3D Printing

3 D printing technology is rapidly maturing and enabling various people and organisations to rapidly create physical products, it is also has possibilities in the medical field. Currently the technology is expensive and according to the panel

‘Today, consumer-grade printers can be had for $1,200, but no one expects those machines to be capable of printing professional quality products. Instead, expensive machines are still being used for such purposes. But the cheaper devices are more frequently being used to prototype products before they're turned over to the high-end printers. And that means companies with smaller budgets can do much of their prototyping work themselves before sending off digital files to those with professional-grade machines.’(Future of 3D printing is bright, says SXSW panel)

It is likely to speed up the design to manufacture process and will give more people the ability to carry out this process. The entry level 3D printers are slow and do not offer the high quality of the manufactured item but they are great for prototyping. 

 

According to Forbes ‘

‘3D printing starts saving lives. 3D-printed medical implants will improve the quality of life of someone close to you. Because 3D printing allows products to be custom-matched to an exact body shape, it is being used today for making better titanium bone implants, prosthetic limbs and orthodontic devices. Experiments in printing soft tissue are underway, and may soon allow printed veins and arteries to be used in operations. Today’s research into medical applications of 3D printing covers nano-medicine, pharmaceuticals and even printing of organs. Taken to the extreme, 3D printing could one day enable custom medicines and reduce if not eliminate the organ donor shortage’(Manufacturing The Future: 10 Trends To Come In 3D Printing).

I predict the 3d printing will definitely change the way we manufacture items and it certainly looks promising in the medical field.

Future of 3D printing is bright, says SXSW panel retrieved Mar 17^th from: http://news.cnet.com/8301-14013_3-57573829/future-of-3d-printing-is-bright-says-sxsw-panel/

4D Printing Is The Future Of 3D Printing And It’s Already Here retrieved Mar 17^th from: http://www.webpronews.com/4d-printing-is-the-future-of-3d-printing-and-its-already-here-2013-02

Manufacturing The Future: 10 Trends To Come In 3D Printing retrieved Mar 17^th  from : http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/12/07/manufacturing-the-future-10-trends-to-come-in-3d-printing/