The Wonders Of 3D Printing

Ryan Duggan

Mrs. Craigs

English 9

May 16, 2014

The Wonders of 3D Printing

Until recently, the ability to make anything at the press of a button could only be seen in science-fiction movies. Today however, people in households and businesses all around the can do just that. They are creating iPhone cases, chocolate in the shape of a person’s head, and even plastic prosthetic hands. The ingenuity of the 3D printer makes all this, and even more, possible. The 3D printer has spectacular potential to benefit humanity; but as with all technology the threat of unintended consequences looms large.

3D printers have been in the works since the late 1980s. The very first functional models were the size of refrigerators and cost more than $100,000. Nowadays, 3D printers have become a household commodity with thousands of people making YouTube videos. 3-D Systems, a company based in North Carolina, has come out with a much newer model. “The Cube” is their latest 3D printing machine. It is only the size of a toaster oven and cost only $1,299 (Tweed). Due to years of hard work and an expanding market, the 3D printer has become half the size and a fraction of the price.

The big question about the 3D printer is how to make an object once a 3D printer is obtained. Crafting anything with the 3D printer is quite simple. In order to make a model that a 3D printer can read, one needs to have a computer-aided design (CAD) software. Because CADs use combinations of shapes and specific measurements a good knowledge of geometry is required (Hoffman). Next, the materials needed for the object must be acquired. 3D printing uses a method that melts down the material used to create the object you want (Kovac). Therefore, combustible items such as wood, pape...

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...e by 3D printers do not have serial numbers; therefore, government is not allowed to track the guns if they are used in illegal activities. Black market companies are making thousands of dollars off of 3D printed guns and CADs for them. Congress has reacted to this outbreak of illegal fire arms by renewing the Undetectable Firearms Act. This act bans guns that cannot be detected by metal detectors or x-ray machines (Kovac).

The 3D printer is a huge breakthrough in the name of science. What has only been seen in science-fiction movies has become reality. Some people have taken this technology and made remarkable breakthroughs for mankind. Others have taken a great technology and used it to fulfill selfish desires. From sweets to guns, the uses of the 3D printer are endless. As the wise Uncle Ben from Spiderman said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”