Amazing Things 3D Printing Has Made
Scientists, thinkers, designers, engineers, and a whole lot of other innovators have come up and produced many amazing products from 3d printing. Let’s have a look at some of the more surprising innovations that also aim to make the world a better place.
3D Printing Technology
The so-called Hero Arm belongs to a new generation of prosthetics. It is the world’s first medically certified 3D-printed bionic arm, with multi-grip functionality and empowering aesthetics. Developed by UK-based Open Bionics, it’s a lightweight, affordable myoelectric prosthesis, custom-made using innovative 3D-printing and 3D-scanning techniques. It has made possible for thousands of children around the world to regain hand function.
3D printing can now bioprint replacement skin for wound and burn victims. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) is creating a bioengineered BioMask that could be applied to people’s faces. It claims to deliver better results because existing techniques for grafting skin can often lead to scarring, infection or graft failure. This can prove life-changing for people who would otherwise have had to remain scarred forever.
A company named ICON is applying 3D printing to houses and whole communities, printing its first house in Austin, Texas in 2018. It took a few weeks to print and sparked the imagination of customers, investors, press, and the SXSW conference community. Now it has advanced the technology to get a house up in just a day and at a cost of just $4000. It believes that its 3D printing applied to concrete is the solution to low-income housing, both in the USA and abroad.
Airbus adopted 3D printing technology for plane parts a few years ago. In 2016 it began using titanium for engine components and since has extended its use of 3D printing plane interiors with parts made in partnership with a 3D printing company based in Belgium called Materialise. These parts are as strong as those traditionally made, but lighter and hence, more efficient.
Other applications of 3D printing include jewelry design and making. Already possible a decade ago but fashioned out of plastic. Now, thanks to advanced additive manufacturing techniques its possible in metal. The technology can design and execute delicate, metal necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings. Another application can be found in individual glasses frames. In some cases, the 3D printed concept prototypes mimic the exact same color and texture as the finished product. It eliminates the need to paint, as well as reduce the time to create a prototype in ⅕ the time.
3D Printing in Seattle Made Easy
If you got yourself an idea, big or small, and you want to know if we can 3D print it, contact us. Let’s talk about possibilities.
