With 2014 coming to an end and 2015 being right around the corner, you cannot help but think about what to expect in the coming year. You can begin to ask what new innovations scientists and inventors would have or what trends will be taking the spotlight in the days to come. One of the answers is related to the world of science—the rise of 3D printing.
What Is 3D Printing?
Printing materials from a file using a regular printer is not uncommon anymore. In fact, it has been around too long that almost all people are using it. However, 3D printing is rising today because of how unique it is and what great things it can do.
Basically, 3D printing is otherwise called additive manufacturing that involves printing from a regular file a three-dimensional object. It is done by laying one of top of another several layers of thin material until the desired object is built.
To be more specific, the printing of a three-dimensional object starts with a virtual design that is made with the use of a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) file. If a new object is to be created, a 3D modelling program is used. Meanwhile, if a copy of an object is to be created, a 3D scanner is used. When the file is ready, the model is sliced into a thousand horizontal layers by the software, which are then used by the 3D printer for printing the 3D object.
What Are The Advantages Of 3D Printing?
Obviously, 3D printing is so much more interesting and exciting than its 2D counterpart. Who would not want to have a printout of the exact same thing you are thinking of, one that you can touch and rotate and see every corner of?
Besides that, here are the advantages of using 3D printing:
- Aesthetic. For artists, architects, and engineers, it is always a challenge to come up with a miniature of the layout of plan of the house they are designing. With 3D printing, it would be that much easier to come up with a model that is an exact representation of the design. Additionally, the end product is sturdier and more durable.
- New materials to use. There are so many limitations of using the traditional ways of building models. One of these is use of a common and singular raw material. This limitation is eliminated by using 3D printing since ceramic, metal, and even the look and feel of glass, can already be achieved.
- Less waste. Did you know that aircraft builders waste 90 percent of the materials they use? That will not happen when you use 3D printing because everything has already been computed and calculated. In fact, it is said that 3D printouts are more durable and so they last longer.
- Less time. This allows for higher productivity because you can produce the objects 3 times faster than the traditional way.
Are you now excited to use 3D printing? Well, you better be ready for it because it can totally change your lifestyle.
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3D Printing