Imagine a future
in which you can print a solid object using your computer. A future in which we can have tangible goods
delivered to us on our computer desktops through the internet. And a future in
which we can skip the activities of mass pre-production and stock holding by
turning virtual reality into hard reality. Such a future may sound something
out of science fiction. The replicator in Star Trek.
Yes! Such thing is a reality now. It's called 3D Printing.
Why print in
3D? When Johannes Gutenberg invented the
printing press about 560 years ago, he paved revolutionary way in the
transformation of knowledge, learning and communication.
However, the printing press which prints in 2
Dimensional (2D), is limited by what we visually see. We can not touch or manipulate in a physical way of what was printed. Then a question asked - Can you build
something just by printing? Well that is
possible only in 3D form.
What is 3D
Printing? Essentially 3D printing is the process of making 3-dimensional
objects (physical objects) of any shape by adding material layer by layer. Another term for 3D Printing is Additive
Manufacturing.
