3D Printers - Still cool?

Do you believe that 3D printers are still cool? We already heard so much about it, and many of us have even witnessed 3D printing in real life, so we might conclude that 3D printers used to be a great innovation, but now, they are just another thing we use.

My friends already wrote about different applications of 3D printers, how cool they are: saving life by creating human organs, and even saving the day by printing toilet paper (sounds weird? You have to read our previous blogs). Even Kanye West is afraid that 3D printers will ruin the textile market the same way the Internet ruined the music industry.

So again, is it 3D printing still thrilling?

Well I say, DEFINITELY YES. Let me try and explain why by comparing the current 3D printers to the development of mobile phones. The early mobile phones were big and clumsy, crazy expensive (only a few businessmen with cigars stuck in their mouths could afford them), and perceived as highly innovative. Then, a few years passed and suddenly phones became smaller, prices went down, and they became an integral part of our lives.

Some may say that at this point, mobile phones were just another thing we buy. I, on the other hand, claim at this point people started asking themselves what else can we do with this thing that every 10-year-old has in their back pocket? This question led to a massive wave of innovations such as early games (snake J) and apps (remember ringtone editors?). These days we have smartphones with an endless stream of applications. Can you imagine your life today without a smartphone?

So now let’s go back to 3D printers. In my view, 3D printers today are like the early generations of mobile phones. The printers are slow, expensive, big, and we don’t really know what to do with them. BUT now is the time when we should ask ourselves: “what else can we do with this thing?” and that is why 3D-printers are going to be way cooler.

By: Nir Charny

What Kanye West thinks about 3D printing and why he's wrong

Kanye West may like robots but he doesn’t feel the same way about 3D printing.  In a recent episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kanye West exposed his fears of 3D printing during a tour of a digital art and design afterschool program, Tumo Center for Creative Technologies,  in Armenia with wife, Kim Kardashian West.  

While visiting a 3D printing lab, Kanye admitted, "This is what I'm afraid of here, 3D printing, because the internet destroyed the music industry and now this is what we're afraid of right now with the textile industry."

As a musical artist and self-proclaimed designer, West’s fears are not entirely unwarranted.  With the rapid technological advancements of 3D printing, machines will become increasingly mainstream and intricate designs could be reproduced with the press of a button.  But we aren’t anywhere near that threat right now.

West’s tour guide and administrator at the school conceded that his concern was somewhat justified but pointed out that there are several benefits to 3D printing that outweigh West’s out-of-touch reservations and noted the complexities involved in replicating designer clothing or shoes.  3D printing can be used to manufacture simple, single-material products that aren’t readily available to consumers but more intricately designed products like Kanye is referring to would be extremely difficult and expensive to replicate.  

It is quite possible that future designs could be stolen and illegally reproduced using 3D printing but we shouldn’t let that stop us from developing this technology into something that could greatly benefit society in so many other ways.  Patent laws will evolve to address the challenges Kanye West anticipates regarding the technology.  Also, the technology could have major positive effects on the fashion industry, contrary to Kanye West’s beliefs.  It could help small designers to lower manufacturing costs and easily personalize orders.  3D printing is improving our lives through quickly generated products and modeling and prototypes in medicine, international development, business and manufacturing.  And we certainly shouldn’t let it stop us from using it for educational and creative design purposes at Tumo.

Do you agree with Kanye that 3D printing could destroy the fashion industry or do you think the benefits outweigh the potential risks?

Take a look at how students at Tumo are using 3D printing for stop-motion animation:

See the video of Kanye’s visit to Tumo here: http://morningafter.gawker.com/kanye-west-wants-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-to-loo-1732056555

Written by: Liz White

Photo source: www.3ders.org

3D print those diapers!

I woke up this Saturday morning missing something, not just the habitual hangover but also my paramount fountain of energy. One of its most basic production components was missing: the coffee filter. The use of a sock as a filter and the deep frying of coffee beans for eating purposes sounded quite intricate at 6:00am but a most unpractical idea got me thinking of a simpler solution: 3D printing (the filters, not the coffee itself).

