Danielle Rodriguez

Block: 1
Mr. Mentze
27 October 2015
3D Printing
3D printing or addictive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid
objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object is produced using addictive
processes. When doing addictive processes, an object is created by laying down successive
layers of material until the entire object is created. Each of these things can be seen as a thinly
sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object. Not all 3D printers use the same
technology; there are several ways to print. The development of 3D printing has changed
modern manufacturing /business methods.
In the year 2014, the company Local Motors produced the first 3D printed car. They went
from concept to production in just four months, it took 1,000s of dollars to produce. The size of
the printer used to produce the car was about half the size of a classroom. A second case is a
company called ZCorps; they replicated a wrench. They printed was able to make it in many
materials; even stronger than a normal wrench.
And in another case, founder of a company called Divergent Manufactory, created the
first 3D printed supercar. The vehicle weighs about 1,388lbs which is about 1/3 the weight of
Porsches flagship supercar. The car can go 0-60mph in under 2.5 seconds. It also has less than
1/3 of environmental impact than a regular vehicle. The frame of a regular car of carbon fiber is
1,000 pounds, whereas the 3D printed car is 40 pounds.
3D printing has made a major impact on life. It has changed how things are made, and the
time spent doing them. 3D printing is already in use widely for businesses and the RSA has been
helping to set up hubs for designers, some of which will contain 3D printers. Home 3D printing
will work if you need something at home and you can just print it out.