In the late 1970s, the first inkjet printer was invented, but it wasn’t until the late ’80s that the printer was widely used by consumers for personal use. By the ’90s, Hewlett-Packard released the LaserJet4 — the first laser printer with 600-by-600 dpi (dots per inch) resolution. More than a decade later, 3D printing is topping the market.
Created by 75-year-old Chuck Hull, executive vice president and chief technology officer of 3D Systems in 1983, 3D printing has been utilized by college professors, popular companies such as Nike and Adidas, and makeup startups.
So exactly how does it work?
The result of 3D printing converts a digital file into a solid object using additive processes. “In an additive process, an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the entire object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object,” according to 3Dprinting.com.
Following are ways companies and individuals are taking full advantage of 3D printing:
Saving lives
In early October, doctors from the University of Michigan’s CS Mott Children’s Hospital used 3D-printed models of a fetus’s face after discovering a walnut-sized lump in utero that could have prevented the baby from breathing. According to the Tech Times, “doctors performed a special magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure on baby Conan while (he was) inside the womb of his mother. The captured images were then printed using a 3D printer to come up with a model of the fetus’s face. Through this, the doctors were able to know the exact location and potential hazards of the soft tissue mass.”
The case study from American Academy of Pediatrics said the 3D model allowed doctors to see the mass was isolated to the baby’s lip and jaw, and would likely not affect the baby’s breathing. Doctors then used that information to rule out the need for fetal surgery — which would have involved surgically removing the fetus from the mother’s uterus, treating the mass, then putting the fetus back in the womb to await its due date.
Print your way to marriage
Trove, a New York-based startup created by Brian Park, hopes to advance the technology of 3D printing by incorporating it in custom jewelry production. Thirty base designs of jewelry are available through an online catalog where customers can design customized rings, bracelets and necklaces. After Trove approves the design, a prototype is shipped to the customer to ensure proper fit, and once the customer approves the final design, they can choose to receive their design in gold, silver, bronze or brass. Products start at $50 at Troveup.com.
Got Mink?
Mink, created by Cornell University and Harvard Business School graduate Grace Choi, is the world’s first printer that prints makeup. Mink “can take any image and instantly transform it into a wearable color cosmetic, turning any phone, camera or laptop into an endless beauty aisle,” as stated by the company website. How does it work? Once a specific hue is found on the Internet or in the real world, users locate the color’s hex code using computer programs such as Photoshop or Paint. Once the code is discovered and is set to print using Mink, the device prints a pigment of FDA-approved ink onto raw materials used for powder, cream or gel makeups.
Goodbye botched surgery
For those interested in cosmetic surgery but worried about the horror stories or something seen on an episode of “Botched” on E!, 3D printing technology could ease the fears. MirrorMe3D, in partnership with 3D Systems, will provide patient-specific before-and-after models for clients to view themselves from all angles and to share with family and friends. Prospective patients upload three 2D images and receive models of their “after” look.
