HOW 3D
PRINTING
WILL CHANGE
YOUR (AND
EVERYONE
ELSE’S) LIFE
16
CHAPTER
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FIGURE 161: An example of a 3D printed torque wrench that helps tighten the Olsson Ruby nozzle to a specific tightness. The
manufacturer supplied just the CAD file for this upgrade process.
In this book, you have learned how 3D printers work, how to use CAD software programs, how to set up
your own 3D printer, how to use 3D printing in your business and even how to make a prototype! You have
also learned about some of the third-party services you can hire to outsource part or all of your 3D printing
workflow. We don’t have a crystal ball, but this chapter gives a glimpse into what you might expect to see in
the years to come.
WE ARE ALL MAKERS, AND COMPANIES WILL FOSTER THAT EVEN MORE
Corporations will help advance the use of 3D printing by encouraging our creativity and enabling
on-demand access to products because 3D printing will eventually touch everyone’s lives, and companies
are starting to notice. Consumers will have a chance to become co-creators as companies actively develop
products, services, and tools to help them participate even more in this technology.
PROVIDING ON-DEMAND ACCESS TO PRODUCTS
Hardware stores in the future may not stock all items but instead maintain CAD files of items (even ones
that are no longer in production) enabling you to 3D print them at home or pick them up at a 3D print store.
If your dishwasher breaks down, the manufacturer may allow you to download the CAD file (for free or for
a price) so you can print the replacement part at home allowing on-demand manufacturing…even at 3 am
when stores and repair services are usually closed! This saves you the lengthy wait of getting the part deliv-
ered in the mail or you having to pick it up at the store. This solution also helps companies from making too
many, too few, or from stocking the wrong replacement parts.
Companies that offer these downloadable CAD files as an option might also provide consumer installa-
FIGURE 162: In the future, user-friendly interfaces will allow for mass customization of 3D printed goods over the Internet
Getting Started with 3D Printing 228
227 Chapter 16: How 3D Printing Will Change Your (and Everyone Else’s) Life
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FIGURE 161: An example of a 3D printed torque wrench that helps tighten the Olsson Ruby nozzle to a specific tightness. The
manufacturer supplied just the CAD file for this upgrade process.
In this book, you have learned how 3D printers work, how to use CAD software programs, how to set up
your own 3D printer, how to use 3D printing in your business and even how to make a prototype! You have
also learned about some of the third-party services you can hire to outsource part or all of your 3D printing
workflow. We don’t have a crystal ball, but this chapter gives a glimpse into what you might expect to see in
the years to come.
WE ARE ALL MAKERS, AND COMPANIES WILL FOSTER THAT EVEN MORE
Corporations will help advance the use of 3D printing by encouraging our creativity and enabling
on-demand access to products because 3D printing will eventually touch everyone’s lives, and companies
are starting to notice. Consumers will have a chance to become co-creators as companies actively develop
products, services, and tools to help them participate even more in this technology.
PROVIDING ON-DEMAND ACCESS TO PRODUCTS
Hardware stores in the future may not stock all items but instead maintain CAD files of items (even ones
that are no longer in production) enabling you to 3D print them at home or pick them up at a 3D print store.
If your dishwasher breaks down, the manufacturer may allow you to download the CAD file (for free or for
a price) so you can print the replacement part at home allowing on-demand manufacturing…even at 3 am
when stores and repair services are usually closed! This saves you the lengthy wait of getting the part deliv-
ered in the mail or you having to pick it up at the store. This solution also helps companies from making too
many, too few, or from stocking the wrong replacement parts.
Companies that offer these downloadable CAD files as an option might also provide consumer installa-
tion instructions to limit unnecessary service calls. If the part is easy to install, consumers will be able to
complete the repair themselves because companies know you want to save time and money. For example,
Figure 16-1 shows a 3D printed torque wrench that is designed for a specific use: to install a 3D print nozzle
on a 3D printer with a specific tightness as defined by the internal “fins” on the 3D print. This wrench is not
shipped with the nozzle, the end user prints this themselves to assist with the installation process. Every-
one wins: The manufacturer doesn’t have to incur the cost of manufacturing the wrench, and the consumer
doesn’t have to purchase it separately.
