Food, human organs, rockets...

3D printing is extending to many fields

【World Tide of Science and Technology Innovation】

◎ Liu Xia, reporter of this newspaper

The 3D printing process refers to the autonomous "printing" of successive layers of soft, liquid or powdery materials by machines, which rapidly harden or fuse to form three-dimensional solid objects. Since its advent in the 20s of the 80th century, 3D printing technology has made great progress and is widely used in manufacturing, medical, aerospace and other fields. Scientists have used 3D printing technology to print rockets, food, and even 3D print biological materials directly in the human body.

The US business and technology blog website techdee.com pointed out in a recent report that with the further development of technology, 3D printing will continue to play an important role in many fields, and its six major development trends may affect and change the world.

Change the face of space travel

Since sending 2014D printers to the ISS in 3, NASA has been conducting 3D printing experiments in space, using 3D printers to create a variety of objects needed for the ISS.

For the first time on the International Space Station, Russian cosmonauts used a 3D printing mechanism to make the parts needed for space work - camera mounts.

The advent of 3D printers allows astronauts to print the parts and tools they need directly from space, without waiting for "shipments" from Earth.

In addition, in the microgravity environment of space, 3D printed biological organs and tissues mature faster and more efficiently than on Earth, and scientists are expected to print human organs on the International Space Station with the help of 3D printing technology.

Meet precision medicine needs

Biological (organ) printing technology has the potential to change the world. Bioprinting involves the use of 3D printing technology to create biological structures such as human tissues and organs, and although the technology is still in its early stages, it is already showing attractive promise, driven by "real human needs."

In the future, bioprinting could eliminate the need for donated organs. For example, in June last year, a regenerative medicine manufacturing company in the United States announced that a 6-year-old woman born with dysplasia in her right ear had transplanted an ear 20D printed from her own cells. According to the company, this is the first known example of a 3D printed organ made from living tissue, which could lead to more complex livers, kidneys and pancreas in the future. In addition, bioprinting allows doctors to print personalized medicines for specific patients.

Bio-3D printing is also beginning to move deeper into the human body. Australian engineers have developed a miniature soft robotic arm that can 3D print biomaterials directly onto human organs, and doctors in the future are expected to deliver the device into hard-to-reach areas of the human body through small skin incisions, streamlining future medical procedures and accelerating disease cures.

Development of a completely new aircraft rocket

The aerospace industry has long been using 3D printing for prototyping and production, and this trend will continue to grow in 2023.

NASA, for example, has built rocket engines with the help of 3D printing, which could lead to more efficient and cost-effective space travel. The US private space company "Relativity" even made the first 3D printing rocket "Terran One". Terran One is 33.5 meters tall, 85% of its components are 3D printed, and even the rocket's engine is made of 3D printing technology. In the future, 3D printing technology may be able to develop a completely new type of aircraft to revolutionize the aerospace industry.

Create personalized meals

Food printing represents a relatively new development trend in the field of 3D printing technology.

The Columbia University research team published a paper in the journal npj Food Science that their 3D printer used seven ingredients: whole grain crackers, peanut butter, hazelnut chocolate sauce, mashed banana, strawberry jam, cherry syrup and frosting to make cheesecake. The research team believes that laser cooking and 7D printing of food can allow chefs to concentrate aromas and textures on millimeter-scale scales to create new food experiences.

In the future, food printing may become a common way to create personalized meals, for example, restaurants can use food printing technology to create a meal specifically for a customer.

Improve the ability of educational innovation

3D printing technology has gained fame, and educational institutions are actively embracing the technology, not only as a curriculum but also as a valuable and sustainable educational tool. For example, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Virginia Tech in the United States have opened 3D printing courses.

Fostering and promoting creativity is one of the most significant advantages of integrating 3D printing into education. 3D printing technology allows students to transform their ideas into tangible objects, use these objects to learn faster and more effectively, and modify ideas at any time, not just abstract concepts. 3D printing can be used in science education, allowing students to create models of molecules, cells, and other biological structures on their own, giving them hands-on learning experiences. 3D printing also offers many opportunities to aid interdisciplinary learning.

Customized fashion products

In addition, 3D printing technology allows people to mass-produce customized products that traditional manufacturing methods cannot achieve, which will bring a series of new opportunities to industries such as fashion, healthcare, and consumer goods.

At the Paris Fashion Week show in February this year, from the derby shoes of the haute couture fashion brand Dior to the platform shoes of the Danish fashion brand Rains, people saw a variety of 2D printed shoes, indicating that 3D printing technology is shining in footwear and even fashion.