The Application Of 3d Printing In Space Exploration
How will 3D printing revolutionize the space industry?
Planetary Resources was a company in 2014 which developed a complete spacecraft using 3D technologies. The spacecraft’s design was done using CAD and 3D printing. The final weight and cost of the product were significantly lower than that of an average NASA Satellite. The final design was simple and served no vital purpose. It is still amazing that a 3D-printer could produce an object with enough moving parts to fly into space. It is a major step forward for 3D printed products and proves 3D prints aren’t just for hobbyists. How do new reality-capture platforms affect the 3D printer market? What are these new data capture methods?
As 3D printers continue to develop, so has reality capture. Photogrammetry and 3D scanner technology have advanced significantly. Even a basic smart-phone can create 3D images with incredible detail. Reality capture software has evolved to produce more complex and detailed printable models. Handheld scanners are now available almost anywhere for creating 3D models of any object. Photogrammetry software and high resolution cameras are used to create 3D models that are very detailed. This higher resolution 3D model allows for more accurate and detailed prints. As the reality capture technology continues to improve, so will the quality of 3D models and subsequent prints.
Researchers and leaders in the industry have made predictions about 3D-printing’s future. What do they think? Include any information you have learned from readings or videos in your response. Review the videos of Avi Reichental, Ping Fu and others.
Industry such as jewelry and toys, trinkets and ceramics will be booming in the near-future. 3D-printing will explode. In ten years’ time, 3D-printing could be the only way to produce simple, small items. As technology improves, it will be easier to manufacture accessories and clothing. Large-scale industries products like automobiles, aircraft, spacecraft, boats, factory machines, etc. 3D Printing will continue to grow, but will still be a long way off. Metal printing and Bio printing will be the most popular types of 3D printers in future. Metal printing, which is widely available and extensively tested, has already become a reality. The process of metal printing will improve as the technology is refined. Large metal products like cars, for example, will be easier to manufacture, cheaper, and faster. Although bio-printing is still an experimental technology, it’s growing quickly. Researchers can currently print skin onto damaged body parts. Researchers are working to develop the ability to print organs, including livers and lungs. Researchers and leaders in the industry see many advantages to 3D technologies, including a reduction of waste. The customization options are a more significant advantage. 3D technologies offer consumers a wide range of customization options that will make it easier for them to design their own products and visualize the final product.
What impact does 3D Printing have on art? What are the changes that this technology is bringing to the art world?
3D CAD is now used by artists to create sculptures. Artists can now design more complex designs and create obscure ones. Artists can use handheld scanners to scan an object or person to create a piece of art. The artist can upload the scan to computer software and alter it in any way they like. The model can be used as a template to hand-build the final product, or it can be printed in a printer. In order to create CGI or digital effects, movie makers are starting to use 3D scanners. Special effects experts can create digital models of places and people using scanners. These can then be rendered into the movie. The special effects team can create CGIs with greater ease. The creation of busts and sculpted images is another art advancement. By using 3D scans and photogrammetry with LEDs and cameras, incredibly precise 3D models are now possible for people who want to have their own portraits done. The 3D models are then printed by high-quality 3D printers for the customer who wants a portrait. This is much cheaper and quicker than having an individual sculpt the portrait.
What are your predictions about 3D printers in the near future?
As disruptive technologies, 3D technology and printing has begun to transform the way we learn, teach and preserve our heritage. In the old days, teachers in classrooms would either need to bring objects with them to teach, or they could order and ship these items. The teacher can print out a 3D-printed model of any object he wants to use in the classroom. Access to tools for teaching instantly will help to keep learning interesting and facilitate it. Heritage preservation has benefited greatly from 3D scans and photogrammetry. Researchers had to mold an artifact by pressing a material on it and creating a mould in order to obtain a 3D model. Researchers can create 3D models by scanning the object with handheld scanners. Researchers can now have high-detail images and models for the objects they study without having to touch or damage the object.
I believe that the future of 3D-printing will be bio-printing. Without 3D technology, it would be impossible to print skin on injured patients. In the near-future, I predict that simple kidneys and livers will be implanted in patients. In the future I would love to see printed more complex organs. These organs could be eyes, stomachs or intestines. The ability of 3D printing a customized heart made from the person’s muscle tissue could revolutionize medical science.
In the future, I see 3D-printing replacing current manufacturing techniques to produce everyday items like clothes, jewelry, phone cases, door handles etc. I believe technology has reached a level where 3D printers can produce almost any simple item. It would allow consumers to customize everyday items and reduce waste. I imagine a market in which a customer can walk into an outlet, show her desired pair of earring to the clerk, and the earrings would be ready within one hour. A production of this kind would be extremely profitable, just due to the customizability. As technology continues to improve, I think that 3D-printed items like dishware, clothing, jewelry, etc. will become more common.
In the future, as 3D print and scan devices become more affordable, it may be normal to see a 3D home printer. Many people already have 2D printers, which was something that industry experts thought would never be possible. I believe more people are going to purchase 3D printers as they become cheaper. Home 3D printing could be useful for basic and everyday needs. You could print a cabinet to replace a broken one, or a wrench for a specific size. This would be ideal for creating homemade gifts. Although these 3D home printers may not produce prints of the highest quality, they are still good enough for basic prints. As printing technology advances, in-home printers’ quality will also continue to improve. Also, 3D-software will increase to accompany the in-home printer. I think that an app for a smartphone would be extremely useful. It would scan an item similar to 123D Catch. Once the model has been created and the item scanned, it could be verified by software. The model can be saved to a.stl and printed from the smartphone using Wi-Fi. AutoDesk has been working continuously on 3D modeling software and I think that a cost-effective or free app will be available soon.
In the future, as large-scale industrial companies continue to experiment with 3D print, I expect that 3D technologies will be used for cars, boats and aircraft. Some companies have begun to develop printers capable of printing concrete directly. In the future, I can see homes and buildings being directly printed. It is true that advanced technologies will take a longer time to develop than others. However, I still believe these technologies are not only possible but also common in just a short while.
The field of heritage preservation and research in cultural fields will experience a huge leap forward. The library of 3D artifacts is set to grow as institutions such as the British Museum and Smithsonian continue scanning their pieces. Researchers and teachers will be able to access millions of ancient objects to learn, teach and study. Researchers will be able study ancient artifacts without damaging them physically, thanks to the online collection of 3D Heritage Artifacts. The online collection of 3D heritage artifacts will reduce the degradation of ancient pieces, as researchers will be able to study them without harming them with physical contact. The pieces will be on display, but researchers can still study them and learn more about them.
