February 19, 2010 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer

By chance, the other day, I read a blurb about a 3D printer that is now available for home usage. Granted the price tag is still pretty high (roughly $30,000), thus prohibiting every household to have one. Never fear though, the price is dropping, as it tends to do with most electronic and computer related products.

Currently, 3D printers are predominantly marketed to businesses as a way of creating affordable scale models and prototypes of new products without having to hire outside companies and wait days. The ease of use allows anyone with computer skill to use it. Within hours, or even minutes, a company could “print out” their prototype and start testing and tweaking it. The process would not only save money for the company, it would also save valuable time and allow new products to be available to consumers sooner.

The most common 3D printers - according to the blurb I read - have a laser that turns a powder or a liquid polymer into a hard plastic. The finished product can be any shape at all.

By using any 3D creation program (i.e. a CAD program) or even a 3D representation of an object in a computer file, the printer is able to manufacture that object into a solid item.

While it may seem a little out of this world, how many things in our world - that were once only the stuff of science fiction books and movies - are now mainstream? Computers and phones are now small enough to carry in our pockets. A few years ago, we’d have laughed that such things were possible.

Though 3D printers are certainly not mainstream yet, the possibilities for future application are incredible, especially if the printers are able to handle a variety of materials besides plastic. For example, a 3D printer could open up the world of art and sculpture to the average person as they produce a design of 3D form on the computer, which is then reproduced. Need a spare part, just open the online manual and print it off. Or maybe you will order a piece of clothing, a kitchen appliance, or a car online, download a special computer file, and then “print” your new purchase in the comfort of your home without having to worry about shipping costs.

It boggles the mind!

Beth

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