An unbelievable idea has turned into reality. An idea that can now be born with the use of a 3D printing mechanism.
The prediction that 3-D printers will become a part of one’s daily life is happening faster and quicker than anticipated. These printers can produce objects of any kind. From musical instruments, to desk objects, to furniture, to high tech keys and even clothes, perhaps there isn’t even a range.
3D printing, the process of making 3-Dimensional solid objects from a digital model, is now a turning into a revolution. With the price, stretching from many thousands to the cheapest, at $350, this technology can be used in the simplest boutiques and labs to the largest of industries. Mainstream media is only now popularizing 3D printing, although it has been around for decades. Being able to print absolutely anything, with almost any industrial material, it has already set up many debates for a positive or negative future.
The way 3D printing works is by taking virtual designs from a special computer aided design or modeling software and “splits” them into separate cross-sections for the machine to use as a guide. The printer then lays down successive layers of the liquid or powdered material required (metal, plastic, paper, ceramics etc.) and eventually builds the model through these series of cross sections, creating the object desired. This printing layer by layer slowly develops the object.
How has something that has been for quite some time, suddenly become so popular? The recent fascination of 3D printing started at the 21st century, when 3D printer prices dramatically dropped from a few thousand dollars, to just a few hundred, and led to the majority of the new and advancing businesses to invest in them. Describ...
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...Controversies and concerns lie present. “A terrorist, someone who’s mentally ill, a spousal abuser, a felon can essentially open a gun factory in their garage,” Sen. Schumer (Senator of New York) said. “And the only thing they need a computer and a little over a thousand dollars. No background check and you don’t even need to leave your house to make hundreds of these guns. Hopefully the bill passes, and 3D printing can go back to being used what it was rightfully intended for: making miniature replicas of your own head.” He quotes.
The possibilities 3D printing can achieve are countless. This might be the most controversial and impactful technology of the future, as Hod Lipson quotes again, “When it costs you the same amount of manufacturing effort to make advanced robotic parts as it does to manufacture a paperweight, that really changes things in a profound way”
Adam Clark Estes ' article, "3D Printed Guns are Only Getting Better and Scarier," is a new controversial twist in the ongoing gun control debate (Estes). It is an emotionally written blog for the creation of laws to hinder the making of 3D guns. Estes is a senior writer on Gizmodo, which is a website blog that focuses on technology in society. While Estes ' article is informative, it lacks a strong thesis, organization and structure. The first main point the author addresses in this blog is how easy guns are to manufacture with a 3D printer. He explains this by referencing the history of the first home-made gun printed by Cody Wilson, a twenty-five year old student from the University of Texas. Another main topic Estes elaborates on is how
A growing number of publicized tragedies caused by gun violence have caused a great stir in the American community. Recently, President Barack Obama has made proposals to tighten the regulation of and the restrictions on the possession of weapons in America to lessen these tragedies. Should the legislative branch decide in favor of his proposals, all American citizens who do or wish to own the type of weapons in question or who use current loopholes in existing policy would be directly affected. His proposals, which are to “require background checks for all gun sales, strengthen the background check system for gun sales, pass a new, stronger ban on assault weapons, limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds, finish the job of getting armor-piercing bullets off the streets, give law enforcement additional tools to prevent and prosecute gun crime, end the freeze on gun violence research, make our schools safer with new resource officers and counselors, better emergency response plans, and more nurturing school climates, [and] ensure quality coverage of mental health treatment, particularly for young people,” have been cause for a large amount of recent debate (whitehouse.gov).
...rage American to purchase a handgun are being presented to our legislation. Although most are turned down most bills are aimed toward handguns.(Clint Best)
Hence, gun control is a frequently discussed controversial topic in American politics. Although the Second Amendment prevents the federal government from completely banning guns in America, limited restrictions are allowed on the distribution and possession of firearms. Certain groups of people such as criminals, the mentally unstable, and soldiers dishonorably discharged from the military are prohibited from possessing or interacting with firearms (Flynn). These restrictions are enforced by background checks in some states, on both a state and federal level. However, gun laws vary from state to state and are often not thorough enough; the background checks are flawed due to lack of information and misinformation, and guns can easily end up in the hands of criminals and malevolent individuals.
