The Seventh Kingdom: Is Technology Addiction Real Jan. 2015 | Page 55

MANUFACTURING TRENDS
3D PRINTING
Although it is not considered a
‘New’ type of technology, 3D
printing is slowly becoming a more
affordable option for consumers. It
operates by printing on three axes
(X, Y and Z). The print head moves
,
along the X and Y axes, and the
print bed declines to create the
Z-Axis. Prints are created layer by
layer. More and more materials are
available to print with as 3D printing
becomes more common. Currently,
plastic, metal, stone and wo od can
be used as printing materials. With
the introduction of 3D printing to a
consumer market, it allows users
to tailor designs to specific needs.
Additionally, it is also used in the
medical field to produce custom
prosthetic limbs, and even produce
medicines such as ibuprofen
(via molecular filament). Future
developments of 3D printing hope
to utilise “Bio Ink” to manufacture
human organs (Koten, 2014).

fig 48.1
40