By Bernardo De la Cruz
3D printing is the idea of creating a 3 dimensional blueprint of anything you can think of and then, well printing it out. From toys and tools to casts and even body parts, we are on our way to having another industrial revolution.
While personally I don’t see a practical use in everyday life for something like a 3D printer, I can’t help but take a look at what other people have been doing with it. For instance, the amount of money it costs to have a prosthetic made, or even have a cast that will heal broken bones, can be made at a fraction of the average cost with a 3D Printer.
Not crazy enough yet? How about 3D printing a meal, something that has become quite popular in Europe. In China they are even going as far as creating houses at, once again, a fraction of the cost. Doctors are even creating organs and small body part.
The details of how exactly all of this can be done could fill a book. If you’re interested in the subject, please feel free to do additional research.
But as always, with any sort of breakthrough in what can do good, it can also be made to do bad. Those houses being built in China by a 3D printer, they take a short amount of time, are cost effective and overall more efficient. But what happens when the idea suddenly takes off? The concern people have is that machines like this will eventually outgrow the need for people to work and build the homes. A good reason to be concerned, but keep in mind that they can’t do everything. You still need people to gather ingredients, work and fix the machines, inspectors, people to do the foundation where the machine will build.
Despite the progress, the human interaction will always be needed. While industrial 3D printers can cost thousands, there are consumer based models that go for a few hundred dollars. People have already revolved entire businesses around 3D printing. While it makes a good tool for fun, just imagine what it can do in the hands of the average person who has an idea.
Bernardo De la Cruz, es graduado en Computación y Tecnología en Pace University y es asesor de Westchester Hispano.
Sala de Redacción/Westchester Hispano
Publicado el 23 de Abril, 2016