Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Home-scale 3D printers can't yet print metals directly. That's changing,
however. Consumer-scale printers such as Fab@Home can squeeze out a gel
mixed with metal powder. To irm up the printed gel into metal, the printed
object is baked in a furnace or kiln. Needless to say, this extra step of kilning
is far from simple—it introduces the risk of shrinking, cracking, and warping.
Printed ceramic has the same smooth surface and internal material proper-
ties as hand-carved and kilned ceramic. A promising application is 3D print-
ing ceramic bone implants from a patient's CT scans. Ceramic bone implants
can be custom-made and, since they're less porous, can be three to ive times
stronger than those made by conventional methods.
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Stronger ceramic bone
implants reduce the likelihood that micro-debris will break off during surgery,
signiicantly minimizing the risk of post-operation inlammation.
Glass, one of the most common materials used by human civilizations,
has been one of the slowest materials to gain traction in 3D printing. Glass
is hydrophobic, meaning that it repels water and, therefore, doesn't adhere
well. Powdered glass is unpredictable when exposed to heat. University of
Washington graduate students Grant Marchelli and Renuka Prabhakar and
professors Duane Storti and Mark Ganter have successfully printed objects
made of recycled glass in the research lab.
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Yet, commercial application of
glass printing is still mostly for art and jewelry.
Someday, as technologies improve, the 3D design and printing process will
be automated and skilled experts will no longer be needed. There's an internal
debate in the 3D printing community that's reminiscent of the old “TV in every
home” debate over half a century ago. When we were visiting ABC Imaging,
I asked John what he thought.
He replied, “I think the future may not be a 3D printer in every home or
every ofice. I see another future, where people and architects and engineers—
rather than sending an order to a warehouse to get a spare part—will download
a CAD ile and have it printed in their neighborhood print shop.” He added,
“Right now, we're not that far away from that model already. All day long,
our bicycle couriers come in and out of here to deliver printed parts to our
customers.”
