UK 3D Printing

Medical tools

Printed prosthetics have been utilized in rehabilitation of crippled humans and animals. In October 24, 2014, a five-year-old girl born without completely shaped fingers on her left hand and 3D printing technology is used to make prosthetic hand. In 2013, a 3D printed foot is built for a duckling. A prosthetic beak was another device built by 3D printing to aid a bald eagle, whose beak was brutally injured from a shot in face.

In February 2015, FDA accepted marketing of a surgical bolt that eases less-invasive foot surgery and eradicates the requirement to drill through bone. Using Stereolithography, quaternary ammonium groups are included into dental appliances which kill bacteria on contact. This kind of material can be applied in medical machines and implants.

Bio-printing

In 2012 3D bio-printing technology studied by biotechnology companies and academia for possible utilization in tissue engineering applications where organs and body parts are developed via inkjet methods. In this procedure, layers of living cells are placed on a gel medium or sugar matrix and gradually built up to create three-dimensional structures comprising vascular systems. 3D tissue printing is used to develop soft tissue designs for reconstructive surgery is also being explored.

Pills

The first pill developed by 3D printing was permitted by FDA in August 2015. Binder-jetting into powder bed of drug permits very porous pills to be made that allows high drug doses in single pill that dissolves rapidly and can be ingested simply.

Computers and robots

3D printing can also be utilized to create laptops, computers cases etc. For instance, Novena and VIA OpenBook standard laptop cases i.e. a Novena motherboard can be purchased and be utilized in printed VIA OpenBook case.

Open-source robots are developed via 3D printers. 3&DBot is Arduino which is a 3D printer-robot with wheels and ODOI is the 3D printed humanoid robot.

Space

The first 3D printer developed to operate in zero gravity is Zero-G Printer. It was developed under a joint corporation between NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Made In Space, Inc. SpaceX delivered zero-gravity 3D printer to International Space Station (ISS) in September 2014. Applications for space provide the capability to print parts or devices on-site. These researches and projects could permit faster production for lower costs, and has been examined for production of off-Earth habitats.

 Sociocultural applications

In 2005, an expanding hobbyist and home-use market was set up with launching open-source RepRap and Fab@Home projects. Virtually every home-use 3D printers released to-date have their technological roots in ongoing RepRap Project and related open-source software initiatives. 3D printing could turn into a mass market product allowing consumers to save money related with buying common household objects. For instance, instead of going to the store to purchase the object produced in the factory by injection moulding, a person can print it at home from the downloaded 3D model.

Art

Academic journals had started to report on possible artistic uses of 3D printing technology in 2005, utilized by artists such as Martin John Callanan at The Bartlett School of architecture. Few of the current developments in 3D printing were shown at 3DPrintshow in London that occurred in November 2013 and 2014. Art section had artworks created with 3D printed plastic and metal. Many artists like Davide Prete, Joshua Harker, Helena Lukasova, Sophie Kahn, demonstrated how 3D printing can alter aesthetic and art procedures. It was focused on methods by which 3D printing can be used in medical field. It is popular in customisable gifts industry, like modified mobile phone cases and dolls and also 3D printed chocolate.

Communication

Using 3D printing, Terahertz devices are created that act as waveguides, bends and couplers have been created. The difficult shape of such devices could not be attained via conventional fabrication methods.

Domestic use

Some practical examples of 3D printing for domestic use are working clock and gears printed for home woodworking machines. Some other items are coat hooks, backscratchers, door knobs and many more

The developers of chemical application imagine both industrial and domestic use of this technology, including allowing users in distant locations to be able to create their own medicine or household chemicals.