A 3-D printer can take a 3-D rendered image from a computer and using a common printing method called “Additive Manufacturing” it is able to print, usually in tiny layers, a real and useable physical object. That object can be something as simple as chocolate, plastic play toys or wooden instruments to something as complicated as metal airplane or car parts.
The materials that are used in a 3-D printers in order to render these types of objects can be plastics, metal alloys, clear resin, human tissue and even food. Yes, even pizza has been printed out then cooked to be eaten.
I think we are still at an early stage to really consider 3-D printers to be a standard household item but because prices are dropping to under $1000.00 for some of the cheaper ones, there seems to be a need and want for this type of technology.
For instance, in 2013, Nike started printing a football cleat called the Vapor Laser Talon, which, perhaps unsurprisingly, are said to help athletes run faster. Footwear rival New Balance is also using this 3D technology to scan customers’ feets and print out shoes made just for them in nylon polymer.
Animal testing could happily become obsolete with this technology since scientists are now testing 3-D printers that can print tissues and organs that could be used to test prescription drugs on, sparing rats and bunnies while also providing more accurate results. With that in mind, it looks like we may be very close to 3D bioprinting by the medical community whereby doctors could eventually print out working body organs like a heart or liver to replace failing ones. No more need to be placed onto a donor list.
There seems to be much more appeal for this technology in the corporate and medical world. Because they tend to take up so much room and the initial design of the item to be printed has to be created in a 3D software program many people might not be unwilling to invest the space or the time into learning how to use the software. Be that as it may, affordable micro 3D printers with pre-designed 3D images are now available for under $500 if one may be so inclined to print smaller and simpler objects like models or small toys.
I would recommend checking out a company called M3D and their website is http://www.themirco.com. They have recently designed a very small desktop-size 3D printer that costs under 500 dollars called The Micro and as of late have just had a very successful kickstarter campign raising over 3 million dollars to help in the design and development of this printer.
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