When we talk about 3D printing, we are usually thinking about medical applications, innovative solutions to complex problems and some other noble curiosities. What about those little things that bother the common person on a daily basis? I am talking about household supplies. Unappreciated, neglected and even ignored, until you need them the most.

Probably the most iconic situation would be the depravation of hygienic paper; a videographic example is seen in the following link:

To produce, in your household, the disposable items that you use on a daily basis? People are already doing it! Here is a video of a 3D printed disposable fork under bend test, and it seems much more durable than your conventional one-time use fork.

Just imagine, instead of wasting your time making a huge shopping list, having tons of boxes delivered at your door every week, you can just print whatever you need whenever you need it!

Think about it…

“Honey there are no more coffee filters!” -- Print it!

“We’re all out of the baby’s diapers!”  -- PRINT IT!

It would even be inventory friendly. Forget the huge stock of different items and just use the basic necessities for production.

The cynics, of course, will start discussing quality standards, the dangers of homemade plastic cups and the lack of an iconic mascot on the front of their recently made plastic bag. They may even argue about the benefits of a quick walk to the supermarket on a Saturday morning, but frankly, it’s probably cold, you don´t want to change out of your jammies and meet that annoying neighbor that always complains about your dog ruining his plants.

From a practical point of view there are some technological barriers. So far, there is only a certain range of materials that can be used for 3D printing: metals, plastics, ceramics and waxes. No cellulose printing is available, thus impairing conventional paper production.

The constant innovations in 3D printing show a wide spectrum of future application.  This service might form an entirely new market in the future and make our daily chores that much easier! Can you see yourself in a couple of years making your own, verbena scented, extra fluffy, blueberry lollypop flavored napkin?


Written by: Luiz Junqueira

3D Printing: Transforming International Development

3D printing - manufacturing a 3-dimensional figure from a digital file – an idea that seemed out of this world just a few years ago, is becoming more and more affordable through rapid innovation and low-cost machines.  The expiration of original patents for 3D printing has lowered the cost and increased access for low-income areas seeking to use this technology. RepRap, a self-replicating, open source, 3D printer which costs under $500, has the potential to transform the way we think about international development.

3D printing can be used to inexpensively produce instruments used to monitor weather related disasters or conduct research, farming tools, household items, clothing, or emergency housing.  Leveraging the use of open source appropriate technology, which enables users to access, review, and share best practices over the Internet, would allow 3D printing technology to continually improve economic standards in developing communities.

Oxfam, an international organization focused on reducing global poverty, is already demonstrating the capabilities of 3D printing in sanitation efforts in Lebanon through the replication of water tap and faucet parts as well as missing parts of sanitation kits imported to the region.  3D printing allows developing communities to cut costs and reproduce tools much cheaper than importing or using limited resources to develop prototypes/spare parts.  Currently most 3D printers in developing countries are owned by NGOs or universities, but imagine if one were available in every village?  The possibilities would be endless.

Of course, communities must invest this type of technology.  3D printers are not cheap but RepRap’s relatively inexpensive model and the investment of training individuals with the technological skills necessary to use a 3D printer are transferable skills that are ever-more relevant in today’s world of rapidly increasing technology that could be applied to other tech-related jobs.  Similar to the explosion we have seen in the use of mobile phones in developing countries, 3D printing will be the next big technology to make a major impact on local economies and greatly increase the quality of life for low-income communities.  How do you think 3D printing will impact developing countries?

Additional links:

Check out this interactive 3D4D Google map to see where 3D printing is being used for development around the world.

Other affordable 3D printers in the marketplace

Sources:

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/21/3d-printing-offer-developing-savings-replica-kit

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1410.5349.pdf

Photo credit: Flickr user Creative Tools