3D printing is one of the modern technologies that is arguably still flying under the radar when compared to other technologies such as cryptocurrency and AI. But it’s a technology with limitless potential. With that in mind, here are four rather unexpected areas in which 3D printing could be revolutionary.
Healthcare
There is a genuine parallel between the worlds of science fiction and real life when it comes to healthcare. Medical professionals have already started 3D printing replacement organs and prosthetics and they are even being used to print bespoke tools for surgeons and field doctors.
In the near future, it will be seen as perfectly normal to have a 3D printed skin graft and in the further future, you might even be able to 3D print a working human heart. This would also lead to much faster transplants which could save many lives.
Custom apparel
Being able to print your own garments could not only allow people to design and print their own clothes without having to learn how to sew but it could represent a bold new frontier for industry too. For example, companies would be able to print their own custom workwear to exact specifications and even print custom safety footwear for situations where it might be necessary.
This will not only save funds, in the long run, but will help contribute to a company’s negative environmental footprint, as they could be recycled as other garments after use.
Homes for everyone
3D-printed homes might sound farfetched, but many companies have already started experimenting with the technology when it comes to creating small, prefabricated buildings. The Vulcan II home engineered by California startup New Story can be built in under 24 hours using a gigantic 3D printer and for a fraction of the cost of building a brand-new home.
In China, meanwhile, the Winsun company can build a home for less than $5,000 out of 100% recycled materials. The resulting homes are not only safe but could technically last even longer than homes built by traditional means.
Food production
Imagine being able to pop into the kitchen and 3D print yourself a pizza from scratch in minutes. Granted, we’re not quite there yet but the technology is certainly getting there. The ability to 3D print edible treats is already being tested in restaurants and labs across the world thanks to companies such as Sushi Singularity.
The fact you can use leftovers to create brand new 3D printed meals also means you could potentially use the technology to feed the homeless. There’s even the potential of using insects to create edible 3D printed food in the near future, though we appreciate that might still be a bridge too far for some pickier eaters.
