3-D Printing Might seem a thing straight out of a Movie. But let me tell you one thing that it was developed in 1980s. It is basically Simple printing but in 3-Dimensions and with different "Ink". The Ink is Usually Plastic but for Bio Printing we use Real Human Cells or we can use Lasers to fuse Resins And Metals. In the past it was only used to print Prototypes for Government but now companies are pushing this Technology to be Commercial. Anybody can create(or print) anything, one can open a industry in his/her backyard. Up till now you could download movies, videos, pictures but now you can download things (or sculptures/blueprints of things).
3Doodler
3Doodler is the most basic type of 3-D Printing. 3Doodler is a 3-D Printer with the shape of a pen. So you can literally Build Castles in the air. This pen uses Rapid Cooling Plastic Cylinders to produce melted Plastic which then cools down to produce a structure in the air. People have already drawn dresses, Jewelries, Science projects etc. You can download the basic models of nearly anything from the 3Doodler website.
Bio-Printing
Bio-printing is basically 3-D printing of Cells and Organs. The organs are printed using a special type of "Ink" called Bio-Ink (a mixture of biodegradable gel and actual human cells). In conventional methods of replacing an organ can be "Rejected" by rejection I mean there might be some sort of compromise like the Blood groups of the donor and the patient may not match, there might be some sort of disability or harmful effect in the organ of the donor. But using Bio printing this problem is diminished as the Bio-Ink used is made up of the cells of the patient. So the phenomenon of Rejection is basically eradicated.
We can throw Skin cells at the wound to create a layer of skin over a wound US Military is taking steps to promote the project of "Skin-Printing" for treatment of US Soldiers.
We can Create Organs like Kidneys, livers, Fingers etc. One such institute is built for this sole purpose named as "Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine" headed by "Professor Anthony Atala".
We can now create Animal Products - Meat, Skin - Without Animal.
We can now create Organs. First we create a Scalpel using Bio-Ink and then the Human Cells Anchor onto the Scalpel and then create new tissues and cells by Reproduction. After this process the Scalpel can be Removed.
Usage
- Used to make Suits in Movies. (Iron man Suit in Iron man 2)
- We can Create Things which are Cheaper than the traditional methods
- We Might be able to make Houses using 3-D Printing
- This Technology can be used to 3-D Print Food .Yay!!. by using layers of sugars, grains of food and then putting another layer of water and so on we can Create Food.
Cons
- The process of 3-D Printing something is very slow. It takes about 3-5 Hours to create a human ear.
- Usually uses plastic and I think I do not have to list the Draw backs of Plastic.
- Very expensive
- Emission of Unhealthy particles into air.
- Consumption of large amount of energy.
- You can Create Anything. You can create Guns and Explosives of some kind.
Useful Links
- MakerBot-ThingiVerse.com
- Yeggi.com (Many More similar websites)
- 3-D Printing Industry
- 3Doodler
