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3D Printing:
With the ever evolving technological developments of society, 3D printing has created a large variety of new industrial and commercial ways to create products. With the implementation of these devices in people’s daily lives, the public is now able to develop and create objects of their own using blueprints made online by either others or themselves.3D printing is the process of using materials such as wood, plastic and metal to create a three-dimensional object. In addition to the main mechanism component, the object is first designed using computer data and programming through CAD (Gross et al. 2014). For object to be created the printer must build using layer formation process known as “additive manufacturing” which allows the product to be made in a vertical direction (Armstrong, p. 23). The key technology has been implemented into a significant amount of consumer products such as designing functional automotive components (Armstrong, p. 23). Over the past years this technology has been able to develop providing limitless possibilities such as the simplistic creations of everyday household products (D’Aveni, par. 2, 2013). A recent area that 3D printing has made an impact on is medical.
Technical information (How is 3d printing made):
In a report by Campbell et al. (2011) the key components of 3D printing were presented through the common fused filament fabrication process:
-Computer design program: The object is developed with CAD (computer-aided design)
-Processor: Receives the data and translates it for the machine to incorporate the information
-Liquefier: Melts the material down enough that it can be moulded before it sets
-Nozzle: Releases material in sections, making layer upon layer until the object is complete
–Stage: Moves when each layer is completed to allow for the next layer to build on top
History of 3D printing (changes and innovations since being an idea):
With the innovation in advanced technology such as computer design programs and lasers, 3D printing has been able to be develop based upon forming these components together (Furlow, 2017, p. 1-2). The first 3D printer (“Stereolithography Apparatus”) was created by Charles Hull during the 1980’s, the purpose being to make physical objects from only plastic materials that were designed and transferred through lines of code made by computer programing including CAD (Gross, et al. 2014). Computer input is significant to the process as the machine needs to follow digital instructions to create the object (Lipson, 2010). With the technological components of the first 3D printer, a commercial printer was also released by Hull known as the “SLA-250” which was available for the public. In recent years (around 2000’s) these machines have been applied to medical situations and procedures such as creating prosthetic limbs, manufacturing porotypes that would suit different individuals and allow people to experience life without being limited by their body (Gross, et al. 2014).
Impact of Technology:
3D printing has been employed in many different fields since its release, due to the efficient and productive work that the machine can complete in different areas of business. Since this, there have been a number of effects on society, impacting especially in health and wellbeing of users. In Lipson and Kurman’s (2010, pg. 13) book ‘Fabricated’, it is described that majority of medical implications are “3D printed using optical scan data” to capture the exact layout of the user’s body, such as finding the shape of one’s ear for a hearing aid (Lipson & Kurman, 2010, p. 13).
This form of disruptive technology is described by Campbell et al. (2011) as potentially being “as disruptive as the personal computer and the internet” because of “The digitalization of physical artifacts allows for global sharing and distribution of designed solutions”. For the medical field this technology allows to connect multiple doctors and medical centres together through the process of supplying printing files that would benefit anyone in the world (Campbell et al. 2011).
While 3D printing has already impacted dramatically for the field of health science, Lipson and Kurman (2010, pg106-7) provide an insight on how 3D printing will eventually lead to the process of producing organic body parts for transplants (Lipson & Kurman, 2010, p. 106-7). The ability to use technology to print organs for human transplants would save many individuals, eliminating the need to source donators who match with the patient, and save valuable time take can determine life or death. As depicted in figure 2 (Barnatt, C, 2010, p.106), the image suggests how a 3D printer would be able to develop a human organ from only using cell mixture Lipson & Kurman, 2010, p. 106).
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