Carter Gieg 10-22-15

Unit 3, essay 3

3D printing

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional

solid objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using
additive processes. In an additive process an object is created by laying down
successive layers of material until the entire object is created. Each of these layers
can be seen as a thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object.
3d scanners use different technologies to generate a 3d model such as time-offlight, structured modulated light, volumetric scanning and many more.
Recently, many IT companies like Microsoft and Google enabled their hardware to
perform 3d scanning, a great example is Microsofts Kinect. This is a clear sign
that future hand-held devices like smartphones will have integrated 3d scanners.
Digitizing real objects into 3d models will become as easy as taking a picture. Prices
of 3d scanners range from very expensive professional industrial devices to 30 USD
DIY devices anyone can make at home.
"The 3D scanning system is much less invasive and not harmful or traumatizing to
the patient at all.
Happier patients mean more business for ITOP, a company that relies partially on
patient referrals.
But patients aren't the only ones that are happy about ITOP's use of 3D technology .