The New Industrial Revolution

The age of custom, on demand manufacturing is nearly here. 3D printers are officially for sale to the public. With the ability to design or download plans and print nearly anything (within some material and size restrictions), production is about to change for everyone, from folks in the DIY crafter community to the global manufacturing industry.

A 3D printer produces three-dimensional objects by building them up (additive manufacturing) in layers. A common raw material in 3D printing is plastic, but it could be metal or even living cells, and the printer deposits material as dictated by computer modeling software.

3D printers could empower people in maker communities to conceive of and create complex works of art, tools, or components for robotics projects. Inventors could use this technology for rapid prototyping. Any person could print objects like cooking utensils or a custom pair of shoes. After use, if the item is no longer needed, it may be able to be recycled into raw material for the next printing.

This technology is not on the horizon. It’s here. Early last year, doctors and the University of Michigan used a CT scan to develop a model and then designed and printed a custom implant (after getting emergency clearance from the FDA) that saved a baby’s life. We’ve only begun to realize the medical potential of 3D printing, but some see a dark side to the technology. Recently, Defense Distributed developed a 3D printed gun, leading to the widespread distribution of plans that could allow anyone with access to a 3D printer to create firearms inexpensively and outside of regulation.

Some speculate that 3D printing could have economic consequences for traditional fabricators. While 3D printers could impact segments of the manufacturing industry by localizing some production, traditional manufacturing will still be more cost effective for producing much of what we use. Traditional manufacturing infrastructure is in place and production speeds are greater. It would be unusual and unfortunate if we were to abandon previous technologies with every new invention. Also, it’s unlikely that many individuals will decide they need an industrial 3D printer to make spare parts for their 2002 Honda Civic. How 3D printing affects patent and copyright laws will likely be more dramatic than its impact on industrial manufacturing.

The manufacturing industry will not be undone, but it may need to change and it may be able to take advantage of an individual’s access to a 3D printer. A company could sell you eyeglass lenses and provide you with the blueprints for a variety of frames that fit those lenses.

As with most things, between the utopian and the dystopian, you’ll discover the true use for new technologies. This reality is probably best exemplified by the printed figurine of the sad Keanu meme, a 3D realization of an image of Keanu Reeves eating what must have been a disappointing sandwich.