To anyone who hasn’t heard of it, 3D printing sounds futuristic, like something out of Star Trek. But the technology is quite simple. It is the process used to create a 3D object in which successive layers of material are formed  to create an object.   And yet, by enabling a machine to produce objects of any shape, on the spot and as needed, 3D printing really is ushering in a new era.

As 3D printing applications expand and prices drop, one of the advantages of 3D printing is that more goods will be manufactured at or close to their point of purchase or consumption.

In the future, you will be able to buy a product, customize it to your exact specifications, and then have it 3D printed and dropped off right at your doorstep. People will also be able to create custom objects from their own designs used in their own personal 3D printers, eliminating the need for buying it from a business if the person has the necessary skills. Overall, the potential enjoyment that people can get from what they are buying/producing will be increased.

In the medical field, 3D printed implants will help to increase the quality of life for many people in society. Due to these specific 3D printing applications, human body parts will be fitted exactly to individuals and their differences, helping to make better titanium bone implants, prosthetic limbs and devices used by dentists. A patient being rushed into the emergency room for heart problems will be more likely to be saved since the necessary body parts will be instantly printed in a nearby room to prepare for surgery.

image from DA & D (dandad.org)

Advertising will change to incorporate the new wave of 3D printing applications, where consumers may get discounts on certain materials or future purchases through their 3D printers. If 3D printing technology makes production so much easier and less costly, more companies will manufacture in homes. Import and export trade will change drastically and relationships between countries will change accordingly.

Some specialty components are already being produced on 3D printers in factories, but this is on a very small scale. In the future 3D printers will improve assembly line efficiency, reduce the amount of workers needed to operate machinery, and lessen waste from what is being produced. Car companies will eventually be able to print cars directly from 3D printers in one piece, an advancement that will be incredible to see and will improve the automotive business even more.

Everything from new car models to food and clothing will be designed more rapidly, helping to bring inventions to the market faster. Designers will be able to instantly reprint designs as they work with other designers at the table, a process that would have taken days if not weeks in the past when it had to be made by hand. This will grow the economy as a whole at a faster pace, and will let creative genius flourish.

It wouldn’t be hard to see your children bringing home 3D printed projects from school in the future. A number of universities and colleges already have access to 3D printers, but this number will increase substantially since they will adopt 3D printers for research and practical use in the classroom.

The potential use for 3D printers in Art is huge, where the amount of detail possible with a students’ project will increase greatly. Art students will be able to print their concepts before their project is complete, helping to create a detailed road map of the processes needed to complete their project.

Companies like General Electric are already using 3D printed parts for jet and rocket engines. Buildings have already been fabricated using 3D printing with concrete as the construction material. Electronics will be able to be printed so cheaply that electronic circuits could even be added to packaging and clothing to monitor health. 3D printing is also poised to be used in restaurants by chefs who use cutting edge techniques. From there it may be a short time until 3D printers becomes a common household kitchen appliance.