3D Modeling & Printing
There have been a great deal of amazing new advances in technology in recent years, and none are more varied and fascinating than the art of 3D modeling and printing. The technology to print 3D models was first developed in the 1980s and had much of its growth and advancement in the 90s. But it wasn’t until 2006 that the first 3D printers were available to the public, and even then they were for large commercial manufacturers.
The rise of 3D printing in the mainstream market is credited to Makerbot, a company founded in 2009 that sold open-sourced do-it-yourself kits that allowed customers to build their own 3D printers. As of today, 3D printers are available for anyone to own, sold at affordable rates starting at $200. 3D models are available online for artists to print and there are a range of 3D modeling software for people to create their own.
3D modeling is the art of creating a three dimensional object in a digital file. From there, the file has to be “sliced” by a slicing program before it is ready to go to the printer. In other words, the file is cut into hundreds of individual layers for printing. Once the file is converted it is ready to be sent to the printer, whether through a USB drive, a microSD card or Wi-Fi. The layers will print out one by one until the model is completed.
The earliest 3D printing technology was developed in the early 1980s by a Japanese scientist named Dr. Hideo Kodama, who was researching faster ways to develop prototyping systems. He developed the layer-by-layer method for manufacturing and printing using resin that is hardened in UV light. While Dr. Kodama was unable to patent his new technology at the time, he is widely credited for the invention of the first 3D printing manufacturing.
3D printing has made a great variety of advances in technology and society at large. But perhaps the greatest and most impactful changes have come to the medical field. 3D printers are utilized in the creation of a wide variety of medical devices, from complex parts of technology to implants with features unique to a specific patient. We now have the ability to print splints for broken bones and develop prosthetic limbs for amputees cheaper than it has been in years past. There are also many free models of bones and organs available online that are used to teach medical students about human anatomy.
Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks to this fascinating new technology. The materials used to 3D print are often in short supply, and it can be difficult to mass-produce prints in line with the demand. It can also be difficult to print larger pieces, depending on the printer. But 3D printing and the people who design models are working every day to improve the 3D printing process and develop the technology further. The technology has changed so much from its inception and it is impossible to tell how it may impact our lives in the future.
https://ultimaker.com/learn/the-complete-history-of-3d-printing/
https://3dprinting.com/what-is-3d-printing/
https://www.bcn3d.com/the-history-of-3d-printing-when-was-3d-printing-invented/
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/3d-printing-medical-devices/medical-applications-3d-printing
https://medicalfuturist.com/3d-printing-in-medicine-and-healthcare/