Once a matter of science fiction, 3D printing has steadily made its way into our everyday lives. Given the progressively fast-paced development of new technologies, it’s easy to forget that 3D printer models were just a theory at the start of the 1908s.
The first machine capable of printing such models was invented in 1981 by Dr. Hideo Kodama, a Japanese inventor who, at the time, worked for the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute. At around the same time in , the French General Electric Company had partnered with a laser manufacturer to create 3D printer models, however, the project was soon abandoned as it was not considered to be commercially valuable.
Later that decade, an engineer from the US, Charles Hull, invented a 3D printing process called Stereolithography, or SLA. This technology uses acrylic-based materials, better known as photopolymers, to convert liquids into solids using UV lights.
Thanks to the developments of Kodama, Hull, and countless other inventors, engineers, and researchers, 3D printer models can be used for an ever-increasing number of applications. From professionals creating cost-effective prototypes to artists merging nature and technology creatively, these printers are ing the 5th Industrial Revolution.
As the technology evolved, so too did the principles of 3D printing and best practices. The use of different raw materials and equally different applications meant that dedicated software needed to be created. As such, every 3D printing technology today, such as Selective Laser Sintering and Fused Deposition Modeling, has its own set of design guidelines and safety thresholds.
While it is easy to take 3D printer models for granted, the technology has undergone significant development since its creation just over 40 years ago. Below, we’ve looked at some of the most significant moments of 3D printers in their first four decades.
The use of 3D printer models is clearly on the rise and has been for some time, but what’s so unique about this technology and which industries have truly benefitted by using it?
3D printing has revolutionised the way that we live, work, and travel by not only facilitating lower-cost manufacturing but also providing novel solutions that would be otherwise unavailable.
In healthcare, for example, 3D printer models can recreate a patient’s specific anatomy to allow surgeons to prepare for an operation with an identical dummy. Printers can also create customised implants, plates, or other types of restorative equipment.
3D printer models are nowadays also a common sight in architectural firms. Providing a quicker and cheaper way to convert a CAD drawing into a real model, these printers make it easier for architects and engineers to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
Even the casino industry has benefitted from using 3D printers. Equipment used at these facilities, such as roulette wheels and pokie machines, are manufactured using these printers, thus removing any risks of imperfections or biased equipment.
The combination of 3D printers and advanced design software has empowered individuals, organisations, and even entire nations to rely less on external or foreign manufacturers. The US and China are the world’s leading nations for 3D-manufactured goods, however, they are far from the only countries that have embraced this technology.
Firms and universities in New Zealand, such as the Victoria University of Wellington, are researching and developing multiple uses for 3D and 4D printing models. The geographical position of the country and the heavy reliance on imports have made it commercially viable to develop biopolymers and composites made from feedstocks.
Several 3D printing businesses are also offering their services, including the manufacturing of high-tensile metal components for use in the aerospace, defence, and healthcare sectors. Continued investment in this sector should allow New Zealand and many other nations to become more industrially independent, the need of which was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3D printing has been a relatively quiet revolution across multiple sectors. It is commonplace in the aerospace industry, and the automotive sector, and gaming fans looking at the latest sister site casino guide may not realise it but much of the gambling equipment at their favourite local casinos, from poker chips to craps dice can be produced through 3D printing.
Mintion, a company that specializes in DIY camera applications within the industry, provides s with a more convenient, efficient, and flexible printing experience with the introduction of the plug-and-play Beagle Camera last year. Now, they have released the upgraded Beagle V2 Camera, specifically designed for 3D printers to enhance the efficiency of 3D printing.
