www.702.co.za/articles: 3D printing has added more functionality to products, and it has allowed for greater depth in designing parts.
This is according to Marius Vermeulen, Project Manager for Additive Manufacturing at Aerosud Innovation and Training Centre.
8 comments:
3D printing is something that I have known of and had little experience with, but I still have no idea of its full potential. Sometimes I hear about how it can print just toys or some sort of household item that you then wouldn't need to buy. Other times I know it has been an important factor to the live or death to some people being a useful tool for healthcare. I wish this article would have gone more in depth about what advances have been make in healthcare using 3D printing. It does share that South Africa has been utilizing 3D printing a lot and has managed to create multiple advances in this new technology. It is great to see this technology evolve right before my eyes. Previously, phones were a very new technological advancement. Now with 3D printers I really think they can evolve and benefit my generation for easy use and creation of practically anything. Hopefully it becomes more accessible and cheaper as time progresses and it becomes a vital tool.
3D printing is one of those things that I've always wanted to do and have never found the time or resources to learn. Recently, I've been wishing I had a 3D printer just to give me the kick in the butt I need to start learning about 3D modeling software. I've done 3D models in sketchup but it's always been with the intention of looking rather than printing so I'm sure the specifics probably wouldn't hold up to actually being printed. I would assume it's like drafting for a CNC, you have to keep that in mind in the way you achieve your draft. In highschool we had a 3D printer but access to it was severely limited to classes I was never in and didn't have time to take. But the allure was always there. I would see my friend 3D print phone cases and models they had designed and I'd always wanted to try it. Knowing that there are 3D printers at CMU maybe when I get back one of my first projects will be a 3D one.
I have really enjoyed reading about the different articles surrounding printing in the third dimension because they have always covered interesting and unexpected use cases in combating the corona virus. This one has less to do with creative responses to the virus because it is an article that was written during the month of October during the year 2016 at around 9:50 in the night. There was no pandemic occurring during that moment in time. It does however address the advantages of having something so versatile that they are recognizing what this technology can do for healthcare. It is cool to look into the past and see earlier stages of something that has been a bigger deal now especially when it comes to using this technology for health care purposes. If only they knew then what would be coming, although the article mentions the use of 3D printing for a prosthetic hand.
I almost have a love-hate relationship with 3D printing. On one hand, it is an incredibly powerful tool that can not only speed up prototyping and development, but also actually create products to be used in the real world. I've 3D printed several objects for projects, in fact one used a high-density printing method that we were able to test it as a replacement for aluminum for some applications. However, I always find at the end of the day it just seems to come up short in places where I need high performance. It also puts a lot of stress on the material due to the short-cycled heating/cooling of the filament. This proves to be a major boundary in metal printing where phase transitions become critical.
We are now in a situation, though, where we can see 3d printed parts actually being mass produced, and more importantly mass deployed. The ability to send a step file to thousands of people with printers to independently print PPE parts is something that is difficult to replicate in modern manufacturing, and critical at the current time. As 3D printing advances I'd be curious to see how it works its way into mainstream manufacturing.
3D printing has really exploded over the past couple of years. For Mini 3, I took a class in IDEATE called DigiTool. In the class we learned how to 3D model on Autodesk Fusion360, and output that model to their in house 3D printers. I am certified to use those facilities. We also learned laser cutting which required further fire extinguisher training and other things, but it was all relatively easy to learn. I love how this is becoming more accessible to people of all backgrounds. I think we will see 3D printing expand into households in the coming years as the equipment becomes less expensive each year. This article was written back in 2016 and we have already grown so much from then. As we can see with recent circumstances, 3D printing has allowed us to produce quick and easy PPE at home or in facilities that have been closed to the public. 3D manufacturing has proven to be a really valuable resource that everyone should learn to be able to use.
3D printing is truly magical! I really would like to learn how to use a 3D printer some day soon because it is such a cool and unique tool! It is amazing to hear all the different things that are made using 3D printers. Even though 3D printing can be pretty expensive and takes some time, for those countries whose alternative manufacturing methods take much longer it is a perfect solution. I heard that there was a kid in the United States that was making 3D printed pieces that would attach to surgical masks for doctors so that the straps of their masks would not rub on their ears all day. It’s so inspiring how inventive people can be! I have also heard that companies are trying to manufacture ventilators using 3D printing methods to give to hospitals. I have a lot of hope that with this kind of innovation and creativity we will get through this pandemic stronger and more creative than ever.
I remember back when 3D printing was just being introduced. It was shown off at our local library and we could only make basic shapes and structures. I knew it was only destined to go farther and time has proved me right. It’s exciting to see all its done for artistic purposes, but this article made me happy because it shows how this tool is being used to help those in need. It is unfortunate that it is so expensive because if it was more accessible, it could help create resources that could help solve issues around the world, especially for countries in need of said resources. Just like back then, I know that time can only tell how far 3D printing can develop, but what it has accomplished so far is fantastic. We have time to brainstorm even more purposes for 3D printing on top of what we already know and I am excited to see where it goes.
Companies that own 3D printers are now utilizing them to make medical equipment. Toyota, a famous car manufacturer, announced that they will shift factories to produce face shields using their printers. Another company announced that they will work on producing customized reusable 3D masks that fits perfectly to each customer. But those are just the beginning. I heard that ventilators can be made by a 3D printer as well. Before the coronavirus pandemic, when I thought of 3D printers used in the medical field, I imagined it being used to make organs like a heart or a part of a blood vessel or a bone. It is surprising how fast the needs can be changed. I had a chance to use 3D printers in middle school and I remember it was not that hard to design and print one I learned the basics. Needless to say, more complicated design would need more technique, but it can certainly help the current crisis.
Post a Comment