3D printing is a little mind boggling for most people…the
ability to print nearly anything—including human body parts—is nearly beyond
the average person’s comprehension. It sounds cool, and it’s certainly
intriguing, but 3D printing isstill an abstract concept that sounds a bit
surreal.
Not only is that the case for the majority of individuals,
but it’s also hard for many industries to fathom just how much of an impact 3D
printing is going to have on their work—and, really, their whole world.
Using 3D engineering software like SolidWorks CAD
to print 3D models and beyond, product design, development, and productionare
going to change massively in coming years. In fact, this intense industrial
tech revolution has already begun. Read on to learn more about 10 industries
that will never be the same!
Top 10 Industries Being Revolutionized by 3D Printing
While nearly all industries are being impacted by the
technological advances being made in the 3D printing, design, and 3D CAD
modeling realms, the following 10 are being enormously transformed.
Education
Educators can use 3D printing to bring their lessons to
life. And college students in design, construction, engineering, art, and
untold other majors are using this technology to learn firsthand if their
theories, designs, and plans will work in the real world.
They can produce 3D models and prototypes to see what works
and what needs improvement, learning and adapting as they go—skills that will
serve them well throughout their careers.
Transportation
Many facets of the transportation industry are being
transformed by 3D printing capabilities, from the engineering software used to
design new roads to the 3D printing of actual vehicle parts.
Non-motorized Vehicles
The design and materials used to make bicycles, for example,
are usually what makes the best bikes also the most expensive. But with 3D engineering
and printing, these components can more easily be mass produced, lowering costs
significantly and making non-motorized, human-powered vehicles more efficient and
safer at the same time.
Public Transport
Public transportation can be significantly slowed by vehicle
break downs. With replacement parts quickly and cheaply produced using 3D
printing technology, the downtime of vehicles in need of repair can be
drastically decreased, going from months to get parts to just days or weeks,
and reducing costs by up to 95%!
Aviation
With more people flying to world-wide destinations every
year, the aviation industry must find ways to boost efficiency and reduce
costs. Aircraft manufacturers are using 3D printing to produce lower-cost parts
and to streamline production.
Medical
Like transportation, the medical field is seeing massive
impact from 3D modeling and printing.
Pharmaceutical
Though the FDA still needs to do extensive research before
it will approve any 3D-printed drug technology, there is a lot of advancement
being made in the field. Companies canprint pills that offer personalized
dosages based on individual patient needs—something that traditional drug
manufacturing processes could never accomplish in a cost-effective manner.
Prosthetics and Regenerative Medicine
Not only can we now print prosthetic limbs for humans, but
we also have hope of being able to print functioning human body parts!
Implants
Dental and medical implants need to be highly customized to
fit individual bodies and mouths, a process that creates a costly end product.
3D printing lowers costs and creates more personalized solutions that can be
printed and placed at the time of removal, condensing what would have been two
separate, invasive visits into one.
Construction and Architecture
Two of the most obvious fields to be impacted by 3D
technology are construction and architecture, so we’re grouping them together
here. Architects and builders can now use 3D CAD modeling software and
other 3D design products (like SolidWorks) to build lifelike
models on the fly. And as the tech advances, entire buildings will be 3D
printed!
Engineering
Another obvious entry on this list, engineering has been
forever changed by 3D engineering software, like SolidWorks CAD
and 3D design products. Beyond just printing prototypes, engineers are
now able to test their designs in real time.
Art
Whether they work with ceramics, metals, or paper, artists
can now dream and print their visions into life!
This also has positive implications in art education, as
replicas of famous works can be created that allow students to touch and
interact with the paintings and sculptures in ways that just can’t be rivaled
by looking at pictures of the masterpieces in books.
Design
Whether we’re talking about the design of packaging, fashion
and home décor, or cars, everything has changed in this industry.
Entertainment
We are a society who loves to be entertained, so 3D printing
is a welcome innovation here. Manufacturers can print consumer tech and
electronic devices as one piece versus many individual parts that then need
extensive assembly, making them more affordable. The gaming world is now full
of 3D virtual reality, and musical instruments and movie sets/props are being
produced using 3D printing.
Manufacturing
As you’ve read throughout this article, manufacturers of
just about everything are seeing positive impacts, as they can print not only
their tools and replacement machinery parts, but also their products as single
items versus parts that need assembly.
Conservation
One of the more surprising industries that is seeing massive
changes is environmental conservation. Conservationists can now print 3D coral
reefs and other wildlife habitats, as well as tracking tags for endangered
species. 3D manufacturing is also much more environmentally friendly, as it
produces very little waste.
Transforming Engineering Efforts
If you’re ready to revolutionize your business using 3D
engineering software and 3D CAD modeling software, like SolidWorks
CAD orSolidWorks 3D design products, contact us! DesignPoint
is here to help.
