Alex Marvin
Freelance Writer
30.10.2024
Many of you think that 3D printing can produce some small plastic toys or simple prototypes mostly for everyday fun.
3D printing and industry technologies are changing our lives in general and in particular. The industry has evolved to produce composite materials, biological tissues, construction materials, and even entire buildings.
Let’s review the technologies in 3D printing and how they are changing and affecting everyday lives, from flights to organ transplantations. Can you imagine that you can print a tile to repair your roof?
Key Facts About 3D Printing You Need To Know
- The industry is growing—experts expect it to reach a whopping $76 billion by 2030.
- We witness the evolution of materials: 3D printers process not only plastic. Now, we have bio-inks produced from living cells, composite materials with carbon fiber, and even metal powder for industrial printing projects.
- Production speed rises: In the past, the speed of 3D printing was rather low. We needed hours or days to print a simple object. Thanks to breakthroughs like continuous liquid interface production, advanced technologies now allow us to print complex objects in minutes.
- Sustainability is key: 3D printing technologies are more eco-friendly and less wasteful. A printer uses only the necessary amount of material, unlike traditional means of production, which carve and waste excessive amounts of materials.
Considering these stats, let us review the technologies that drive the 3D evolution that change our lives.
Multi-Material And Composite 3D Printing
You know that some things should be lightweight, durable, strong, and resistant to different environmental, chemical, and physical factors. Think of airplanes, cars, and bikes… Do you know how they are produced? Yes, they are printed. Multi-material and composite 3D printing is applied to produce such an element. It’s a game-changing technology as it prints together different materials in a single object with the necessary characteristics.
This 3D technology allows us to produce innovative materials by printing them together, which will have the necessary characteristics and perfectly fit a complex structure. With this technology, we can build a safer environment. You can try printing simple things for your life with alfamonkey.com – explore 3D printing plans and get necessary items in a matter of seconds.
These are key reasons why it is important to mankind:
- We get strong and flexible materials: Let us consider aerospace. Airplane manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus utilize composite 3D printing to get lighter, stronger, and more resistant parts. The result is reduced fuel consumption, costs, waste, and air pollution.
- Manufacturing has become more flexible: In the past, complex objects were made from numerous smaller parts. But now, we can print many complex elements, optimizing the speed and cost of production.
- Mankind feels the impact in real life: Some car manufacturers, such as Ford, are using 3D-printed parts that are cheaper and more efficient. This allows prices for new cars to stay at the same level despite inflation and technological advancement.
The technology of multi-material and composite 3D printing lets industries produce stronger, lighter, more functional, and durable products with fewer costs and effort.
Bio 3D Printing Of Human Tissues And Organs
This can seem part of a sci-fi movie scenario, but this is our reality. The laboratories use “ink,” which is made of living cells (called bio-ink) and used for 3D printing of tissues that act like the real ones in a human body. Unfortunately, the technologies are still far from printing a fully functional heart or liver. But this is our nearest future.
What is happening in bioprinting now:
- We engineer tissues: The technologies now allow 3D printing of skin, cartilage, and liver tissue. These advancements can be used to test drugs or repair damaged organs in living organisms.
- We transplant organs: We witness a massive shortage of donors. Bioprinting and 3D technologies successfully solve this problem by creating fully functional organ tissues from the patient’s own cells. The next step will be creating fully functional organs from the patient’s cells.
- We changed the regulations: The FDA has already approved the use of bio-printed tissues, such as skin, for burn victims. This means that the technology will become generally accessible soon.
Bioprinting revolutionizes healthcare by allowing us to print body parts and tissues. The technology will potentially end the organ donor deficit.
Large-scale 3D printing of building houses and infrastructure
On average,3D printing is used to produce small items or tools, but the technology can be used for something much bigger, like printing entire buildings. Large-scale 3D printing optimizes the construction industry by painting walls, roofs, and even full houses. Printing is faster, cheaper, and more reliable as the technology allows consistent production of quality parts.
How large-scale 3D printing changes the construction industry:
- Housing has become more affordable. The first printed house was built in 2021 in Texas as part of a project to provide affordable homes for low-income families. It took some weeks to build the homes, reducing the time and labour needed for traditional construction.
- Construction has become more eco-friendly: 3D printing reduces material waste by 60% since it uses only the necessary concrete or other building materials. The reduction of waste of materials and the optimization of the technologies also means less water and air pollution.
- Faster disaster relief: Natural disasters cruelly ruin homes. People need new ones fast. Large-scale 3D printing can be used in Haiti to build quick and affordable shelters for displaced families.
3D printing isn’t a technology for fun—it reshapes industries like construction, offering faster, cheaper, and more sustainable buildings.
How 3D Printing Affects Your Life Right Now
Based on the reviewed facts, advanced 3D technologies are applicable only to global industries and large-scale projects.
- 3D printing is widely used in healthcare for custom prosthetics. The technology allows surgeons to cut costs by 80%. They use 3D printing tools and 3D-printed organ models (now you know that they can be made as real ones) to practice complex surgeries. This reduces errors and saves human lives.
- Many automobile brands create custom car parts to reduce costs and optimize prices. 3D-printed parts make production more cost-effective.
- 3D printers are now widely used in fashion and design to create everything from jewelry to accessories for clothes, shoes, bags, and glasses
- You can use 3D printing technologies to optimize your business process, like packaging, additional tools, and accessories for main products.
- People can 3D print necessary tools, home décor, and spare broken appliance parts. You do not buy a new thing if you need one; you can now print it; in most instances, it is cheaper and faster than purchasing new ones. You can choose the necessary 3D printing plans at alfamonkey.com and print what you need.
You might not notice, but every time you interact with a lighter, custom-built, or more affordable product, 3D printing might have made it possible.
Conclusion
3D printing is not a concept from the future. It is a reality that is happening right around you, and you can easily become a part of this evolution. It can happen that a phone or laptop from which you read this article also has some 3D-printed elements.
While the technology is widely applied in global industries like electronics, healthcare, construction, and airplane manufacturing, it is much closer than you can imagine! If you are ready to make your life better, visit Alfa Money today!