3D Printing: Fantasy or Future?
Remember that "Shaka Laka Boom Boom Pencil"? 3D printing has made this fantasy a reality. Will it survive?
Fantasies of yesterday have become technology of today.
Remember, back in the days when all of us wanted to own that “Shaka Laka Boom Boom Pencil”? After all, wouldn’t it be cool if you just draw something and it comes to life?
Well, this insane idea came to life even before the Shaka Laka Boom Boom Pencil did; A technique that could print objects at the click of a button- Yes. 3D Printing was invented way back in the 1980s.
This new technology was termed “additive manufacturing.” It works by visualizing the object in several layers or slices whose thickness goes down to 0.1mm. The layers are then added, by melting the material as it passes through the filament (heating coil), which is pushed through a nozzle. The layers are added one after the other, bringing the object to life.
But, there are other technologies which can make objects too, right? How is 3D printing different?
Well, the previous technologies operated on a removal method (subtractive technology) - You take a wooden block and convert it into an object by chiseling away the parts that you don’t want. 3D printing not only saves valuable tangible resources, but saves labour as well.
Since its advent, the technology has been used for printing human body parts, jewellery, aircraft parts and even 3D printing machines themselves. The applications are endless. And why just earth, 3D printing is going to space as well, with Zero-gravity printing machines and 3D printed food!
The worldwide market for 3D printing products and services was valued at around USD 13 billion in 2020. The industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of more than 26 percent between 2022 and 2024.
And now, a few days back, India printed its first 3D printed house. Several other countries have also come up with 3D printed houses by now. In fact, Dubai plans 25% of its buildings to be 3D printed by 2030! What’s more?
3D printed houses (an avg 2000-sq ft home) can be made in as little as 5 days, and reduce labour cost by 80%. This technology generates only 1/3rd of the waste as compared to traditional building methods. And, these houses can last upto 50-60 years! (Tweet this!)
The tech, sure, will revolutionize the world in ways we cannot imagine. But, all of this sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, let’s flip over this coin.
The technology, if adopted at scale, can lead to mass unemployment. In India alone, the construction industry employs 50mn people.
Wait. Before we stitch elaborate dreams for the future, let’s think about the past. This technology has been around for over 3 decades, and it still hasn’t boomed despite having potential. Why?
Well, let’s not forget, what is it that we are replacing. The things around us are brought to us by complex and elaborate supply chains. Furniture, aircrafts, houses are built by several varieties of material. Various parts are manufactured at different places. Then, they are brought together and worked upon to build a product. If tech envisions to reduce all this to the click of a button, don’t you think it will have to be very detailed? Detailed enough to make a safe to use and functional product?
So, that is why it took time for the idea to develop. From its nascent stage to a full-fledged technology.
Though, this process of refinement is not over yet. Building houses that are safe to live in is a milestone that we have achieved. But, achieving this at scale is a problem that is yet to be solved.
So, is 3D printing just another fantasy, or, is it the way things are going to be built in the future?
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