The latest developments in 3D printing offer benefits for everyone, but things look especially promising for housing, medicine, and the environment.
Inexpensive Housing
With just one large printer on a crane, a structure can go up in a matter of days instead of months. It cuts down on labor costs—it only takes one operator to run the machine—and dramatically eliminates waste. But the technique has the most advantages for areas with housing shortages. A firm in the Netherlands built the first legally habitable home out of concrete at a fraction of the cost of traditional construction. Texas and California may see entire neighborhoods of 3D-printed homes as more eyes look to the technology to help solve the global housing crisis.
Medical Breakthroughs
3D printing has been a boon to the health care industry. It makes it possible to create incredibly detailed items, like customized surgical instruments. It can also customize prosthetics for patients that fit comfortably. Researchers are most excited about the possibility of 3D printing human organs for transplant. They’ve already successfully experimented with a working heart small enough for a rabbit. With more progress, transplant waiting lists may become a thing of the past, and countless lives will be saved.
Better Sustainability
Additive manufacturing, by definition, cuts down on waste by only using the materials it needs. But the latest developments in 3D printingare working toward filaments made with biodegradable materials. While just a portion of today’s printed plastics are reused and recycled, companies are now waking up to the fact that they can operate more sustainably. 3D printers can create items anywhere, reducing transportation costs and emissions. By adopting new techniques and improving on them, industries can still profit while helping to protect the Earth.