8 things you didn't know about 3D printing
posted 07 January 2015 at 16:34:27
1. It's actually been around for more than 30 years.
American Charles Hull invented stereolithography – the system for generating 3D
objects – in 1983.
2. You can 3D print in a multitude of materials, from
thermoplastics, resins and wood derivatives to gold, silver, bronze, brass,
titanium, stainless steel, wax, powder, ceramics, chocolate and even human
tissue.
3. NASA is investing large sums of money in developing a 3D
printer that will allow astronauts to 3D print their own food in space.
4. Doctors can now 3D print replacement bones and even
incredibly realistic artificial eyes for accident victims.
5. James Bond's priceless Aston Martin DB5, which was blown
up in Skyfall, was actually a 1:3
scale 3D printed model. It was printed in 18 parts and put together much like a
real car.
6. Used in conjunction with a CAT scanner, a 3D printer has
been used to print out a highly detailed model of a tumour before an operation,
so that surgeons could properly examine it before operating on the patient.
7. Researchers at Washington State University, along with
NASA, are experimenting in 3D printing with Moon dust. If successful, it could
pave the way for entire Moon bases to be 3D printed in situ in the future.
8. The Photonic Professional 3D printer can
print objects that are as narrow as a strand of human hair. It will be used in
the printing of micro and nano structures.