The field of bioprinting, using 3D printing technology for producing live cells with extreme accuracy, could be the answer to many of the problems we as humans face in the medical field. It could be the end to organ waiting lists and an alternative for organ transplants. In 3D printing technology lies the potential to replace the testing of new drugs on animals. However, the idea of applying 3 dimensional printing to the health industry is still quite new and yet to have a major impact. Manufacturing working 3D organs remains an enormous challenge, but in theory could solve major issues present today.
...linsky, Eric. “Using 3-D Printers…” All Tech Considered. Feb 06, 2013. Nov 5, 2013. .
The 3D printer is a method of putting a 2D image on a 3D surface. So Basically The 3D printer take a plastic ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and PLA (Polylactic acid) And heats it up really hot and extrudes it on to the sulfas of the 3D printer. To get the thing you want i...
6. —. Fused Deposition Modeling: Most Common 3D Printing Method. livescience. [Online] September 19, 2013. [Cited: May 21, 2014.] http://www.livescience.com/39810-fused-deposition-modeling.html.
Technological advances are growing at a rapid pace. When Christmas began, homemade treasures were an ideal gift option. Now, homemade treasures have diminished significantly. In ten years, technology will transform our gift buying experience. By then, we will be in the age of 3D printing. 3D printers will be the new normal and it will make it possible to simply give someone a code and they can print their gift in the privacy of their own homes.
Due to my experience in the Hawker group, I want to continue doing additive manufacturing. I am interested in working in the additive manufacturing unit at Lawrence Livermore. I am interested in continuing working with photopolmerization 3D printers but also want to expand my horizon by exploring composites and metals. I spoke with Dr. Monica Moya at a conference about 3D printed cells. It would be intersting to integrate biopolymers to allow tissue scaffolding to these 3D printed cells. I also read that lawrence livermore is the first lab that successfully printed carbon nanofiber using direct ink writing. I know my previous experience with a novel 3D printer will be helpful for building new revolutionary additive manufacturing methods.
In order to analyze its pros and cons, we need to know the technology first. As one of the advertisements states, “3D Printing: Make anything you want”. Of course, with the current maturity of this technology, this line exaggerates its effects, yet it certainly has a point. 3D printing is “a mechanical process whereby solid objects are created by ‘printing’ successive layers of material to replicate a shape modeled on a computer.
Is the creation of human organs via 3D printing morally acceptable? How could a printer cause one to lose his or her life? How do 3D printers attack the environment that is so sacredly protected? What will happen to the economy if everyone is able to own these mini factories? Printers allow for easier sharing of computer data and other visual objects. However, in this rapidly accelerating technology boom, a new type of printer has been created. This new printer has the ability to print three-dimensional objects and construction parts. This has revolutionized the modern age by allowing the ease and freedom of production to be done at one’s home. Unfortunately, this new idea of 3D printing also allows anyone to produce almost anything in his or her home and use it for whatever he or she wishes. Although 3D printing has medical advantages, 3D printing should not be allowed because it leads to playing God, it gives citizens the ability to print weapons, it is not environmentally friendly, and it hurts the economy.
Romano, Richard. "Leading Printing Executives into the Future." Graphic Design: A Recession-Proof Industry? N.p., 10 Feb. 2009. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. .
4D printing offers the ability to make things that literally pull themselves together. The technology could also create objects that last longer than their 3D-printed counterparts and adapt to specific conditions on command. 4D printing is relay about using a 3d printer to print self requfingering programmable material. For example you have a non-living object that can change his shape and behavior over time kind like a robot but no microprocessors, in fact something that looks like a plastic. Skylar Tibet’s, the man who came up with whole idea has gone even fodder; he created a programmable sheet material. It look like a plastic, that in combination with the water it could change the shape in the cube. And the cube is just a beginning. It will be a million of shapes. It could be so useful, not just on the Earth but in the orbit as well. This idea could change the world, and living on it. Imagine you could just print your furniture. An...
As 3D printers are becoming more prominent in the world today, it's met with many challenges, with one of them being the lack of strict regulation on 3D printed firearms. The inadequate supervision over 3D printing technology can potentially render any attempts at gun control law obsolete, as well as producing extreme effects on security (McCutcheon). Numerous scientific sources regards 3D printing as a technological breakthrough, supported by the numerous articles and news report in which that shows the wide range of capabilities within 3D printing, such as printing prosthetics, stem cells, and "a human liver that can last 40 days" (Ranaldi). However, when it comes to using 3D printers to produce firearms, concerns over copyrights and safety arise. Due to the simple production, distribution and easy disguises of these firearms, 3D printed firearms should be banned.