The word “revolutionary” has been used so often in commercials that it’s lost all meaning, just when a technology comes along that deserves it. 3D printing has been a game-changer since the ’80s, and we’ve only had a taste of what it can do. No one knows entirely what the future of 3D printing holds, because each success builds on the last. But what’s in the works seems pretty revolutionary.
3D printing technology is already being used in almost every industry because of its most obvious benefits. Not only is it a manufacturing method that’s faster, cheaper, and more consistently reliable, but it can also enable more complex projects that open up an entire world of design possibilities.
As each industry discovers how it can advance with 3D printing, articles pop up to herald extreme feats, like the world’s largest 3D-printed building (Dubai, 2019, 6,900 square feet), the smallest 3D-printed sculpture (Germany, 2015, the diameter of a hair) and the first 3D-printed food! (Cornell University, 2006, chocolate.) Well, if none of that has caught your attention yet, maybe this will:
Key Takeaways
- 3D printing is transforming industries by providing faster, cheaper, and more reliable manufacturing options.
- Medical breakthroughs include the 3D printing of human tissues and even a small heart with complete cells.
- The auto industry is using 3D printing to create lightweight car components and working prototypes of 3D-printed cars.
- Construction companies are 3D-printing homes quickly and affordably, with innovations extending to construction on Mars.
- The future of 3D printing looks promising, as it continues to evolve and expand into new applications.
Printed Organs
The medical industry immediately grasped the technology’s capabilities, customising surgical tools and creating limb prosthetics tailored to each patient. Now, everyone is holding their breath for the day that we can use living tissue to 3D print human organs. They’ve already had success, technically; in 2019, a team at Tel Aviv University printed a heart complete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles, and chambers. The only reason it didn’t make a bigger media splash? It’s about the size of a rabbit heart. Still, it won’t be too long before organ donor waiting lists are a thing of the past.
3D-Printed Cars
The auto industry is already using 3D printing to produce lighter, less expensive plastic components for cars. But of course, everyone just wants to know when they can print their own speedster. The race is on: the design firm XEV has a working 3D-printed prototype with just 57 components that weighs under 1,000 pounds. Keeping pace is the new company Czinger, which has announced its 21C, a 3D-printed “hybrid hypercar.” COVID-19 has slowed progress, but no one has lost interest.
3D-Printed Homes
Two Mexican construction companies, Icon and Echale, have teamed up to 3D-print homes for 50 needy families; they can complete each home within 24 hours using a single giant printer, and the homes will last for years. In China, the company Winsum has turned to recycled materials to construct its homes, which brings the cost of home construction under $5,000. These advances in 3D printing aren’t limited to Earth, either. NASA has already awarded a prize for a home that can be constructed on Mars, using only materials found on the planet’s surface.
