From being a gimmicky technology that prints ideas into a design to manufacturing life-saving medical equipment, 3d printing technology has evolved significantly. With the growth of Industry 4.0 advancement, more companies are interested in this modern alternative to conventional manufacturing.

Be it automotive, medical, consumer products, or architecture, additive manufacturing disrupts the core and allows businesses to innovate seamlessly. As this technology has become more accessible and affordable, innovations are thriving to improve our lives. On this note, here are the top eight ways additive manufacturing is improving the world.

1. Better manufacturing

Manufacturers across different industries now have the power to test, implement, and scale new design and product ideas. With 3d printing, it has become much easier for engineers to draft a design, 3d print a prototype quickly, and test it against real-world conditions.

As the material wastage is lower and companies can operate with limited resources, this technology brings a new paradigm shift in manufacturing. All these benefits are helping manufacturers to provide quality products at affordable pricing without compromising anything.

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2. Disaster relief

3D printing is a boon in terms of saving lives in challenging situations. As it’s a highly flexible technology, companies can build houses, machinery parts, and more in a couple of hours. For fighting COVID-19’s challenge of resource shortage worldwide, additive manufacturing technology played an instrumental role.

Companies used 3d printers to bulk manufacture PPE kits, ventilator parts, surgical accessories to match the high demand in a shorter turnaround time.

3. Affordable prosthetics

Prosthetics are expensive, and not everyone can afford good quality supportive prosthetics that can help in their day-to-day lives. However, 3d printing technology flipped this scenario by allowing doctors and patients to print custom prosthetics.

Individuals can opt for affordable 3d printing services and get themselves a custom-fit prosthetic compared to conventional methods. These printed body accessories are more comfortable and lightweight than traditional ones.

4. Saving coral reefs

Additive manufacturing is playing a substantial role in healing the marine ecosystem and making it more sustainable. As the underwater ecosystem, especially the coral reefs, has become more fragile due to rising temperature, 3d printing is reinvigorating coral growth, improving the coral reef’s overall sustainability.

As many species live in the reefs, planting the 3d printed aquatic setup is recovering the marine environment faster.

5. Archeological preservation

Earlier, there were no efficient ways to restore and preserve historical art pieces and fine-crafted artifacts. Using technologies like 3d scanning, engineers can scan and recreate the design with precise dimensions. Once the CAD file is ready, 3d printers can accurately create the exact artifact replica.

The most lucrative advantage of this method is that the design always remains preserved in the digital format.

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6. Safer human implants

Researchers have successfully demonstrated efficient human implants that are more comfortable and reliable than conventional implants. Be it 3d printing custom limb, dental implants, or orthodontic devices; all these innovations are making a positive impact in our lives.

As these devices are cost-effective and are easy to produce using rapid prototyping, anyone can opt for these more valuable implants.

7. Bioprinting of organs

3D printing is revolutionizing the medical domain with the ability to create functional organs and artificial tissues. Researchers are working towards creating fully functional organs that will replace organ transplants in the future.

As of now, scientists have also demonstrated a 3d printed human heart, which was fully functional. Such innovations are giving us the hope for more life-saving implementations. Several companies are already providing these advanced online 3d printing services.

8. On-demand printing in space

The aerospace industry is flourishing with advanced additive manufacturing implementations. Space agencies are saving substantial costs in their operations to cut down the need for carrying additional machinery in outer space.

Now the space crafts can carry full-fledged 3d printers so that astronauts can print any needed part in a shorter turnaround.

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Future of 3d printing

All these innovations are only the beginning of this paradigm shift. In the upcoming time, we will see disruptive innovations across all domains. As the technology will become more accessible to small businesses and individuals, we will see more smart development around us. Considering the surging demands, several companies have started offering online 3d printing in Melbourne, Sydney, and other cities.