The student news site of Hawthorne High School.

The Clarion

The student news site of Hawthorne High School.

The Clarion

The student news site of Hawthorne High School.

The Clarion

Archives

3D Printing Revolutionizes Modern Technology

A 3D printer is exactly what the name says: it prints in 3D. The first 3D printer was invented in 1984 by Charles W. Hull, according to Redorbit.com. The first printer used a stereolithography (SLA) process to print creations off of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) program. SLA liquid photopolymer is printed above a perforated platform and is then traced by a UV laser which shapes the object and additionally hardens the liquid.

Over the past 30 years, there have been multiple new ways to print in 3D other than SLA. Some such as material jetting use a light source to transform a liquid photopolymer into a solid object. Others do not start off with complete liquids, but with semi liquid that can actually print in things like chocolate, cheese and concrete and can form shape after cooling according to explainthefuture.com. From 3D sandcasting to selective heat sintering, the variation of 3D printers is endless and still developing.

The technology of the 3D printer sounds complex, but is the easiest part of the device. The physical machine is set and ready to go once the user tells the printer what to print. The user needs to create a design on a CAD program, by using a computer. Through the CAD program, an exact drawing is made by using exact pinpoints, to shape the object. Although it seems difficult, companies, such as Ponoko and Shapeways, will make the file for your creations and send it to you to print.

3D printers started off making simple objects but are now being used to make many complex items. From technology to automotive, 3D printing has found a place in just about every type of career according to designboom.com. Artists who use ceramics can now print their design for mass production for consumers, without having to hire employees or worry about degrading the quality of the craft. Medical fields can now print limbs and body parts such as noses or ears, which cost significantly less than ionic prosthetics. The possibilities are truly endless as to what can be printed with a 3D printer.

Since the release of the printer in 1984, the price has also drastically decreased. According to redorbit.com, 3D printers in 2010 were sold on average for $20,000. Now anyone can buy a similar printer for under $1,000. Additionally, the size of 3D printers has changed. Some are small enough to fit on top of a nightstand, while others weigh more than a car.