The Economist: 3D Printers, Essay Example

“Solid print “(2012). The 3D printer was created in 1986 and was originally supposed to be a way to make prototypes; as time went on, however, the 3D printer is used to print parts for other machines as well as finished products (additive manufacturing). This method of 3D printing parts saves a lot of time and money; changes that need to be made can be made quickly, and if someone needs a part they have the capability of printing it for themselves overnight.  3D printing also allows easier manufacturing of parts previously impossible to make; for instance, parts including rounded tubes were impossible to make and 90-degree-angles were used instead. 3D printers are able to make smoothly curving tubes without issue.  3D printers can use natural patterns (lattice) to mimic natural bones, which can be used for bone replacements (such as a woman in the Netherlands, who got a new jaw).  There are other options: The Replicator is a type of 3D printer that can scan and object and then tell a machine across the world how to replicate the object.  3D printers would be an excellent addition to rural communities, because rather than waiting for machine parts or objects to be mailed, store owners could print their own things.  Today, there is a small 3D printer called the Cube that is for sale for $1,299; it can make parts up to 5.5 inches out of plastic.

“Layer by layer” (2012). There are several processes used by 3D printers: an inkjet process, using powders as the medium rather than plastic layers, and some use support materials if the object being made has overhangs or other complex structures; after the object has been made, the support material can be blown away.  Plastics, some metals, ceramics, and rubber-like materials can be used to make objects.  Further research might allow living tissues to be made, which could help with the current lack in organs and increasing amounts of people on organ waiting lists.

“A third industrial revolution” (2012). 3D printers are the future of manufacturing; just like mass production and the assembly line changed manufacturing in the past, 3D printers will cause another industrial revolution. While the technology can’t yet make entire large objects (such as a car or an iPhone), it is already being used to make smaller, more specialized pieces that fit within technology used by the general public. This results in massive efficiency and higher abilities to specialize based on what object is needed.  The idea of having machines build specialized parts could result in companies moving back to richer countries rather than opening up factories in impoverished nations.

Challenges with structural metal. While 3D printing is certainly making a large impact in the world of manufacturing, it is primarily good with making plastics. Some specialized parts might need to use heavy metals or heat-resistant substances that aren’t able to be printed with the current technology; hard metals with high melting points would be nearly impossible to make objects using an inkjet method.  Aside from a material’s ability to be molded using 3D printers, this revolution might result in an increased use in plastic and decreased use of metals; environmentally speaking, that change will result in heavier gas usage, which is already causing problems.  Products may be more flimsy if the plastic is not made correctly, resulting in lower lifespans of products.