ORGANIZATIONS WILL USE 3D PRINTING TO STRENGTHEN THEIR
CONNECTION WITH YOU
3D printing offers organizations and companies unique branding opportunities. Mass customization through
3D printing allows for the widespread and relatively inexpensive manufacturing of one-off objects. Brand
managers know that most customers want products tailored to them. The ability to create something per-
sonal, in partnership with their favorite brand, will strengthen brand loyalty and make customers more
involved than just passive buyers.
In the future you will see more examples of branded “one-off” gloves, hearing aids, hats, and more.
Through intuitive software, you might be able to adjust the design of the product you are buying. It will be
the new way to monogram your purchases, one can only imagine that someday it might all be possible with
just the touch of a button, as shown in Figure 16-2.
FIGURE 162: In the future, user-friendly interfaces will allow for mass customization of 3D printed goods over the Internet
Getting Started with 3D Printing 228
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FIGURE 163: A medical school lesson includes a 3D printable file as
part of the curriculum. Shown here is a 3D printed foot chosen by
the textbook author for use in an anatomy class.
FIGURE 164: A model of a 3D printed heart used in medical
training. Note that the inside vascular system is hollow,
allowing for procedures to pass through the chambers.
TAILOR MADE FOR ONE
Companies are motivated to acknowledge your unique needs, interests, and tastes because doing so
strengthens their connection with you and increases sales. They will take your design aesthetic and/or
actual physical measurements into consideration when they make your (literally your) item. Therefore,
competitors that don’t offer you a 3D printed customized option might come across as uncaring or unwilling
to acknowledge your preferences…and that never goes well for sales.
But in order for this to occur, companies will need to provide a very easy-to-understand user interface when
presenting their customers with so much choice to minimize confusion. This combination of challenge and
opportunity will change the way companies offer choices and promotional items to their customers.
3D PRINTED EDUCATIONAL TOOLS
Educational textbook companies have already started to adapt this technology into their curricula. Students
can view 3D models online provided by the authors and download the files to create 3D printed learning
tools, as shown in Figure 16-3 and Figure 16-4.
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ORGANIZATIONS WILL INCREASE
PROFITABILITY AND BE MORE
ECO-
FRIENDLY
3D printing will enable all organizations (both for
profit and nonprofit) to benefit from more than just
brand loyalty and increased sales. 3D printing will
allow organizations to increase their profitability
and decrease their environmental footprint. Orga-
nizations will be able to make just what they need,
as they need it, locally, without the waste normally
associated with mass production. Additionally, if a
design flaw is found in a product, instant changes
can be made at a much lower cost than would be
the case for retooling the entire production line.
Not to mention, not having to throw out thousands
of faulty or outdated products that would normally
go into landfill.
3D printing can drastically change the supply chain by bringing manufacturing closer to the end user and
initiating the manufacturing when a customer wants to buy it, not before. This is called “just in time” manu-
facturing. Environmentally conscious consumers will rejoice in 3D printing’s ability to produce one-offs that
will help control inventory waste, reduce shipping distances, and shorten lead times. 3D printing will also
help reduce these kinds of vast storage needs, as shown in Figure 16-5.
Organizations that stock more CAD files than physical items can potentially reduce the amount of wasted
inventory and, therefore, become more ecologically responsible. The distinction between shopping online
and shopping at a brick-and-mortar location may become less clear as your local garden supply store,
clothing store, or even pharmacy begins to include CAD files in its inventory alongside the physical items on
the shelves.
LOCAL ECONOMIES WILL BENEFIT FROM THE COMMERCIAL USE OF 3D
PRINTING
As mentioned before, 3D printing will not replace mass production but rather augment current manufactur-
ing methods. Specialized makers, potentially including you, will have the ability to economically manufacture
“low volume” production runs ranging in numbers from 1 to 1,000 units.
With 3D printing, you will see products being made for hyper-local markets like cities, towns, or even neigh-
borhoods. This hybrid model will help keep more revenue sales local. In addition, local economies will also
get the tax revenues associated with the sales transactions.
FIGURE 165: Excess inventory that may be defective, not needed or
no longer in style
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