3D printing - "let's get serious" - something that "everybody" knows, but not "everyone"

I have mentioned this before - but it is still valid and fits the topic. One of my colleagues once heard from a large potential client: "Michael, start doing something serious." In a more or less clear way, we encounter such reactions several times a year. On the one hand, it shows us the potential of the whole additive world, on the other, it determines how much educational work we have to put in, to make "everyone" realize that there is no escape from #3Dprinting and "everyone" will meet it in the future.

Just toys, #prototyping , spare parts, production gauges

The rhetoric that often appears on the web, and which reaches the public most often, is aimed at decorative or even “toy” elements. Showing wonderfully printed figurines and toys - is an element that attracts young people, makes print attractive to them. In my opinion, there is a lot of it on in internet and social medias, and it often distorts the picture of real possibilities. Professional companies implementing 3D printing show more industrial applications - final parts, production guides, production aids. I wonder if this form of communication is able to expand knowledge about 3D printing, or whether it only supports the current needs and expectations of a given project. What if we looked at all of this more broadly and started showing the path we "must" follow as humanity and how 3D printing can help with that. Below, in a few points, I will try to show this “broader view” - on topics that "everybody" knows about, i.e. the superpowers of additive technology.

The first superpower of 3D printing - plastic waste is flooding the world - 3D printing can help reverse the trend

When I appeared in the world of 3D printing, I associated 3D printers only with printing from plastic. As above - I saw nice figurines, toys everywhere. Now I know that thermoplastic polymers are only a part of this world. Nevertheless, a significant part of society perceives 3D printing the same as I do in 2019. They see it through the prism of plastic that is flooding the world and destroying the environment. What if we look at it differently. After all, we can look at it from the perspective of the possibilities offered by 3D printing, not only from the side of the material. The strongest arguments are:

• Minimization of waste - this is one of the main advantages of 3D printing - in most cases the amount of material needed to print is the same as the actual weight of the #3dprint .
• 3D printing makes it possible to reuse the material, which can be freely changed into a usable material in the recycling process.
• We can create 3D printing material by using other waste – agriculture for example – by this addition we can some more than only plastic problem

Humanity is wondering what to do with excess plastic and how to give it up - which will be a difficult element to accomplish. After all, we will not replace it with wood, paper or metal - because these resources are also running out. That is why I would like us to look at 3d printing technology as one that will allow us to optimize the use of all raw materials. Imagine a production – which is created without residues, with an optimized amount of material and with the possibility of recycling and reuse in the same or a different process.

In addition, 3D printing in the current world can help get rid of the pile of plastic waste and draw it into a new life cycle - as simply getting rid of it is practically impossible without having a negative impact on the environment.

The second superpower of 3D printing - CO2 emissions that are slowly killing us - 3D printing can help reverse the trend

Many professional companies implementing 3D printing argue the need to implement 3D printing as an element that can make productions independent of external supplies. Interruptions in deliveries during the pandemic affected everyone to a greater or lesser extent. Those who had 3D printers at the time were in a privileged position. But back to the basics and how 3D printing can help. Analyzing this, we have to go back to the original idea of how 3D printing is supposed to work - its principle is simple - we transfer the digital (computer) process to the printer, which is to print it in a given way.

• Digital process performed by the printer – anywhere, anytime

How does this relate to CO2 emissions? Again, you have to look at the subject broadly and imagine how it works. A topic that is increasingly appearing on the news channels is the fight against climate change. One of the sources of CO2 emissions as the main factor is transport. It takes little imagination to realize that any 3D printed item can be digitally shipped and produced where it is needed. Transport is responsible for approx. 20-25% of CO2 emissions - of which 70% is logistics. No one has examined the share of transport of elements that can be printed - but it can be up to 50% - which is a very large piece in the balance of the goal of reducing emissions by 50% (even 10-15%). By the way – check the new UE regulation 2023/956 about “carbon border”.

It is clear that in order for this element to be implemented, it is necessary to increase knowledge about printing technology - so that it becomes a tool for "everybody". Being aware of this possibility is already the first important step.

The third superpower of 3D printing - lack of work, hunger, poor access to medical treatment - 3D printing can help reverse the trend

Reading the above, you may wonder if 3D printing is a cure for all the evils of this world. Probably not… although the potential is there. In fact, no one knows what else we will be able to do with #additivetechnology . We are already successfully printing from stem cells or cement - and everyone who is in contact with the world of 3D printing wonders what will be possible in the future. The truth is that, as in the previous points, the basis for understanding superpowers is to refer to the foundation. In the very primal, basic theory of 3D printing, the only constants are the computer (digital image) and the printer. The materials that we can print are the result of capabilities and technology. Therefore, we can easily imagine:

• Printing food from cells.
• Organ bioprinting.
• Printing tools, medical devices, surgical aids or biocompatible components anywhere, anytime.

Going further, from the above, a picture of a technology that can easily relocate resources and thus minimize their shortage can emerge. We can wonder about the cost of this, but as I mentioned above, #additive #technology is developing very dynamically and what seems expensive today will become available to everybody tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Moreover, thanks to broader thinking about the use of 3D printing, new jobs may be created, which would help in financial relocation and could help to level the playing field in less wealthy countries or with limited access to resources.

I imagine how additive technology, thanks to the "simplicity" of use, becomes a method of fighting hunger, building habitats in logistically difficult corners of the world, how it helps in the treatment of various diseases, injuries and creates jobs that affect the wealth of the local community…everywhere.

The fourth superpower of 3D printing - we are destroying our nature, the world that we live in - 3D printing can help reverse the trend.

The degradation of coral reefs, the destruction of forests, the CO2 emissions mentioned above - all this makes life more and more difficult for us and for me, as a person associated with nature, forests, rivers - it is particularly severe. We have to change our habits, our behavior - so that we can save our world. Again, I will refer to the original assumption of 3D printing - but now on a slightly different level - the second - material level. Entering the additive world, I did not know how many materials can be printed. It didn't take me long to imagine how 3D printing could save the world.

? Use of different materials – adapting or imitating the natural environment

It is not only what I mentioned above - that is recycling plastics and minimizing CO2 emissions. Nor is it saving lives or reallocating resources. Thanks to the freedom of production and the ability to produce from various resources, 3D printing can help in the reconstruction of coral reefs and the restoration of animal habitats. It can reduce the need to use wood, thereby reducing deforestation. I imagine that instead of producing clothes, we print them or their parts using 3D printers. It is worth mentioning that the production of clothes is one of the most devastating segments, and it is important to minimize it...by 3D printing it is possible.

We are a consumer society that will probably not give up this style in 100%. Technology is a method of replacing and thus saving at least some of the natural resources and our world.

Ending...

In the above, I have described only 4 points that are the most visible, which everyone knows about - but probably not everybody knows. The task of the additive world is to spread this knowledge. If we do it right, the imagination and willingness of people to take a step forward will cause us to spread this technology, and understanding and expanding the list of superpowers will be only a matter of time ... rather short.

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Thank you and stay with me