Advances In 3D Printing: Beyond 3D Trophies

Professional 3D Printing

Until recently, three-dimensional printing technologies were the domain of the extremely advanced or even the very well off. They were also, with this very reason, mostly useful for research and scientific development. The required equipment was simply too expensive for waste on gifts and vanity objects.

In recent years, however, all that is different, as the technology becomes more widespread and affordable which kinds of gifts and objects gradually take over the novelty market.

Giant steps forward

However, it might be misguided to think that 3D trophies along with other similar items are all the technology is used for today. The advancements in the field, along with its globalisation, have led to make these technologies reach heights thought unreachable only a scant few years ago. Three-dimensional printing contributions to society now vary from medicine to entertainment, from design to architecture and from engineering to commerce.

From the grasp of everyone

These developments are far from out of reach, either - one needs not do more than browse a newspaper or web site to encounter at least a few of them. They are very much in the public eye and, as time goes by, one suspects the tendency may be for that visibility to increase even further.

The future looks 3D

The range of examples proving that three-dimensional printing in the 2010s is about far more than 3D trophies is both vast and demonstrative. A few of the more offbeat uses we've got the technology has been put to include making prosthetic arms for African children, designing model and prototype cars, making scale models of houses, as well as artificially created ice caves to become changed into a real location, as two university students are presently doing. Of course, not all of these p rojects are actually usable at the present time, but most of them happen to be developed to such an extent where they are clearly feasible - although by no means easy - at some point in the near future.

That is not to say, of course, that 3D trophies and other novelties are totally going the way of the dodo. Much to the contrary, actually; these types of items still take into account a huge number of exactly what the technology is used for, and they are still the main source of livelihood for most businesses offering this types of services. However, this field, too, has experienced something of a shift in paradigm, because the offer of such products steers progressively away from old fashioned 3D trophies and towards things such as replicas of stadiums - Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium have already received this treatment - ipad cases, and other such gift-worthy items. However, as explained above, this is progressively less and less the focus of the industry, because they advance to bigger and better things.