the early 2010s that the printers became widely available commercially. The first working 3D printer was created in 1984 by Chuck Hull of 3D Systems Corp.
The 3D printing technology is used for both prototyping and distributed manufacturing. They are used in a number of industries, architecture, construction, industrial design, automotive, aerospace, military, engineering, civil engineering, dental and medical industries, biotech, fashion, footwear, jewelry, eyewear, education, geographic information systems, food, and many other fields.
How it works:
Traditional techniques like injection molding can be less expensive for manufacturing polymer products in high quantities, but 3D printing can be faster, more flexible and less expensive when producing relatively small quantities of parts. 3D printers give designers and concept development teams the ability to produce parts and concept models using a desktop size printer.
Some 3D printing techniques are capable of using multiple materials in the course of constructing parts. Some are able to print in multiple colors and color combinations simultaneously. Some also utilize supports when building. Supports are removable or dissolvable upon completion of the print, and are used to support overhanging features during construction.
Several projects and companies are making efforts to develop affordable 3D printers for home desktop use. Much of this is targeted at DIY (do-it-yourself) enthusiasts.
The cost of 3D printers has decreased dramatically since about 2010, with machines that used to cost $20,000 costing less than $1,000. For instance, as of 2013, several companies and individuals are selling parts to build various designs, with prices starting at about $500. One organization, fab_home project, has developed printers for general use with anything that can be squirted through a nozzle, from chocolate to silicone sealant and chemical reactants. Several other new 3D printers are aimed at the small, inexpensive market.
Companies have created services where consumers can customize objects using easy web based customization software, and order the items as 3D printed unique objects. Nokia has released the 3D designs for its case so that owners can customize their own case and have it 3D printed.
The current slow print speed of 3D printers limits their use for mass production.
Some companies offer on-line 3D printing services. These services require people to upload their 3D designs to the company website. Designs are then 3D printed using industrial 3D printers and either shipped to the customer or in some cases the consumer can pick the object up at the store.
(source – wikpedia)
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