3D Printing and Beyond
By Caroline Gray
How it Started Out...
Charles Hull invented the 3D printer. The first 3D printer proved to be a successful invention on March 9th, 1983. The idea of a 3D printer was fantastic, generally making prototypes in those days could take 6-8 weeks to make a product. A machine that could make the same product in a few hours was unbelieveable! He patented it and now 3D printers have evolved to much more than just simple prototypes for companies!
How it Works...
First, there is a design on a computer aided design program, then the printer takes the design and then uses some heated plastic to make thin layers over and over, slowly creating the object. The platform that the object is being printed on lowers as the object gets bigger!
Different Types of Printing
Medical and Bio Printing 3D printers are used to make prosthetic arms, legs, fingers, teeth and even prosthetic eyes! 3D printers help many people in ways that are unimaginable. Bio Printing is one way it helps people. It is the future of 3D printing! Bio Printing is 3D printing with living cells, the cells are combined with a gel to print organs for patients! | Industrial Printing 3D Printers also do exactly what they were made for, manufacturing. 3D printers are used to manufacture parts for products that need to be made quickly. 3D printers changed the standards for how short one prototype could be made. | Space Printing 3D printers are even used for printing parts for spaceships! NASA has recently done an experiment to make a 3D printer that would be in the International Space Station, and the experiment worked! The reason for the experiment was this: When astronauts are in space, after awhile they need new parts and supplies. NASA always has to launch another aircraft up there with supplies for the astronauts to get it. With a 3D printer in space it would be much easier for the people to send the file containing the design, to the printer and it prints it. This would save lots of time and money instead of launching a whole new spaceship! |
Medical and Bio Printing
3D printers are used to make prosthetic arms, legs, fingers, teeth and even prosthetic eyes! 3D printers help many people in ways that are unimaginable. Bio Printing is one way it helps people. It is the future of 3D printing! Bio Printing is 3D printing with living cells, the cells are combined with a gel to print organs for patients!
Industrial Printing
3D Printers also do exactly what they were made for, manufacturing. 3D printers are used to manufacture parts for products that need to be made quickly. 3D printers changed the standards for how short one prototype could be made.
Space Printing
3D printers are even used for printing parts for spaceships! NASA has recently done an experiment to make a 3D printer that would be in the International Space Station, and the experiment worked! The reason for the experiment was this: When astronauts are in space, after awhile they need new parts and supplies. NASA always has to launch another aircraft up there with supplies for the astronauts to get it. With a 3D printer in space it would be much easier for the people to send the file containing the design, to the printer and it prints it. This would save lots of time and money instead of launching a whole new spaceship!