Imagine working late on a critical project. Let’s say you’re preparing for a press conference regarding a new condo community. You’ve secured a venue, mailed invitations, and alerted the media. But the courier responsible for delivering an artist’s rendering of the community never showed, and you know that you can’t have a press conference without this critical visual.
No problem! You call your friend who has a 3-D printer and, after meeting him at his office armed with the rendering saved on a thumb drive, print a new one. To scale. In color.
This sounds like something out of science fiction, but 3-D printers, or rapid prototyping devices, are reality. They’re already used by designers, architects, engineers, and even biomedical companies.
So how does the magic happen? It depends on the machine but, generally, a computer or CAD device sends a file to the printer. Then, one inkjet shoots out a layer of glue-like stuff while another shoots out a layer of powdered metal, plastic, sand, or wood. This process is repeated many times until a very real prototype emerges.
And while these devices start at around $30,000 right now, Hewlett-Packard aims to sell one for home or office use that would retail for $1,000. As each new device is released, it offers even more capabilities. Someday, you might be able to print your medication, or a pizza, or your own clothes.
Of course, there are issues to consider with 3-D printing, including the safety and authenticity of the items created. If I printed medicine prescribed by my doctor, but the printer made the tiniest error in the formulation, there would be real consequences. If someone had the right combination of materials and printed credible-looking currency, there would be real consequences.
So what do you think – cool, or totally weird?
I like the 3-D printing ability, but not the ability to print your own medication/food. Clothes I could handle
But there is something I find weird about the reengineering of a compound you put inside your body and the chemical make up of this item. Nothing can beat BBQ on a pizza from Mario’s, right? Gosh, I’m still dying to try it myself!!!
Comment by Rena — April 14, 2007 @ 4:35 pm |
Thank the Lord, you’re finally back! Yes, I agree that printed food could get icky. Can you imagine printing a pair of flip-flops, then printing a pizza on the same printer? Gives rubbery cheese a whole new meaning!
And speaking of pizza…Mario’s…any time, my friend, any time!
Comment by accidentalluddite — April 14, 2007 @ 11:17 pm |