I presented our university's 3-D printer to the faculty today by showcasing what it is, how it works, and what its potential for design and manufacturing is. From art to medicine, from education to the household, 3-D printing could change our relationship to material goods and revolutionize the manufacturing industry. (You can watch the printer in action -- sideways -- here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THZCGmiOegw.)

1. 3D PRINTING
IS THIS THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING
AND CONSUMPTION?

2. INDUSTRIAL GOES DESKTOP
Around in large scale industrial manufacturing businesses since
the concept’s invention in 1984
With emergence of RepRap printer in 2007 and rise of DIY
community, various companies have developed kits for do-ityourself enthusiasts and hobbyists (maker communities)
• Such kits performed step similar to step in personal computer
history that brought computer from businesses into
households
• Apple got its start by offering personal computer kits to computer
enthusiasts
• 3D printing taking similar step as companies create preassembled devices to purchase and prices become increasingly
affordable
Starting to see 3D printing emerging as art form and
gimmick, demonstrates growing acceptance through pop culture
and fads

3. DESKTOP SALES & MAKERS
Solidoodle 2nd Generation Base = $499
RepRap Mendel = $520
Cubify Cube 2 = $1299
MakerBot Replicator2 = $2199
Stratasys Mojo = $9900
And Many Many More!

4. THE PROCESS OF PRINTING
3D modeling or 3D scanning
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Numerous 3D modeling or CAD programs
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From free to expensive to web-based
Developing 3D scanning devices & programs
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MakerBot’s Digitizer
Smartphone apps
Extrusion
• Heating material into filaments pushed through nozzle
Print table
• Moves in accordance to computer programming
Layering
• Filament layers in shape dictated by moving print table
Many different materials
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Plastics & polymers most common
Anything that can be heated to be molded
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Metals & mineral compounds & composites
Organics (protein, carbohydrates, etc)

5. POTENTIALS FOR 3D PRINTING
Anything physical that needs designing or
prototyping or manufacturing or modeling
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Medicine
Dentistry
Fashion
Art
Architecture
Biology
Chemistry
Engineering
Nutrition
Household items
Toys

6. THE END OF MANUFACTURING?
Desktop publishing as a threat to traditional publishing
• Self-publishing books has not undermined traditional book
publishing
• Blogging, online news is threatening traditional newspaper and
magazine publishing
• Democratization and user-generation as threat only so long as
not co-opted by corporations
Desktop manufacturing as a threat to traditional manufacturing?
• Could ability to manufacture consumer goods at home out of
basic materials threaten traditional supply/demand model?
• Already seeing moves by corporations to co-opt, such as
UPS, Hewlett-Packard
What does 3D printing mean for the future?

7. HTTP://CLEARANCEBINREVIEW
.COM/2012/11/23/DR-GEEK-3DPRINTERS-REPLICATORS-ANDTHE-END-OF-CONSUMERISM/
USE THE LINK ABOVE TO READ SOME MORE OF
MY THOUGHTS, OR EMAIL ME AT
CREINHARD@DOM.EDU