3-dimensional Printing (3DP) is an additive manufacturing technology used to create objects directly from digital models. With its high precision & accuracy, 3DP technology offers users the opportunity to produce complex parts at low costs.In this article we are going to talk about 3D Printing & the importance of 3 dimensional printing.
Table of Contents
Introduction to 3D Printing
3DP technology is a rapid prototyping technique that uses computer aided design (CAD), which is software specialized in modelling three dimensional images. A 3D printer then builds these designs layer by layer and produces physical objects according to the CAD model.In recent years, 3D printers have become increasingly popular with consumers because they allow people to customize everyday items and make them exactly how they want them.
A 3D printed object is created by stacking layers of material on top of each other, which gradually hardens as it goes. These materials may vary from plastic resin to metal powders to ceramics.The first commercial application of 3D printing was rapid prototyping in the 1980s using plastics.
Today’s 3D printers consist of many different technologies including: extrusion based, inkjet-based, fused deposition modeling (FDM)-based, selective laser sintering (SLS)-based, melt-extrusion-based, stereolithography (SLA)-based, and binder jetting-based.There are two types of 3D printing, namely, desktop and industrial. Smaller desktop printers can cost under $10,000, while larger industrial printers can cost over $100,000. There are also hybrid versions of both small and large desktop printers that use both FDM and SLA technologies.
3D printing is becoming increasingly widespread across industries including entertainment, automotive, aerospace, healthcare, fashion, architecture, education, and others.Today, 3D printing allows us to make custom products we could not even imagine before. We have seen examples of 3D printing being used in everything from footwear, handbags, jewelry, art pieces, toys, furniture, implants, prosthetics, watches, and much more.
Application Of 3D Printing
With the advancement of technology and the emergence of 3D printers, they have become a tool for many industries including the medical industry. Today, we are taking a look at how 3D printing is being applied to Cannabis cultivation. We’ll take a look at both legal and illegal applications of 3D printing in the cannabis industry.
Legal Applications of 3D Printers
The first use of 3D printing for cannabis came about as a way to produce personalized medicine and help patients get their exact dosage. A lot of people who suffer from chronic diseases or any type of cancer have been using marijuana for years to treat their conditions. And now thanks to 3D printers, they no longer need to buy medicine from pharmaceutical companies.
Their own doctors can print them out personalized doses of medicine right at home. The problem is that these drugs don’t always work, and sometimes the dose doesn’t even reach the patient. Another application of 3d printers includes producing different types of edibles. Edibles are foods that are eaten after having medicinal effects. For instance, if someone eats gummy candies, then their body will receive a quicker effect than eating a regular edible. The downside with this method is that it is not accurate and produces inconsistent results. If you eat gummy candy, you won’t feel anything until later. You would have to eat the entire batch to avoid wasting money.
Illegal Applications of 3D Printers
This brings us to the second segment of cannabis 3d printing. The production of fake pot. Most states around the world have some sort of laws regarding marijuana. But now, thanks to 3D printers and advanced software, it’s easier than ever before to make fake pot. There’s nothing stopping anyone from making fake pot, except for the fact that it’s against the law.
Why 3D Printing used?
- Production of medical devices There is no doubt that 3D printed medical devices help save lives. One example of these lifesaving tools is the 3D printed ear replacement device that was developed by Dr. Anthony Atala at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine. This tool helps people who have lost their ears to cancer or accidents. It is designed to be a cheaper alternative to current treatments. Another application of this technology is the production of medical implants that serve to replace damaged or diseased bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. 3D printers are being used to create bone scaffolds and prosthetics for patients undergoing reconstructive surgery after accidents, cancer removal surgeries or limb amputation. There is also a need for 3D printing of soft tissue, organs, cartilage, skin, and blood vessels.
- Customized products With 3D printing, anyone can produce any product they want. You don’t have to rely on mass manufacturing to get what you want. A lot of companies use 3D printing in order to customize certain parts for their customers. This can range from custom-made shoes to customized jewelry. Companies make custom-designed products and then print them out. As long as you have the right design files, you can now print anything you want!
- Cost efficiency One of the biggest advantages of 3D printing is its cost effectiveness. When compared to traditional manufacturing methods, the cost per item produced is much less expensive. In addition, the time taken to produce items using 3D printers is significantly lower than traditional manufacturing techniques. These factors contribute to the fact that 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular. Even though the price of 3D printers may seem high, the amount of money spent in comparison to the amount of money saved makes the investment worthwhile.
- Time efficiency Because 3D printers can produce objects quickly, they are also highly time effective. Traditional manufacturing requires lots of manpower and equipment to produce the same number of items. 3D printers do not require constant monitoring and require minimal labor. Because of this, 3D printers are able to produce and deliver a higher quantity of goods within a given period of time than traditional manufacturing methods.
- Quality assurance In recent years, many industries have shifted away from outsourcing and toward internalizing processes and operations. This trend has led to increased focus on quality control. The same thing applies to 3D printing. Printing is a relatively new industry, so manufacturers still struggle to find good ways to ensure quality. However, as the industry matures, standards will become established and quality control measures will improve.
- Creativity Another advantage of 3D printing is that it enables designers to explore creative solutions to problems that cannot be solved with conventional designs. Designers can experiment with different options in order to achieve innovative results that would otherwise be impossible. 3D printing is constantly changing and advancing, making it possible to solve complex issues through creativity.
- Environmentally conscious With 3D printing comes environmental concerns. Since ink cartridges are replaced regularly, the overall usage of ink becomes significantly smaller. Also, since there is no waste involved, the recycling and reusing of materials is easier. If the end result could be reused, then printing would be considered recyclable or reusable instead. Overall, 3D printing is a great way to reduce waste and pollution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 3D printers are amazing tools that have the potential to change the future of everything. From manufacturing to medicine, there’s really nothing it cannot do. If you like this article share it with your friends and for further queries just comment below now.
