Have you been to an automobile factory where workers have to cut, beat and join materials so as to form an automobile? If you have, then you can tell how stressful it is producing a car, bike or other automobiles. At the same time, have you been to a plastic toy company where heat is needed to make some objects? If you have, then you can tell the time taken to build a simple toy. Technology keeps growing thanks to research by scientist who are trying to make life better for humans.

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3D PRINTING

Unlike like conventional ways of producing objects, 3D printing has brought a different way of production. It is turning a digital model into a physical three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing (Adding objects layers by layers, step by step). Unlike others method of production such as injection molding used in plastic, and tradition CNC machining, 3D printing/manufacturing doesn’t require cutting and joining of parts in any form, rather the object parts are built digitally on a platform layer by layer and are then built physically through additive manufacturing in 3D layer by layer. The digital model is the blueprint of the physical object after which the printing software slices the blueprint into a 2-dimensional layer and then utilizes a machine code (G- code) to execute the 3D printing. 3D printing can be done physically with metals, nylon, plastic, wax, composite, concrete and rubber.

3D printing today has found very specific importance in the manufacturing world as well as in other industries. 3D printing has been utilized from automobile manufacturing companies, to food production companies, Health and other manufacturing companies. 3D printing has done well by enabling the production of tiny parts of toys, production of food items and snacks (3D Burger), in the health sector such as production of organs for test and transplants.

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Why 3D Printing is better

Unlike the convention methods of manufacturing, 3D has made it easy for companies to get prototypes at a low cost as well as create objects at a very fast speed thereby conserving time. In china, houses are built using 3D printing. The concept of using 3D bio-printer in the health sector will enable medical practitioners to create organs for practical purposes as well as help patients who needs transplants.

3D printing is a near zero waste concept, manufacturers are able to limit the number of waste during production also, with 3D printing, consumers can request for custom made products at a low cost.

4D and 5D Printing

4D Printing

Unlike 3D printing, 4D printing is a 3D printing with an additional dimension which is time. Objects created with 4D printing can change or evolve with time and other external stimuli. With 4D printing, objects can change or begin based on external stimulus such as wind sunlight, air, and temperature

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5D Printing

This is the use of additive manufacturing in 5 dimensional axis unlike 3D printing with 3-Axis. Unlike 3D printing that prints on a plain straight layer, in 5D printing, the print part moves as the printer prints. So Objects can be printed in curves.

What Next

Manufacturing is getting easier in all sectors thanks to 3D, 4D and 5D printing. Researchers keep doing their best to create more dimensional axis printing machine like the 6D and 7D printing machine. What do you think this will look like?

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Let us know if you have used a 3D, 4D or 5D printing machine before, what did you use it for and was it easier and faster compared to conventional was or production?

Also, what do you think about additive manufacturing in the future?

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