STEM Nibbles
September 3, 2021

What is 3D Printing? A Journey from Edible Chocolates to Printed Houses

You’ve probably printed countless things on paper, and maybe even on plastic or cloth. Printed materials surround us everywhere we go—from family photos at home and documents at the office to boarding passes on holiday and the menu at your favorite restaurant.

Now, imagine you want to order your favorite dish, but the restaurant has run out of cutlery. What if you could walk over to a special printer in the corner and simply print a real fork and knife? It sounds like magic, doesn’t it? Well, as Sir Arthur C. Clarke famously said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” The advanced technology we’re talking about is 3D printing.

What is 3D Printing?

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a groundbreaking technology that constructs three-dimensional (3D) objects from a digital file, typically created using Computer-Aided Design (CAD). It’s one of the fastest-growing methods in the worlds of architecture and manufacturing. But to understand it, let’s go back a few decades to see how it all started.

The Surprising History of 3D Printing

It all began by chance in 1981. A Japanese scientist named Hideo Kodama discovered that he could use a special viscous liquid called a thermoset to harden plastic models almost instantly. A thermoset is a material that hardens when heated, but once it solidifies, it cannot be reheated to be reshaped or remolded.

However, the real breakthrough in 3D printing technology came three years later. In 1984, an American named Bill Master patented a method to create these models by feeding instructions directly from a computer to a printer. This innovation enabled manufacturing in large quantities and laid the foundation for modern 3D printing.

How Do 3D Printers Work?

Let’s use a simple analogy. Imagine you have a paper cone filled with sand. If you snip the pointed end, sand will pour out. As you move the cone, it leaves a trail of sand. However, the grainy sand particles won’t stack neatly, leaving you with just a small sand dune.

But what if you used a material that could form fixed layers, one on top of the other? These layers would stack up to create a 3D shape! This is the core principle of how 3D printing works.

This method of stacking materials, layer by layer, to build 3D models is known as Stereolithography. The 3D printer essentially “prints” a design from the base up, adding layers until the object is complete.

Because of this layering process, stereolithography works best with materials that can be easily deposited, joined, or solidified. This is why materials like plastics, liquids, and fused powder grains are popular choices.

Current Applications of 3D Printing Technology

In its early days, 3D printing was mainly used for making small prototypes of objects and machines, earning it the name Rapid Prototyping Technology. But in the last few decades, it has progressed exponentially. Today, the applications of 3D printing are vast and transformative.

Sustainable Solutions: Researchers are exploring ways to extract carbon dioxide (a key cause of global warming) from the air and use 3D printing to convert it into concrete.
Rapid Construction: Many modern 3D printers can construct a small house (around 800 square feet) in a single day.
Medical Miracles: In medicine, surgeons use 3D-printed models of body parts (created from CT scans) to plan complex surgeries. From prosthetics (artificial limbs) to custom bone replacements, the possibilities seem infinite.
Engineering Marvels: One of the most stunning accomplishments is the “MX3D bridge” in Amsterdam. Installed in July 2021, this fully functioning 12-meter steel bridge was made entirely by 3D printers and welding robots—a feat that was unimaginable a decade ago.

The Future of 3D Printing: Challenges and Possibilities

3D printing technology is set to transform how we build and create. However, every innovation has its limitations. For 3D printing, the main challenge is the limited selection of “printable” materials. The best materials must have precise temperature control and molding properties, which is why plastics and some metals are the most common choices. The downside is that many of these are not recyclable or food-grade.

But a lack of technology today doesn’t mean it’s impossible tomorrow! That’s what scientists and engineers are working on. NASA is already exploring 3D printing as a solution to “make” food for astronauts on long space missions.

So, when are those printed edible chocolates coming? Perhaps sooner than you think! One day, you might have a 3D printer in your kitchen, ready to print real, edible chocolates and custom ice cream flavors at the touch of a button. And while the technology is magical, we’ll have to see if it can replicate the joy of a sweet treat brought home as a surprise! What do you think?

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Footnote: 3D printing is a prime example of cutting-edge science and tech and a core topic within STEM fields. The research studies driving this innovation are highly interdisciplinary, combining computer science for CAD software, material science for developing advanced materials, and even nanotechnology for creating precise structures. The research methodology spans from fundamental experiments to large-scale application, generating innovative ideas in fields like biomedical science and food technology. As a rapidly evolving field, new breakthroughs are constantly published in top international journals and other scholarly sources, making it a vital area of study for any aspiring scholar.