2020 will go down in history as the year of the coronavirus pandemic, an authentic upheaval that has shaken the foundations of the world from a health, economic and social perspective. And, since the pandemic began, the lives of many of us have been practically affected by actions and habits that have never been experienced before, and that would have sounded like a science fiction movie just a few months ago.
From mandatory mask use to social distancing and working from home for millions of people, not to mention being in detention for a few months. But the crisis caused by the pandemic has touted the value of certain technologies that may have previously gone unnoticed by us. With that in mind, one of the technologies that was revealed to be particularly useful was that of three-dimensional printing.
At critical moments of the health crisis, 3D printers have helped to print a wide variety of essential items quickly and with an excellent ratio between the quality of the final product and its manufacturing price. We’re talking about protectors for medical staff, gloves, visors or even respirators for hospitals.
At a time when public health systems did not know or could not foresee the magnitude of the spread of the pandemic, with hospitals on the verge of collapse and the lack of basic elements for health workers, 3D printing helped The arena has in A relief cap was launched in record time with approved products that have passed the relevant quality tests at very reasonable prices and that took very little time to manufacture. The latter aspect is of particular importance given the urgency of the demand for these products.
The development of three-dimensional printing
Although it may surprise us, 3D printing technology was born and took its first steps in the early 80s of the last century. At this point, various international companies – particularly in the United States – began their first steps in the development of 3D printers and patented the models that resulted from the constant progress of their research.
However, we can confirm that the actual development and commercialization of this technology has taken place in the last decade and has only consolidated itself in recent years as a really viable alternative to the use of other so-called conventional technologies. So much so that it’s fair to say that 3D printing is the future that becomes an urgent present. And while it’s almost in its infancy, its implantation has just begun in an overwhelming way. 3D printing will change many of the concepts associated with series production in every industry and therefore in our lives in the coming decades.
3D printers are already prepared for a real technological challenge that will cause us to rethink our current production model in a future that is already among us and will stay here. The possible effects on our industry, our society or our footprint on the environment are certainly only comparable in proportion to what the invention of the steam engine in the 19th century brought with it, which ultimately called the implementation of the industrial revolution.
We are witnessing the birth of a new era in which this technology will enable us to three-dimensionally print virtually any object that meets our needs. And it won’t just be companies who have and use technology, but each of us will have the ability to print items from home in a relatively simple and inexpensive way. We are not only talking about simple and simple objects, but also much greater complexity such as a car or even a house. We can say that the 3D printer is becoming just another household appliance in our homes, like a refrigerator or a microwave.
How 3D printing works and what advantages it has
If the concept is summarized in a basic and understandable way for most of us, the final product that results from its manufacture using 3D printing is the result of the transplantation of the product or object into virtual computer design (CAD) plans that The three-dimensional printer plan is used as a guide or sample throughout the printing process.
A CAD construction computer file format should be used that defines the geometry of this object. Materials that can bind and layer the product must then be placed in a construction form in the printer. The end result in this process is a three-dimensional printed object.
Although – as I said – it will take some time before 3D printing is fully integrated into our lives, the race is already underway with more than promising results. Before that, however, this process has to overcome the barriers and corsets that characterize our current economic model. However, no expert doubts that the implementation of 3D printers already plays a role and, above all, will play a fundamental role in the emergence of a new technological age, the limits of which are not yet fully defined. An implementation that implies an important mutation and change in the current production models in aspects that are just as important as the reduction of production costs.
This will lead to a gradual transition from a so-called scaled economy to a decentralized economy.
This decentralization of the economy will, among other things, mean a return to a local model of production. Among other things, 3D printing will also lead to a drastic reduction in the amount of industrial waste and garbage in our production centers, our cities and communities. Another potential benefit would be independence from transporting a commodity from a geographically distant point, which would greatly reduce the planet’s air pollution.
The culture of recycling and reusing everyday products would also benefit greatly from the expansion of three-dimensional printing. And one of the most tangible benefits possible will be the differentiating fact that our bags would benefit from this technology too, as the cost and production cost of many essential items, including access to quality and decent housing, has decreased significantly in a generalized manner.
A new industrial revolution that would bring together a global process of wealth redistribution unmatched in our history.
