3D printing is certainly making waves
in the commercial industry, as it is allowing manufacturers (even small time
manufacturers) to create three dimensional objects at will.
Layers of material are laid down and
then manipulated by computers to compose a new shape, and from whatever
material is requested. There are no
limits on shape or geometry.
The way it works is that the machine
sequentially deposits material onto a powder bed. Then, using inkjet printer heads, the process
of building a new product starts. Newer
technologies are also turning 3D printing into a major business, such as extrusion
and sintering. Costs are still a
concern, but they are rapidly making progress to produce smaller and cheaper
machines for public use.
There really is no limit to what the
future could hold for us, if this technology is explored even further. It could
change the way our world operates, our global trade industries, and perhaps
even lead to more efficient product manufacturing. One thing's for sure: emerging technologies
are the "gold" of tomorrow.
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Re: 3D Printing: The Basics
