3D PRINTING

Context of Technology
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process for producing three-dimensional
items layer by layer using a computer-generated design. The additive process of 3D printing,
which includes adding layers of material, creates 3D objects. The 1980s saw the development of
the first 3D printing technologies. They were initially designed as a quicker and more
economical way to produce prototypes for product development inside the industry, hence the
name Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies.

Without a doubt, 3D printing is transforming how items are created and developed. Although
this disruptive technology, is still in its early phases, it has the potential to have a significant
positive impact on a variety of industries, including the medical, automotive, manufacturing,
energy, and aerospace, to name a few. But corporations aren't the only ones that can use 3D
printing. Additionally, customers and enthusiasts are included. Additionally, small firms stand to
gain just as much from it as do giant corporations. Consumers and corporations are the two
most obvious potential markets for 3D printing.

In 1980, Dr. Hideo Kodama of the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute in Japan
submitted the first RP patent application. It talked about a photopolymer-based technology for
rapid prototyping. Layers of a solid, printed model were constructed, each layer representing a
cross-sectional slice of the model. Unfortunately for Dr. Kodama, he neglected to pursue his
patent application and never made his printing method widely available.

Function
With the exception that it is done in three dimensions, 3D printing is a form of additive
manufacturing. The practice of building something up gradually by adding material up till the
finished product is known as additive manufacturing. Typically, this phrase is used to describe
3D printing and molding. To build a three-dimensional object from scratch, a mix of cutting-
edge software, powder-like materials, and precision instruments is required.

Environmental Considerations
For equipment that can only produce one thing at a time, 3D printers consume a lot of energy.
This means that it will take longer for them to recoup the energy used to produce them, and
that's before we even consider how much energy is required to regularly run a 3D printer.
Depending on the type you purchase and how frequently you use the machine, the cost of
operation can be quite significant.

A 3D printer still consumes a lot of energy when compared to other home appliances, so an
outlet is necessary for them to work correctly. Furthermore, while there may be some savings
when it comes to shipping goods internationally due to lower transportation emissions, these
same savings are probably not noticeable when it comes to shipping goods locally or within the
country where the distance travelled is much shorter and less fuel is required per item
transported.

3D printers can employ a wide variety of materials. Many businesses are embracing the current
wave of interest in recycled plastics. Recycling businesses collect plastic debris and organize it
into its several categories. The plastic garbage would next be ground or shredded and placed in
big containers for processing. To make new 3D printing filament, the pieces are then melted
and extruded through a machine. The produced filament is incredibly affordable and has
essentially identical properties as regular plastic. In comparison to using commercial filaments,
printing is substantially less expensive.

Additionally, 3D printing requires less material than conventional production. Due to the fact
that the product is not cut out or material is not removed during the process, there is less
surplus waste material. It is also additively made (built up layer by layer), making the final
product lighter and occasionally stronger. Although 3D printers do use recyclable materials in a
closed-loop process and the items they create are also recyclable, there are still problems with
power consumption, disposal, and transportation-related emissions that need to be resolved
before we can confidently say 3D printing is good for the environment.

As a result, less product and component transportation are required, resulting in a decrease in
fossil emissions. Additionally, since 3D-printed goods can weigh up to 50% less, they require
less energy and fuel to transport. Transport is also made easier by lighter components.
Ethical Considerations
Three ethical questions are raised: whether these technologies should be utilized to increase
people's capacities beyond what is 'normal' for humans, testing for safety and efficacy, and
justice in access to healthcare. Privacy issues arise from digital watermarks inserted into 3D
printouts of people. Every single 3D print has these watermarks; therefore, they may be used to
track and trace the usage of a print. Any Internet-connected device that can recognize a
watermark, such as a camera on a laptop or smartphone, can be used to carry out the tracking.
Because each watermark is distinctive, it is simpler to determine who used a particular item.
The individual's right to privacy is threatened by the widespread use of watermarks in 3D
printing.

Three suggestions are made in this study to address this difficulty. First, the potential for digital
watermarks to violate privacy should be addressed in pertinent copyright treaties and under
the framework of international human rights law. Second, a voluntary code of conduct should
be established to support the promotion of privacy through self-regulation of watermarking
and 3D printing. Third, there should be a regulatory body to offer guidance and oversight.

Although the advantages of 3D printing in construction will increase as more businesses invest
in this technology, there are still barriers to its wider market acceptance. Despite the fact that
3D printing is more cost-effective when it comes to construction, huge corporations have not
yet placed a substantial amount of money in it due to the high expense of both purchasing and
operating the necessary technology. In order to handle the technology underlying 3D printing,
the industry has to train additional specialists who can build computer models, operate the
machinery, and perform necessary maintenance. In order to provide clear instructions on its
use and the advantages of its application in new construction sites, more laws and legislation
are required for 3D printing in construction.

Reflective Question:

In the past few months of pandemic, how do you rate yourself in terms of Nutrition intake? Do
you think that nutrition is important to us? Why? Or Why Not? Explain our answer. Reflection is
not less than 300 words and not more than 500 words.