3D printers have the potential to revolutionize our lives, expanding from printing simple objects to a wide range of materials and industries. But they also pose a number of challenges, including piracy, copyright infringement, and firearms production, that need to be addressed.
What is a 3D printer?
A 3D printer is exactly what it sounds like: a machine that creates three-dimensional objects from 3D drawings. Initially, it was used to print simple sculptures using thermoplastics as a material, but with the advantage that anyone with a core file such as a design drawing can easily create an object, it has gradually expanded to various materials such as paper, concrete, and metal, and has been used in various industries such as architecture and design. 3D printers have a surprisingly early history, starting with 3D Systems co-founder Charles Hill in 1983, who invented and patented the SLA (stereolithography additive manufacturing) machine in 1986, and evolving through the growth of companies. Although 3D printers have many limitations with current technology and are not expected to be economically profitable, looking to the future, the potential for profitability and applications are endless, and many companies are investing and researching.
How 3D printers work
3D printers are utilized in a number of ways, but the one we’re most familiar with is additive manufacturing, which hasn’t changed much since it was developed in the 1980s and involves creating objects by jetting raw materials in liquid or fine powder form through a nozzle. The 3D printer cuts the object into layers, spreads them out horizontally, and then places new layers on top of them vertically to complete the object. A computer microscopically analyzes the object and creates data in the form of a thin film, which the printer sprays onto a nozzle. When one layer is finished, the nozzle moves up to receive and jet the next layer of data, and the process is repeated to build the object from the bottom to the top. The thinner the layers in this method, the more precise they can be. Sophisticated use of this material also allows for color printing, and if you want to create a rainbow of colors, you can stack them in sequentially changing colors. This additive sculpting method has the advantage of being able to create objects with complex shapes, but it’s time-consuming to create large cross-sections or tall objects because you have to build them layer by layer. Another method is to create objects by chipping away at large chunks of material with a rounded blade. This method creates the desired structure, much like an artist sculpting, and has the advantage of being able to create curved parts or smooth surfaces better than additive manufacturing. However, it has limitations such as being very wasteful of material for thin or fine objects and difficult to create internal structures such as cavities. It can only print in one color, which limits its use in certain applications.
Advantages of 3D printing
In 2012, the World Economic Forum (WEF) named 3D printers as one of the top 10 technologies of the future, and futurist Jeremy Rifkin predicted that 3D printers will be at the heart of the third industrial revolution. 3D printers are so popular because of their high productivity in prototyping. They are economically valuable because they can produce as many products as needed on the fly using inexpensive materials. Therefore, their most effective use is in areas that require rapid prototyping. By making an exact replica of what you envisioned before mass production, you can find problems and fix them quickly. You can also test mechanical parts to make sure they work as theorized, or model airplanes or ships to make sure they perform properly. For engineering industries that use 3D programs to design in three dimensions, it’s great to be able to print prototypes right away. It’s also useful when you need small quantities of a product. While traditional production lines require minimum quantities, 3D printers can produce only what you need, making your material costs more efficient.
Second, it’s self-sufficient. If 3D printer technology is democratized, even the average homeowner can make their own clothes or appliances based on 3D designs. This means that transaction costs and processes can be drastically reduced. For example, you could see an item you like on TV, shop around, buy it, and wait for it to be delivered. If 3D printers were in every home, you could save these costs and time by making what you need yourself. Third, you can pack less when traveling. If you’re traveling to a faraway place and you only have a 3D program of the item you need, you can easily make it locally on a 3D printer. In fact, NASA is studying carrying 3D printers and powdered materials on board to repair parts needed for long-distance space travel, such as Mars missions. Even for offshore structures, it takes a lot of budget to transport the products or parts needed, but if you can set up a 3D printer and make them right on site, it can be a huge cost and time advantage. These benefits of 3D printers are being hailed as revolutionary, as they could significantly change our lives, and by eliminating the process of shipping products, we can maximize both economic benefits and efficiency.
The challenges of 3D printing
With so many possibilities, 3D printers are also expected to pose challenges. The first issue that comes to mind is piracy and copyright infringement. Currently, copyright law protects intellectual property (creative works) that have no physical form, but when 3D printers become ubiquitous, intellectual property is instantly transformed into physical property. Anyone with data and a printer can make someone else’s product for the cost of materials and electricity. For example, if I sell the 3D print data for a bag I designed, a buyer can purchase the plans or print rights to make the bag at home. However, if the print data is compromised through a data hack, it could be used for mass reproduction with malicious intent. These issues apply not only to simple products, but also to complex designs that require technical skills. Even today, blueprints and materials are heavily protected, but in the case of 3D printers, the problem can be even more acute because the design data is all that is needed for production. Of course, there will be legislation and increased security at the company level, but it won’t solve the underlying problem.
The second issue is the risk of creating weapons such as illegal firearms. If 3D printer technology improves in the future and becomes capable of making firearms, anyone can download the plans from the internet and make an illegal firearm. In the US, 3D printed guns do exist, but durability issues make them less practical. Currently, guns made of plastic can explode when fired and are not economically efficient, making it cost prohibitive to make them properly with a 3D printer. Additionally, gunpowder, a key component of a gun, cannot be made with a 3D printer, and making gunpowder is a laborious process that requires a national organization or lab. However, as 3D printer technology improves, these limitations will likely be overcome. In a country like South Korea, where gun ownership is illegal, the ability to create firearms with 3D printers could pose a serious security issue. A 3D printed firearm would be untraceable and disposable, making it highly valuable as an illegal weapon. This could increase the likelihood of crime, and countries would need to be vigilant and put systems in place.
Conclusion
3D printers have a myriad of uses and have the potential to bring about industrial revolutionary changes when they become more widely available. The technological advancement of 3D printers will completely change our lives and will become a tool for better living. Of course, it will also bring with it a variety of problems, including job issues, increased polarization, and more. Therefore, in order to reap the full benefits of 3D printers, we must recognize their problems and limitations at the national and individual levels and take measures to counteract them. The future in the next 10 or 20 years may be completely different from the present.
