Trends to Watch
Trends that will
Shape the
Future of
3D Printing
N
owadays, the tech world is mostly focusing
on AI, big data, machine learning, and how
all these will affect our daily lives later on.
However, developing with the same pace, but with
slightly less hype is 3D printing, a technology which
is going to have a massive impact on our daily lives
in the near future. It is a small step from spraying
toner on paper to putting down layers of plastic resin
until they add up to an object, by empowering a
machine to make objects of any shape and size, on
the spot as needed by the user.
One of the early innovators of the 3D printing
technology is Singapore Airlines, which is well-
known for the amount of luxury it provides on its
long-haul flights. Its subsidiary, Singapore Airlines
Engineering Company, signed a deal with Stratasys
recently in order to explore the world of 3D printing
technology for research, design, and production of
various aircraft parts. However, at first the airline
company will use the technology in various interior
parts rather than printing any structural elements of
the frame or any engine parts. Right now, the
organization needs to maintain inventories which
include a ton of different parts that need to be
replaced across the fleet once the fleet is replaced.
This makes the airliner’s life harder, thanks to the
problems related to logistics and replacements.
20
| August 2017 |