There is plenty of futuristic technology to be excited about, but some are especially going to impact certain key industries more than others. Among the top revolutionary inventions are artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and 3D printing.
We’re beginning to see the true potential of 3D printing. After some years of development, it’s at a stage where these printers can build using a wide variety of materials. And not only are they more versatile, but they’re also faster and more cost-effective. It has quickly approached the stage where ingenuitive minds have reasonable access to a 3D printer where they can see their inventions come to life.
Accessibility
The more that people have access to advanced technology, the more the world benefits. When new inventions are accessible to only a minority, only those few have the privilege of furthering inventions, and with accessibility, that’s beginning to change.
There are specific centers that the public can use to print their 3D designs, the UPS Store being one of them; you can look up one of their businesses that provides access to a 3D printer. Many universities also keep some at their campuses, and people are increasingly buying them for their own homes too.
Improvements
If you want to see the advantages of 3D printing, then all we have to do is look at how it’s already beginning to positively impact industries across the world.
Beginning with the medical industry, the most prevalent use of 3D printers is to produce limbs for people who have lost their arms, legs, or fingers, and so on. This has historically been a highly expensive treatment, but 3D printers have considerably reduced the costs.
These printers are also decentralizing access to these types of prosthetics; whereas the entire process was in the hands of the hospital, today individuals can get their own 3D plans and print out a customized prosthetic without much difficulty.
We are getting closer, and prediction is that we will see the 3D printing of organs. This would significantly reduce—if not eliminate—the need for organ donors. Countless patients are put on a waiting list for a variety of organs for an unknown period of time. 3D printing can change that. The technology is still in the experimentation stages, but in a matter of years, it can be commonplace.
3D printers are making advances in other fields, too. For instance, they’re producing lighter mechanics in the aviation industry, where weight is a key factor. They’re producing everyday goods using materials that are stronger, longer-lasting, and better for the environment. Ultimately, these printers are causing breakthroughs in virtually all industries, on a scale that some are comparing to a modern version of the industrial revolution. Not only are we revolutionizing our current procedures, but each innovation stretches our imagination to consider more possibilities for a better future.
Anticipated Breakthroughs
We haven’t reached the endpoint when it comes to 3D printing technology. Actually, it’s just the beginning. There are a few areas in development that’ll come to fruition in the coming years. These have the power to really improve the planet, especially when it comes to plastics.
If there’s one material we produce that has the most visible, insidious effect on the planet, it’s plastic. In the future, 3D printers will be able to produce high-quality, robust goods made from biodegradable material. Not only do individual households and businesses trash plastic after use, but it’s also trashed when the item expires.
Consider the environmental impact of manufacturing products and shipping it across the world. In the future, people will be able to say “Hey 3D printer, make me a pair of size 9.5 shoes.” And the printer will do it!
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, there’s much development when it comes to the possibilities of 3D printing which influences other innovations. Fiber optic alignment and creating microscopic mechanical pieces are integral to finding better innovations and remedies. We mentioned earlier how true 3D printing has been in development for years, but it’s now that we’re beginning to see the true power of the technology.
The gap between science and imagination is shrinking, and it’s only happening at an accelerating speed. As we keep the big picture in mind, we will begin to see the small discoveries of today integrated in ways that we hadn’t thought possible.