3D: The Next Frontier in On-Demand Printing?

Although it’s not something typically associated directly with the print industry, three-dimensional (3D) printing is gaining a lot of traction as a way to revolutionize and democratize manufacturing. 3D printing is used largely in general manufacturing, architecture, engineering, industrial design, and other areas that rely on rapid prototyping. It’s an additive manufacturing technology, meaning that layers of powder or polymer material are added and adhered on top of each other to create a three-dimensional object. Inkjet printer heads are even available in some 3D printers to create full-color objects. The actual “object printing” functionality is driven by a 3D computer model, which is typically generated via 3D modeling software or 3D scanners. Depending on the material and the process, the end-result can range from a quick, reusable mock-up for a design to a commercial, industrial-strength product like a gear (or more recently, an iPhone case).

I find many parallels in what’s happening to prototyping and manufacturing via 3D printing with print-on-demand and self-publishing. 3D printers are cheaper, faster counterparts to large-scale rapid prototyping devices that are more costly to acquire and operate. As such, businesses that rely on prototyping have adopted 3D printing to be more agile. In addition, one of the more intriguing services that has been enabled by 3D printing is Web-based on-demand object manufacturing. Similar to a self-publishing or ad-hoc job submission method we find in online print ordering, customers can upload a 3D design or scan to a Website and, for a fee, get a physical, three-dimensional product shipped to them in a matter of days.

Last year, the New York Times did a piece on how 3D printing is spurring innovation in manufacturing and beyond. Charles Overy, the founder of a company that provides 3D printing and modeling services to architects, was quoted in the article as saying, “we are moving from handcraft to digital craft.” Hmm… where have I heard that mantra before?

Continues at: The Digital Nirvana » Blog Archive » The Third Dimension: The Next Frontier in On-Demand Printing?.