10 3D Printer Usages
3D printers are now becoming popular in various industries.Are you curious about what 3D printing is and what it can be used for? This article aims to introduce you to the basics of 3D printing and show you some potential applications for it. Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, 3D printing has potential to help you create models, prototypes, and even final products. Keep reading to learn more!
It’s of importance to mention that 3D printing technology has been in the market for over 25 years; however, the incredible uses of 3D printing have become popular in recent years. With the help of the 3D printer industry, businesses can cut their cost, develop and produce deliverables using new methods, and increase production. You can find 3D printers everywhere, from schools, architecture offices to large manufacturing industries. According to a survey, $12.6 billion is estimated till 2022, and it is projected to be $34.8 billion by the end of 2026; this data is continuing to increase.
In this article, we will share the top ten uses of 3D printers. But before that, it’s important to discuss the best 3D printing software.
Which is the Best Software for Use in 3D Printers?
There are a lot of 3D printing software available, each having their pros and cons. To 3D print, one usually needs a 3D modeling software to prepare 3D models and a 3D slicing software to generate the g-code which is a file format understood by a 3D printer. In most cases, one usually prepare their 3d models in one program then the design is exported to an external software for 3D slicing, however, with the program like SelfCAD, users can be able to 3D design as well as prepare their designs for 3D printing all under a single program without having to switch to other software and that’s why it’s becoming popular among 3D printing hobbyists and professionals in various industries.
SelfCAD is easy to use and the tools are well arranged in the interface and one can get started very easily. There are various powerful tools like the freehand drawing and sketching tools. There are modification tools like the chamfer, fillet, extrusion, simplify object and many others. You can also turn images to 3D models using the image to 3D tool and not forgetting about the powerful rendering tool that allows you to generate realistic renders of your designs.
All the designs created in SelfCAD are 3D printable as they work directly on the mesh and hence you don’t need to worry about having 3D printing errors. The software also has an in-built slicer to help you slice your design within the program. You can either use SelfCAD online or you can download the desktop version for Windows or Mac.
Having looked at the best 3D printing software, let’s now have a look at 10 uses of a 3D printer.
Ten Industries Where 3D printers are Used
- Architecture and engineering
- Maritime Industry
- Health and Medical sectors
- Food industries
- Education and Skill development
- Jewelry
- Fashion industry
- Industrial parts
- Electronics
- Robotics and mechanics
1. Architecture and Engineering
3D printed architecture. Image source: Rethinkingthefuture
Architecture has never been easy until the introduction of 3D printers. In the initial phase of the project, you need to design a replica, and with the help of a 3D printer, you can produce a demo that is the same as the actual structure. Professional architects understand the paramount importance of accurate structure scaling of tangible models. With the help of 3D printers, they can visualize their clients’ needs with the replica of the model and what their future design looks like.
The conventional architecture process was lethargic, costly, time-consuming, and required dexterous hands. But with the help of 3D printers, you can create any complex design in a fraction of time, cost-effectively, with accurate and durable models.
2. Maritime Industry
People inspecting a 3D printed boat. Image source:3dprint.com
Maritime industry is another industry in which 3D printers are used.The industry has found 3D printing technology very useful for bringing great developmental innovation. Maritime sectors have started to make their equipment with the help of this additive manufacturing device and incorporated 3D printing for military applications. Day by day, this industry is vividly expanding its use of 3D printers and adapting them for its multipurpose uses.
3. Health and medical sector
3D printing an arm. Image source: Futurity.org
3D printers have special use in the health and medical sector. From Audiology, prosthesis, dentistry, surgery to 3D printed organs, it creates enormous opportunities in the medical field. The versatility and customizations are only possible because of 3D printers. Due to the affordability of technology, you can see many consumer applications of 3D printers like custom earbuds.
Dentistry also uses 3D printed equipment to create resin-based 3D printed jaws, teeth, etc. Clear aligners, thermoformed on 3D printed molds can be made smoothly. Conventional methods are complicated to provide consistent dental objects with fine polishing. So, with the help of additive manufacturing, you can create a design with greater consistency with accuracy.
4. Food Industry:
3D printing meat. Image source: IndiaCADWorks
With the introduction of 3D printers, there is a tremendous breakthrough in the food industry. Everywhere 3D printers are revolutionizing production through better creativity and output. 3D printers are used in the food industry for manufacturing and creating food, using lasers and powder materials. There are new opportunities for food customization with the right nutrients.
5. Education and skill development:
Students and teacher inspecting 3d printed objects. Image source:Makers empire.
The education sector has seen significant growth due to 3D printers. Additive manufacturing in education has many essential uses in schools, universities, libraries, and other educational settings. Learning 3D printing has a considerable advantage in future prospects and better skill development. It increases the engagement of teacher and student subject matter, due to which students learn to solve complex problems. Different artifacts designed and created by 3D printers help students understand critical concepts and improve their creativity and design skills.
6. Jewelry:
3D printed jewelry. Image source:Instoremag.com
3D printers help jewelry designers and manufacturers develop fascinating 3D printed pieces that can not be made quickly with hands or other conventional methods because creating and casting the jewelry is challenging, costly, and time-consuming. Hence 3D printers had to come to solve all these problems. 3D printers offer the latest round of advancements with many printable materials, due to which jewelry designers now prefer 3D printers for designing.
The 3D printer creates the pieces from resin and wax, depending upon the jewelry designer, and you can easily modify and re-design your model with the help of a 3D printer.
7. Fashion Industry:
3D printing shoes. Image source:Thomasnet
3D printers also have huge advantages in the fashion industry. 3D printed pieces have a comparatively greater look and attire than conventional fashion designing. Also, it eliminates the wasting of clothes which reduces production costs marginally. The 3D printer allows fashion production on materials not crafted by human hands as well. It also eliminates waste and uses materials that are less water-intensive than cotton. A 3D printer at home can help people lessen the impact of large factories.
8. Industrial Parts:
3D printed spare parts. Image source:amfg.ai
Complex tools and parts are created by 3D printers. Industrial goods make a wide range of products, equipment, or machinery from raw materials or other components. 3D printers help the manufacturing industry create 3D printed machinery parts with accuracy in less time, reducing production costs and optimizing machine performance. If any crucial parts break, you can easily design the new one with the help of 3D printing within a fraction of time.
9. Electronics:
3d printed electronic parts. Image source: 3dprinting.com
3D printers have given great flexibility in the electronics industry. The professional 3D printer allows you to create different electronics components such as circuit board, PCB, USB stick case, and many more. 3D printing of electronics uses jetting technology to jet conductive and insulating inks on the primary surface. Initially, these inks are applied in the thin lines then ultraviolet light is used to solidify the inks. Actually, multi jetting allows you multilateral 3D printing, which is instrumental in the electronics industry. Thermoplastics are used in electronics 3D printers.
10. Robotics and Mechanics:
3D printed robot. Image credit:3dprintingindustry
3D printers have incredible robotics and machine learning applications requirements. That’s why the robotics industry is switching its work environment to 3D printers. Additive manufacturing is thriving, and robotics engineering is still finding more flexibility, performance, and precision with less cost. 3D printers facilitate prototyping, tooling, and manufacturing that lowers the costs and time to help robotics engineers accomplish their targets & goals. We can easily customize our designs for robotic applications that vary to customer requirements and optimize the designs based on research using rapid prototyping made possible by 3D printing.
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