Do you remember the amazing device that materialized solid objects, in this case food in the Star Trek TV Show? It was supposed to put together subatomic particles from recycled material to recreate a physical product on voice commands. "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." It was the favorite hot beverage from the Captain of The Enterprise, Jean Luc Picard.
I am not a Trekkie level fan but I do like the series. Back on the replicator, I have found a great technology available to everybody these days that creates solid objects out of computer coordinates. It is called 3D printer.
A 3D(tri-dimensional) printer, is similar to a 2D(bi-dimensional) printer. While 2D prints X and Y (Long and width), a 3D prints X, Y and Z (Long, Width and Height ). There are many videos showing how this technology works and shows the finished product.
If this wasn't enough amazing, the solid object is created in colors and if it is an object with many parts, it comes out already assembled. For instance, one of the most amazing examples of the 3D printer, is when they print a solid chain with all the links connected. Even a motorcycle chain, with all the parts moves exactly as the original object.
Teamed up with a 3D scanner, which takes a 3D impression of any object, this is something that really seems to defy reality. There is another example where they print a human head with all the original colors, and when they 3D print it, it looks incredibly accurate. Even the eyes come out with color.
The software used to create 3D models is the same used to create 3D renderings and common 3D models. Tools like AutoCad, 3D Studio Max, SketchUp, Inventor, Mechanical Desktop, Maya, Vector Works and many more, are able to create models that might function natively with a 3D printer.
There is a company called Sweet Onion Creations that have a great example on how to take an existing building from the Google SketchUp model and they would print it in a small scale. For Architecture, this technology saves thousands of dollars and months of hard work on modeling and mock ups for their projects. Although, industrial designers are the most happy people because of this technology.
The prices to get one of this miracle makers vary from USDK to more than K each. However, there are some creative guys making their own home made 3D printers. I guess that as any new technology, will reduce the price as soon as the product becomes a desktop tool.
How does it work? Well, although it seems like a science fiction device, the way it works is pretty simple: There is a printer with an special glue that will print on layers of section cuts of the 3D model. Instead of paper, it prints on a polymer based powder that layer by layer, solidifies the powder. At the end of the process, the remaining powder is blown away with an air compressor pistol or a brush. And it is ready to go.
It sounds very simple, but not many people thought of that, just like most of the greatest ideas. The ability of automatized machines to create 3D objects out of 3D digital models is not new of course. There are many CNC devices that carves into metal for mechanical precision tasks, but nothing like this 3D printer. About accuracy, CNC is still the king but this 3D printing technology is just starting.
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