From fast-healing casts and lighter bikes to human body parts, 3D printing is changing the world
3D printing is the future of production. While 3D printers are slow to drop in price and arrive in homes, the revolution is picking up speed. A sure sign that 3D printing is catching on comes from the products it lets us create. We've rounded up the best to show just how 3D printing is already changing the world.
3D printed Osteoid cast
A design company has managed to create a 3D printed cast that could speed up the healing process by 40 per cent.
Not only does the Osteoid cast speed up healing but it should make the process more comfortable too. Thanks to the lattice pattern, which also saves on printing materials, users have access to their arm for cleaning. It also means greater aeration so itching and the smells associated with current casts should be overcome.
A model of the injured person's arm is made using a 3D scanner so the printed cast is perfectly fitted to the individual. It can then be hooked up to an ultrasound pulse system for 20-minutes a day to actually speed up healing. It shouldn't be long before homemade casts mean visits to the doctor won't even be needed – now to create an x-ray scanner add-on for our mobiles.
Chocobyte 3D printed chocolate
Chocobyte is the world's first affordable chocolate 3D printer. No it's not made of chocolate, but prints off intricate chocolate designs that are edible.
The printer, which costs just $99, is able to print 2-inch by 2-inch by 1-inch designs out of liquid chocolate that quickly hardens. The actual shapes can be created thanks to a simple design system that doesn't require CAD knowledge.
Cartridges cost $10 for a pack of four and need to be placed in the microwave before being printed off in liquid form. Only 500 models were made, and all were sold. Chocolate covered fingers crossed that more are on their way soon.
Rolls-Royce plane engine parts
If there were ever an endorsement on the quality of 3D printing it has to be Rolls-Royce 3D printing plane engine parts.
The airline engine manufacturer plans to use industrial-sized 3D printers to create the parts, which have absolutely no room for error.
Rolls-Royce plans to start with brackets and fuel nozzles which can be made much lighter thanks to the way 3D printing builds up construction layer by layer. It’s early days still but with faster production and greater accuracy with metals and ceramics, this is just the beginning.
Empire bike
A titanium bike frame at the London Bike Show this year was completely 3D printed by its creator, Empire.
This isn't the first time a 3D printed bike has been created but it is the first time the quality levels have exceeded normal manufacturing methods. It's creator said: “We tested the seat tower and surpassed the standard by six times, and that gave us the confidence to build the rest of the structure which we’re now going to test properly and ride. It’s genuinely the first time this has been done."
The end result is a lighter bike that's cheaper to produce. This is clearly the future for bike construction.
Liver
A human liver has been printed. It lived for 40 days before dying. No, this isn't science fiction.
The reason it died was that it didn't have capillaries to feed it. Scientists say they've cracked how to print them too and claim they will create a working liver by the end of the year. That means transplants can be printed off using an individual's DNA so their body won't reject it. Current transplants usually mean a lifetime of drugs to stop rejection. Exciting times for 3D printing lie ahead.
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