Guys, the future is here. And it prints houses.
Okay, okay, some context. Like many of you, I reacted to the first mention of 3D printers, or additive manufacturers, with confusion and bewilderment. After all, my main concept of what a printer is comes from the bulky behemoths in the SFU library — how could anything like that ever print something in three dimensions?
Turns out they aren’t really that similar to your average 2D printer. They’re really industrial robots that build 3D models from virtual prototypes through an additive process, where the machine builds layer upon layer in a given shape and material until an object is formed. It’s a little like layering a cake, but way cooler. Naturally, the possibilities are endless, and a little spooky.
Most recently, these machines have been in the news after a Chinese corporation used them to build 10 one-story homes in a single day. An eco-friendly mix of cement and construction waste was used to layer the walls of the tiny, industrial homes, saving labour and money. There’s no telling the future potential of 3D printers in the world of architecture — builders and architects can program in the exact proportions of the structures they want to build, and the machine will recreate the digital models. This could even ease the problem of homelessness, making housing easier and cheaper to build.
But it isn’t just the world of architecture that the 3D printer promises to turn inside out. These printers have already done wonders for the world of medicine, and they’re only getting more sophisticated.
One team of scientists at Philadelphia’s Drexel University is currently developing a system wherein the printers can be used to recreate cancerous tumours in a lab setting. The scientists can test possible treatments for these cancerous cells, which bear a much closer resemblance to actual tumours than their usual 2D petri dish counterparts and respond more closely to the way actual cancer patients’ bodies do. This process, called bioprinting, uses cells as building blocks to recreate organisms that behave just like the real thing. I know, right?
The possibilities of 3D printers are endless, and a little spooky.
Elsewhere, at the University of Louisville, a team of researchers is trying to create a functional human heart from synthetic materials in a 3D printer. This might sound too space age for you, but it’s not that farfetched: these printers have already been used extensively to create splints, valves, artificial bones, prosthetic hands and legs — even a functional human ear.
Apart from building homes and rebuilding human bodies, 3D printers also hold plenty of promise for the rest of the world. One lab in Togo, Africa has started a campaign to use the country’s excess of e-waste to print medical tools and other essentials for its population. Artists have also gotten on the 3D printing bandwagon: the printers can be used to build all manner of sculptures, jewelry, and other items, without the hassle of purchasing tools or using a workshop.
The printers are also a dream for the fashion world, as fabrics can be used to make clothing, shoes, scarves, hats — pretty much anything — without ever actually picking up a needle and thread. A printer designed at the Carnegie Mellon University was recently introduced that functions as a hybrid between an additive manufacturer and a sewing machine, simplifying the process that takes designs from the drawing board to dresses on the runway. Just imagine having one of these babies in your walk-in closet.
For now, consumer accessibility seems like the only big obstacle in the rise of 3D printers. They’re much cheaper and more efficient now than they’ve ever been, but a good quality one will still cost you upwards of $1,000; and that’s not counting the materials you’ll need to actually build anything. Not to mention, they’re not exactly the easiest things to use. Plenty of sites have downloadable templates for designs, for everything from dishware to dresswear, but in order to customize what you print, you’ll need to be at least a little tech savvy. You might even have to be a geek.
But hey, it’s not all bad! In the last few years, the prices of personal 3D printers have pretty much plummeted, while their practical uses — and consumer demand — have seemingly skyrocketed. Experts predict about a 200 per cent growth in the market within the next four years, which means it might not be too long before your wealthier, geekier friends start buying printers of their very own.
While 3D printers might not be a great investment for your apartment just yet, it’s hard to deny that they have a whole lot of potential, and not just for the average Joe or Jane. These futuristic contraptions have already made huge waves in the world of medicine, and saved more than a few lives in the process.
They also promise plenty of possibilities for safer, more environmentally conscious industrial growth, as well as helping developing nations to make food and shelter. You may have heard of the 3D printer designed to make pizza, brownies and other goods for astronauts. Who’s to say they can’t be used to help combat hunger in poorer areas of the world? These printers can also be used to print “smooth” food for the elderly, who may have trouble digesting most foods.
There’s no question that there are downsides to these printers (mostly do to with their ability to build military weapons and drones), but they’ve already proven their capacity to help make the world a better place. At the end of the day, it’s not just the tools themselves — it’s how we use them. Here’s hoping it’s for good.
