5 Crazy Things You Can Do With 3D Printers
Posted by: J. McMahon on 02/05/2018 11:37 AM
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3D printing opened up a new world of creativity where everyday objects can be easily manufactured by download a printing file online and using a desktop printer to produce it. In this article we take a look at five unusual things you can do with 3D printers.
ClothesThat’s right. Now everybody can rock an outfit that has been freshly 3D printed, ending once and for all the challenge of finding the right dress for that special evening.
The great thing about 3D printed clothes is that they can be made to fit exactly to your body shape, highlighting your features.
Of course, having a body like queen of burlesque Dita Von Teese is a definite plus in these circumstances.
The voluptuous performer modeled the first ever 3D printed full gown at the Ace Hotel in New York.
Created in a collaboration between architect Francis Bitonti and fashion designer Michael Schmidt, the revealing black dress is made up of 2,500 intersected pieces that have been printed individually and then stitched together by hand.
Other 3D printed items of clothing are available on the marketplace, including 3D printed bikinis by Shapeways and haute couture outfits that graced catwalks around the world.
Musical instrumentsYou’ve surely realised that 3D printing has made waves in the technology world, but what about actual sound waves?
It will probably be a while before you can print your own orchestra, however what about a cool 3D printed replica of a Stradivarius violin? The violin’s body is 3D printed but the rest of the parts, like the strings and bridge are made out of traditional material. Unfortunately, your neighbors might not be very happy if you play it, even if you’re a virtuoso!
Image credit: Nate Lanxon / Wired.co.uk
If classical music isn’t your jam, then rock on with a 3D printed electric guitar that comes in a variety of crazy and original body styles. We definitely like how this sounds and we look forward to seeing more musical instruments being printed with 3D printing technology.
WeaponsNaturally, it was never going to be all about clothes, music and sweets with 3D printing.
It was just a matter of time until this technology started being used to produce weapons such as guns and swords. The first firearm to be 3D printed was called the Liberator and this triggered (pun intended) a lot of controversy around the safety and ethical issues of 3D printing weapons.
Although the first gun was printed in plastic (only recently a company in Texas called Solid Concepts manufactured one out of metal) the weapon was considered to be deadly by the FBI and politicians scrambled to fix legal loopholes that could make these technological breakthrough very dangerous indeed.
It remains to be seen whether 3D printed guns still have a future, especially considering the ease with which anyone could theoretically download one and print it with a desktop 3D printer.
Image credit: Solid Concepts
Body partsJust recently, news reports told the story of a Dutch woman who became the first patient to have her entire skull replaced by a 3D printed copy.
With all these medical breakthroughs thanks to 3D printed technology, the question on everybody’s mind is: how far can we go?
Presently, scientists have found ways to manufacture bits and pieces, including blood vessels, skin grafts, bones and entire organs, such as functional bionic ears and kidneys.
The technology employed by 3D printers nowadays is still dependent on a variety of plastics, however bioprinters that utilise an organic gel-like material can pave the way for rejection-free transplants.
The future looks bright for this intersection between 3D printing and medicine. It may be just a matter of time until surgeons are able to provide their patients perfectly matching substitutes that can replace any injured or lost body parts.
Image credit: Telegraph.co.uk
Adult toysTechnology is a pervasive force that has infiltrated every nook and cranny of our personal lives. (Yes, every nook and cranny.) Even our intimate life.
Quite often, technology is used to augment, supplement or otherwise accentuate intimate relations, and 3D printing seems to be no different. 3D printing may take that to an entirely new level, as the adult industry has devised ways to produce customized 3D printed sex toys. The New York Toy Collective is one company leading the way in this arena.
The company, which produces novel adult toys, was founded in 2012 and provides a personalized sex toy manufacturing service, that takes 3D scans of it’s clients’ genitals and prints out their likeness. 3D printed objects tend to be very rough due to the material used, so the final product is given a coating of silicon.
Image credit: MakerLove.com
ConclusionThe impact of 3D printing on the economy and consumer behavior is still very small.
However, commentators point out that as technology becomes cheaper and 3D printers more widespread, the influence of this technology can change dramatically the way we consume and value products.
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