3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has been around for decades, but has become increasingly popular and widely used in recent years. The main reason for the recent increase in 3D printing usage is that it is an easy-to-use technology that can be applied across a variety of industries. Improvements in material and machine technology, and falling costs, have also made additive manufacturing more accessible and cost-effective across industries. Here are 6 amazing applications of 3D printing!
1. Healthcare
The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing industries for 3D printing. This trend seems set to continue, as a large number of medical professionals believe that the use of additive manufacturing will continue to increase within the industry. The applications of 3D printing in the medical industry are diverse and extensive, including medical devices, prosthetics, and even bioprinting.
The medical industry can leverage the capabilities of 3D printing to manufacture patient-specific devices. For example, 3D puzzles can help improve patients' memory and problem-solving skills. 3D printing has also transformed the dental industry. By combining 3D printing and intraoral scanning, dental laboratories can produce dental products that perfectly match the patient's anatomy, such as bite splints, crowns, and bridges.
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2. Fashion
From 3D printed clothes to 3D printed footwear and accessories, 3D printing brings immense benefits to the fashion industry. While it is more commonly used for artistic expression, the fashion industry is now developing 3D printed items for wearable clothing.
3D printing offers designers great freedom in terms of geometry. For example, complex designs can be created for various projects in the fashion industry, such as shoes, 3D printed dresses, and accessories. Due to 3D printing technology, manufacturing these products using other methods would be too complex and costly.
In addition to this, many people have the same problem: size 7 shoes are too big, and size 6.5 are too small. 3D printing can create shoes that fit your exact size, and the same applies to clothes. Similarly, people can even become their own designers.
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3D printed homes are slowly entering the market. In fact, the first 3D printed home was apparently built recently, completed in less than 24 hours and costing only $10,000! This is particularly beneficial for areas of the world that lack sufficient or affordable housing.
Source: ICON
4. Aerospace and Defense
3D printing is ideal for the aerospace and defense industries, which require low-volume production of highly complex parts. This technology can help create complex geometries without investing in expensive tooling. This allows aerospace OEMs and suppliers to cost-effectively produce low-volume parts.
Additive manufacturing is also ideal for manufacturing lightweight parts, which can result in significant fuel savings. When combined with design optimization tools such as generative design software, the potential for increased part complexity is almost limitless.
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The automotive industry is a growing user of 3D printing. In 2021 alone, global automotive additive manufacturing reached $13.92 billion. This figure is expected to continue to grow, with revenue related to additive manufacturing in automotive parts production projected to reach $44 billion by 2027. Design tools such as topology optimization are slowly changing traditional part design methods in areas such as motorsports and high-performance racing.
Prototyping remains the primary application of 3D printing in the automotive industry, although companies are increasingly exploring other use cases, such as tooling. Some companies are also beginning to look for innovative end-use applications for 3D printing, which marks an astonishing development in the industry.
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6. Stop-motion Animation
When 3D printing technology is mentioned, many people's first thought is figurines or dolls. However, some animation studios are applying this technology to stop-motion animation, such as the animated film "Missing Link," which won the 77th Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film. Industry insiders reveal that the main reason for the recent surge in 3D printing applications is its ability to achieve standardization. By simply replacing parts, expressions and limb details can be enhanced, saving manpower and costs compared to traditional clay figures.
Huang Jingyu, founder of a 3D printing cultural and creative company, said: "Clay figures had to be painstakingly sculpted one by one for time-lapse photography, and they had the drawback of being easily damaged. We use resin-based 3D printing, so they are not as easily damaged. It's built layer by layer, so it can simulate 99% realism."
The special resin for 3D printing is mostly made of photosensitive resin, which has the characteristic of high toughness. By calculating and controlling ultraviolet light and laser beams, the liquid surface is solidified layer by layer, and then polished and colored to complete the process!
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3D printing can be used to create almost anything you can imagine. It will be a powerful force in future industries, and the impact of 3D printing is expected to continue to grow!
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