3D printer: a revolutionary technology

RAQUEL DUBIN

Scientists and manufacturers are finding useful ways to unleash the power of 3D printers, which could cause a revolution in the way that almost any object is created.

The first 3D printer was invented by Charles Hull in 1984, according to the Line Shape Space website. 3D printing is the process of creating three-dimensional objects out of a digital blueprint. These printers tend to range from around $200 to over $2,000, depending on the type of job they are needed for.

“I would (want to get one) because it’s so fascinating the way they work and it would be interesting to try one out,” freshman Christine Valenzuela said.

In recent years, the 3D printer has become more and more revolutionary in medical technology and in the manufacturing industry. Clothing, food and even entire houses can be mass produced with both intricacy and time efficiency. Medically, 3D printers have allowed for a cheaper and easier way to create customized implants, prostheses (artificial body parts), and medical models.

“I was very hyped up when I first saw it being used,” Valenzuela said. “It looked amazing.”

The process of creating an object through 3D printing begins with a file of information about the model, which has to be translated by a G-code generator so that it’s in a language the printer can understand. This information is then fed into the 3D printer in whichever method the type of printer uses to get it- such as through an SD card. The printer then pulls in material through a tube, melts it and then it cools the material on a plate where more layers of the material are individually added until there is a fully formed object.

According to the new scientist website, the use of 3D printers prompts the beginning of a second industrial revolution. There is a danger in the ease of creating objects with the printers, however, since they can be used to make weapons. This has been done before, and has led to debates on whether there should be laws against manufactures using the printers.

Until the decision is made, there is still excitement over the ability to use 3D printers to create new objects and to spur on more scientific breakthroughs. Sophomore Yulina Gonzalez is enthusiastic about the printer’s capabilities and the likelihood of even better uses for them.

“It’s cool because in the future they will become even more advanced,” Gonzalez said.