3D printer, description and its applications
3D printer is a special type of printer used for printing objects in their three dimensions. An innovation in thousands of sectors.
This kind of printer is designed to build up models of various objects layer by layer. The process of creating objects in this printer is known as 3D printing or in more technical terms prototyping.
A 3D printer can be used to print anything that you can imagine under planet earth for as long as you can be able to come up with the template of the item in the computer using a special program referred to as 3D Computer Aided Design Software.
Mostly, the materials used in a 3D printer are either plastic or metallic and each layer of the material contains powder, liquid and obviously the sheet materials. The layers of the materials are made to fuse upon other layers until the desired object is finally created.
3D printers find their applications in almost all sectors. Some of these uses include:
The technology of 3D printing is used by non-profit corporation defense units to print firearms, especially guns.
It is used to print Acoustic Guitar; this is printed using plastic material and metallic cover for the sound hole and heel joint. Not only guitars can be printed using 3D printing technology, but other fully functional musical instruments can also be made from this printer.
It is used to make a camera lens; a 3D printer can be used to design and print unique and creative camera lens. These are fully functional lens.
Mass customization: 3D printers have enabled companies to create customer tailored cases for their mobile phones. For instance, Nokia has allowed customers to have their phone cases printed in 3D designs.
Aerospace: 3D printers have been used to print parts of aircraft. A good example in point is the Tornado parts that were printed by BAE Systems in 2013 using 3D printing. The plane flew successfully.
Domestic use: 3D printers have gained a lot of use in making domestic objects such as ornaments and clocks.
Medicine: 3D printers are used in the medicine industry to print various devices needed for medical use and implant purposes.
In communication: 3D printers are used to print devices which serve as bends, waveguides and couplers.
Environmental use: 3D technology has found its way in creating unique artificial structures which almost resemble coral reefs and sandstones.
Educational and research use: students and other researchers are able to create prototypes of the actual models using less expensive materials and tools. For instance, museum fossils can be easily created in class for purposes of study.
Used in architecture for printing house projects. This has been successfully done in places like Amsterdam.
Used in automobiles to print car bodies.
3D printing has been used extensively in interior design, art and art design.
In fashion, 3D printers are used to produce clothes, bikinis and dresses.
-Used in chemistry: for instance, in 2012 UK demonstrated very clearly that it was possible to print chemical compounds using 3D printing technology.