Then and Now: 3D Printing
Introduction
Improvements in 3D printing have transformed industry from healthcare to automotive. The concept first emerged in 1980 with Hideo Kodama’s patent for a now-forgotten 3D printing application. With the recent launch of the world’s largest polymer 3D printer by the University of Maine, it’s clear that technology has come a long way.
Here are four ways 3D printing has developed over the years.
1. 3D-Printed Electric Cars
The ability to produce lightweight, customisable parts is advancing sustainable and affordable transportation. 3D printing enables faster automotive prototyping than traditional methods, while lightweight materials enhance vehicle performance and fuel efficiency. In 2014, the Strati was considered the first 3D-printed car that was built at a show floor in Chicago. It was made from ABS plastic reinforced with carbon fibre and only its mechanical parts were assembled separately after printing and cutting.
When “3D-printed” is mentioned, the term does not refer to a car that is produced like the Strati. Most vehicles using additive manufacturing only have certain parts or prototypes 3D-printed. Traditional methods remain crucial due to cost, time, and material limitations. However, 3D printing continues to restructure the automotive industry. Companies like General Motors and Bugatti are integrating 3D-printed metal and polymer parts in their luxury vehicles. For example, GM’s 2024 Cadillac CELESTIQ features over 100 3D-printed components, including a metal laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) steering wheel and structural seat belt D-rings.
2. 3D-Printed Food
In the early 2000s, mechanical engineers in Hod Lipson’s Creative Machines Lab at Columbia University established food printing while experimenting with printing machine parts from various materials. They started with simple ingredients like cheese then eventually leading Lipson to co-launch the 3D food printer, Fab@Home.
Since then, the trend of 3D food printing has grown rapidly. In 2013, a restaurant with an entirely 3D-printed menu gained media attention, while big brands like Barilla introduced 3D-printed pasta designs.
Although some of the hype has waned, practical uses of the technology such as 3D-printed plant-based and animal-based meat products are gaining traction. For instance, GOOD Meat provides the world’s first cultivated meat approved for sale which is grown from animal cells and shaped with 3D printing. According to GOOD Meat’s website, the result is “real, delicious meat” with the same nutritional value as conventional meat yet with a minimal environmental impact and low risk of contamination.
3. 3D-Printed Houses
The 3D-printed trend is still in its early stages in the market, with habitable 3D-printed homes only appearing in recent years. Some challenges faced were ensuring structural integrity, durability of a house, managing costs, and handling complex designs.
One of the first 3D-printed homes was TECLA that was built by World’s Advanced Saving Project (WASP) and Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA) in Italy using local soil mixed with water, rice husk fibres, and a binder. This approach aims to replicate house building in rural areas where traditional materials are sparse.
Efforts to scale 3D-printed house construction are growing globally. “The Genesis Collection” at Wolf Ranch is the world’s largest 3D-printed community consisting of 100 houses located near Austin and Texas.
4. 3D Bioprinting
During the early 2000s, bioprinting became prevalent in the medical field when researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital built 3D urinary bladders using collagen and polymer scaffolds layered with patients’ cells. Subsequently, bioprinting has progressed to include prosthetics, 3D-printed blood vessels, and bioprinted bones. Aside from implants, scientists are able to create body part replicas to assist doctors study patients before surgery.
A recent significant breakthrough occurred in space. Redwire Corporation’s BioFabrication Facility (BFF) was introduced aboard the ISS in 2019, effectively bioprinting a human knee meniscus in September 2023. In microgravity, bioprinting can occur without scaffolds, letting tissues to grow freely in three dimensions. This research looks into cardiac tissue printing and artificial retinas, which could one day aid millions with degenerative retinal diseases.
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