Now that 3D printing is becoming more of an up and coming thing, there are implications and issues that people need to keep in mind.
The 3D printer, is a machine that is based on laser technology that will build a plastic object that is made from few parts, a layer of molecules at a time. You have to have the right raw materials, and a CAD, a very complete Computer Aided Design program that will tell the printer exactly where and how to place each molecule.
This might be tricky to get and if the CAD is not exactly what you want, you could waste lots of the raw material. If you want to buy a 3D printer, you also have to have a supply of the raw materials.
Is is really cheaper to make your own plastic products? It depends upon the cost of the raw materials, and the amount of electricity it takes to run the machine.
I remember that my mother had a kiln in our basement when I was growing up. It was fun to make our own clay pottery, she ran a "chug" for neighborhood children, but boy did the electric bill climb when it was turned on!
I don't think that we ran the kiln that often.
I think that 3D printing will be mostly taken up by manufacturers for use in special orders, but the common person is not likely to be as tech savvy to be able to make all the products that are needed for every day living.
Taking that into account, there will be more jobs in information, people who will write the CAD designs, to make the products that we all need.
There will be less assembly line manufacturing, and more jobs in services. Now that products will be more specialized and available, the jobs will be in teaching, and personal services, like hair dressers, teachers, and marketing those services.
I would be very interested in hearing about more news about 3D printing, so if you have a machine, and you use it, get in touch and leave a comment below.
Rachael Alice Orbach
The 3D printer, is a machine that is based on laser technology that will build a plastic object that is made from few parts, a layer of molecules at a time. You have to have the right raw materials, and a CAD, a very complete Computer Aided Design program that will tell the printer exactly where and how to place each molecule.
This might be tricky to get and if the CAD is not exactly what you want, you could waste lots of the raw material. If you want to buy a 3D printer, you also have to have a supply of the raw materials.
Is is really cheaper to make your own plastic products? It depends upon the cost of the raw materials, and the amount of electricity it takes to run the machine.
I remember that my mother had a kiln in our basement when I was growing up. It was fun to make our own clay pottery, she ran a "chug" for neighborhood children, but boy did the electric bill climb when it was turned on!
I don't think that we ran the kiln that often.
I think that 3D printing will be mostly taken up by manufacturers for use in special orders, but the common person is not likely to be as tech savvy to be able to make all the products that are needed for every day living.
Taking that into account, there will be more jobs in information, people who will write the CAD designs, to make the products that we all need.
There will be less assembly line manufacturing, and more jobs in services. Now that products will be more specialized and available, the jobs will be in teaching, and personal services, like hair dressers, teachers, and marketing those services.
I would be very interested in hearing about more news about 3D printing, so if you have a machine, and you use it, get in touch and leave a comment below.
Rachael Alice Orbach
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