3D printing might appear a tiny unfathomable to some. In general, 3D printing involves taking a digital model or blueprint created via software, which is then printed in successive layers of materials like glass, metal, plastic, ceramic and assembled one layer at a time. Many major manufacturers use them to manufacture products, be it on a topic or generic or brand. However, 3D goes beyond and there are current anticipations for the following breakthrough.
Speeds Are Improved by 50-100X
Presently, the printing rates of 3D printing have been limited by the force a printhead can apply, how fast a printer can heat the material to induce flow, and how quickly the printhead itself can move.
However, in a new achievement, MIT’s Manufacturing and Productivity Lab recently developed a printer that is 10 times faster than traditional desktop varieties and 3 times faster than the usual 100,000 industrial-scale systems. Achieving record speeds, the MIT team printed a helical bevel gear in a mere 10 minutes and a pair of eyeglass frames in only 3.6 minutes. The acceleration of 3D printing will revolutionize nearly every industry, from retail to manufacturing.
Sustainable and Affordable 3D Printed Houses
At monumental scales, real estate and construction companies will experience disruption as 3D printed homes offer cheaper, environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional housing. 3D printed houses first appeared last year in the Dutch city of Eindhoven, where a shortage of masons has increased demand for the technologies.
The futuristic buildings use less concrete, saving costs and resources. Further down the road, home printers could include infrastructure such as drains, as well as possibly smart sensors, resulting in a fully integrated home experience. And recently, a startup called NewStory was able to build 100 homes in 8 months for about $6,000 each.
3D Printed Food for Consumption
3D printed meat using plant-based proteins will provide a more sustainable solution to feeding the world’s growing population. Livestock accounts for between 14.5% and 18% of global human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. But 3D printed meat could provide the same satisfaction of eating beef without harming the environment. Over the next five decades, costs will come down and consistency will likely improve.
Metal-Based 3D Printers Will Surpass Plastics
Shortly, there will be an emergence of 3D printed jewelry, car and airplane parts, kitchenware, and prototypes. Metal 3D printers will not only eliminate waste in manufacturing, but they will also produce lighter parts, a growth that is particularly relevant to aircraft manufacturing. The technology is becoming more accessible to consumers, offering greater flexibility in product design than traditional plastic printers. This mechanically powerful and environmentally flexible substance is just one example of the limitless possibilities of 3D-printed plastics.…