3D Printing applications

3D printing is considered to be a great invention of human as it brings about a wide range of applications for us. While at first 3D printing was only a technology for prototyping, this is quickly changing.

Its first application is in medicine field. 3D printed models of human organs have been a frequent tool for surgeons since the last two or three years as they provide a more real view in the issues at hand. Instead of depending on 2D and 3D images on a computer screen, surgeons now can actually touch and feel physical models of the patient’s organs and bone or vein structure or whatever else they are about to work on then they can do their studies and research more easily.

Another application of 3D printing is for aerospace. Due to the unique geometries which are offered by additive manufacturing, agencies such as NASA and the ESA, and numerous aircraft manufacturers are taking use of 3D printing in order to make their aircraft lighter. Complicated geometries and new materials offer superior strength with less mass so that they can save organizations such as NASA boatloads of fuel and obviously money, during the launching of spacecraft or rockets out of our atmosphere. Simultaneously, companies such as Boeing and Airbus are taking advantage of 3D printing to reduce the overall weight of their aircraft, allowing them to cut fuel costs for every flight.

What is more, producing facilities across the globe are using 3D printing as a method to reduce costs, save time and produce better products. Without having to outsource the prototyping of parts, companies are now able to iterate quickly upon designs on the fly, saving weeks of waiting for third parties to return molds or prototypes.

The last application to be mentioned is in Art and Education. 3D printing is capable of bringing the imagination to our life. Artists are not only able to jot their ideas down on a computer screen but also bring those ideas into reality through digital models. Children and young adults are as well. They can visualize concepts, create functional products and learn via hands-on experience.

And in the future, we will see an incredible expansion of the number of primary, secondary and high schools putting 3D printing into their education program. This will support to set these students up for careers which will require 3D printing.