Looking back, transformative technologies such as the steam engine, the light bulb or even the atomic energy used to be the most innovative at that time. However, nowadays, society moves extremely fast when it comes to developing new technologies and thus, digital tools which yesterday were useful and innovative, today are not any longer. In short, new technologies such as 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing (AM) are gaining momentum, and this has the potential to revolutionize the world.
But what is 3D Printing? 3D Printing is the process by means of which some materials, for instance: plastic, glass, concrete, metal, etc., are joined or solidified due to the use of a computer control which creates three-dimensional objects. Moreover, the products are created from the bottom-up by adding one cross-sectional layer at a time. Nonetheless, the first step of this process is to create the object, on the one hand, by a computer-aided design (CAD) software, or on the other hand, to scan an existing mechanism. Afterwards, the printer will create the object, layer by layer, by the chosen placement of material. It will be after the layer is completed that the Z-stage lowers the build platform by one layer thickness, initiating the deposition of the subsequent layer.
3D Printing has directly impacted on the production of automobile components, aircraft components, custom orthodontics and custom hearing aids. More precisely, 3D Printing is particularly valuable as it creates complex shapes that cannot be produced by any other means. Not only does it require a low level of operator expertise, but also the object created complies with the designer’s aim. Besides, 3D Printing is a single tool process which helps to reduce the waste as the material used in this process is added layer by layer, meaning that just the material amount needed in the production will be used.
Therefore, 3D Printing can be considered to accomplish a sustainable development process. In other words, 3D Printing can be described as ‘a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’” (WCED 1987). Furthermore, this process that creates three dimensional objects, is able “to generate new forms of consumption, lifestyles, social education and collective behaviours—the so-called culture of Sustainability” (Manzini 2003).
In conclusion, as stated at the very beginning of this article, 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing (AM) are gaining momentum, and this has the potential to revolutionize the world. It is because of this fact that it is time to make use of it and reduce the transportation and manufacturing carbon footprint, decrease the energy required for the production of a product or even eliminate the excess or unsold production together with the costs of storing inventory. As stated by Manzini, Jégou, et al., (2003), 3D Printing “can produce significant innovations and impacts both in industry and in informal sustainable oriented contexts”.
References:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42454-020-00009-9
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/101711_ACUS_3DPrinting.PDF