Over Time 3D printing has garnered a lot of attention around the globe. However, not everyone has a complete grasp of this magical technology. In essence, 3D printing involves the production of a physical object by printing it from a digital design. The process involves gradually adding numerous tiny layers of various types of material to create the finished product. While 3D printing technology is still evolving, it has been envisioned to be useful in a wide range of industries, from healthcare to fashion, engineering, manufacturing, and the list goes on.
Whether you have considered using 3D printing in some of your projects or you just want to get informed, this piece is for you. Here are some purposes of 3D printing highlighted below.
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Flexible and Faster Production of Prototypes and Designs
From the early stages of development, 3D printing has had much of its applications in engineering and design. Over the years, manufacturing firms have also embraced and incorporated this technology into the design and other stages of product development. This is precisely due to how easy it makes the creation of complex designs. Even if you don’t have 3D equipment or experienced personnel to operate them, 3d scanning services can help you scale your product however you like it. What’s more, you will be working with highly trained and experienced hands to ensure faster prototypes while saving on design time.
The flexible nature of 3D printing is among the reasons why this technology is renowned for being fast and cost-effective. It uses minimal materials in production, thus saving money and minimizing wastage. It is also known to produce strong, reliable, and lightweight products from easily accessible materials. Moreover, a lot of research is taking place on how to make 3D printing environmentally friendlier.
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Improving the Health Sector
With recent strains in the health departments due to Covid-19, this innovation has been a lifesaver. Many manufacturers have successfully used this printing technology to produce PPE’s, which became an absolute necessity in 2020/21 as demand rose due to the respiratory pandemic. This is just one of the many medical applications of 3D printing technology. For instance, surgeons and orthodontists have embraced this technology to make their work easier and treatments more effective. On this note, 3D printing has been used in the production of medical implants using different types of biomedical materials. It has been helpful in:
- Organ transplants
- Creating artificial organs and medically implanted devices
- 3D-printed Prosthetics
- Orthopedic implants
- Producing 3D-printed models to aid in medical studies
- Pharmaceutical research and drug development
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DIY and Construction Made Simpler
The internet today is brimming with Do It Yourself tutorials. Everyone is seeking simple ways to get work done. With Additive Manufacturing technology, you can turn your wildest dream into a reality. In DIY, there are many try-and-error situations before you get it right. This can be costly in terms of materials and money. With this technology, however, you can master the concept and recreate it more efficiently and to perfection.
This is also why it has been successfully used in the construction industry to create building components. In the construction industry, it has been used in:
- Building fabrication
- Creating extrusion (concrete printing)
- Powder bonding
- Additive welding
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Enhancing Fashion and Arts
The world of fashion keeps on changing based on the prevailing trends. This may be difficult for designers and lovers of the trend to keep up with. 3D printing enables artists and designers to keep the trends fresh. In what is known as 3D printed fashion, this is through the creation of a diverse range of fashion products like shoes, ornaments, sculptures, and other home décor elements. The good thing is that, despite the items being printed, their authenticity and purpose are maintained.
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Good for Homes and Offices
Gone are the days when consumers would stress about being unsatisfied or lack products. With the printer, they can create their household requirements. Imagine being able to create everything you need when you need it; that is how cool this technology is. Offices are also investing in it to ensure a simplified inventory management system. By storing files virtually, you only print what is needed, hence saving on space.
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Advanced Lifestyle
With the Diversity of 3D printing, the future is full of possibilities. The fast-paced nature of material production could mean better housing, food security, improved aircraft, and forensic technologies. These sum up to better living standards since different types of products will be readily available to populations.
The benefits of 3D printing are innumerable. As this technology continues to advance, it will for sure be more accessible by the general population. The above few pointers should shed some light on ways 3D printing is changing our world.