Until recently, I used to be sceptical whenever I heard or read about 3D printing. It took a live demo to change my perception and convert me into a 3D printing enthusiast. Yes, we are still not there in terms of affordability and a slice-of-life technology but we are not far either.

It all started 30 years ago when Charles ‘Chuck’ Hull invented what he called ‘solid imaging’ process known as stereolithography. Since then, 3D printing has grown leaps and bounds and sits on the fence between novelty and utility.

In the demo that I saw, the printer was painfully slow. It was expensive and the entire process from scanning to printing was definitely not for a layperson. But then, that is exactly how every technology—from computers to traditional printers and mobile devices—has reached where it stands today.

Why 3D printing

3D printing is definitely not for everyone. But there are some brilliant uses of the technology and more and more industries seem to be benefitting from it. 3D printing is currently employed mostly for rapid prototyping during product development. Architects use the technology to create detailed, scale models of the buildings for the clients. Medical professionals are benefitting from the technology by creating full-size copies of body parts, bones from 3D scanned data for educational and other uses. Other uses include producing and prototyping automobile parts, jewellery design, plastic toys, and all sorts of plastic bottles, packaging and containers.

The process

3D printing also called additive manufacturing, starts with a 3D digital model. This digital file is generally created using a special 3D software such as CAD or using special devices known as 3D scanner. Just like a paper scanner scans a document and creates a copy image, 3D scanner analyses and creates a three-dimensional copy of the object. The 3D printing software slices the model into layers. Many tech companies including Microsoft and Google have made it easy for their hardware to do 3D scanning. Gradually, it might become as easy to 3D scan an object as taking a picture due to advances in technology and them getting inexpensive.

The printing technology from a digital file actually varies with different printers using different processing technologies to print. Also, the technology differs depending upon different materials (plastic, nylon, metal, sand, etc.) The material is then layered according to the digital model.

Talking about materials, as of now, plastic is the only widely-used material, but there are other materials being added and processed as technology improves. These include foodstuffs such as chocolate, sugar, flour and even biomaterials to create human body organs.

In essence, objects are built up in numerous very thin layers. Slices are created and then hardened and this process continues until the complete object has been printed.

Desktop 3D printers for home are becoming a reality with costs coming down rapidly. Today, in New Zealand, you can buy a basic 3D printer for less than $1,000.