History // History of 3d Printers
Introduction
This paper will be discussing regarding the issues of 3D printing. It seeks to answer the question on what is the history of 3D printing from the beginning of discovering printers until today. The paper wants to explain who discovered 3D printing and who started using the device. In addition, elaborating about the development in the history of 3D printer types will also be applied with the exception of future 3D printing technology. As the discussion goes, 3D printers are mechanical device that is used to printing 3-dimensional objects. They are the most sophisticated printing device that can create a realistic object that is created out of art. They are known as additive manufacturing that seeks to create a three-dimensional object, using successive layers of material. They are often created by a computer, which is based on the artistic creation by the user who wants to make their art piece into a reality.
History of 3D printing can be based way back from the ancient times. In 200 BCE (Before Current Era), woodblock printing was the simplest form of printing a three-dimensional tool. Romans and Greeks were the first to create these dimensional tools that seeks to improve their lifestyle. During the medieval era, 3D printing progressed into creating movable types that seeks to give the material a life. When the period of Renaissance era came, the artistic value of 3D printing further improved with the help of arts and technological development that shaped the feature of the artwork. When the period of industrialization progressed in the 19th century, 3D became more sophisticated. With the development of computers, 3D is now more accessible and customized. With the help of graphical improvement as well as enhancements, 3D printing became a more realistic avenue for any user who wants their art into a real material as mentioned by Bump (2013).
Who discovered 3D printing?
During the period of Romans, engineers were the first ones who developed the concept of creating a real-life object and usable materials. Aside from the engineers, inventors collaborated with the empire’s engineers to create an advanced facility that improve their engineering lifestyle across the empire. During the Renaissance period, academic institutions developed, allowing new batch of engineers to conduct research and redevelop 3D printing. This was when mechanical devices were created to print more copies of a certain material that are now tangible as well as reliable. Manufacturing companies developed, which provides a life size materials to allow the humanity to improve their lifestyles. As more manufacturing institutions developed, businesses started employing new engineers. In this case, researchers and technological professionals are responsible for creating an innovative device that are artistic as well as can be used for daily routine for every individual across their community.
During the medieval and renaissance era, 3D printers are now handled by businessmen and mechanics. In this time, mechanical engineers became a more suitable job for operating 3D printers that can create a real-life object that can be used either temporary or permanently. Mechanics became an integral branch in the field of engineering studies because it was the time that engineers branched out from concentrating to industrial into mechanic profession. Architects also entered the field because they are responsible for the designing of new engineering objects that can be used to print a three-dimensional printer to the society. Artists and architect are responsible for developing the size, the appearance, and the flexibility of each design that seeks to improve the quality and durability of the printed designs. This made 3D printing more attractive and interesting to the builders as well as for those who want to patronize life size materials as mentioned by Wu, et al., (2015).
Types of 3D Printers
The earliest three dimensional printing is the woodblock printing because these objects are made up of wood, which were developed by engineers and carpenters. Movable types were then developed during this time. Printing press was also a type, which became a popular 3D printing by means of printing different materials that are rolled out with texts. Etching is a type wherein chemicals are used to create a certain metallic object that is used for metal printing process. When the era of artistic discovery regarded as the romantic period began, the art and style of lithography, aquating, mezzotint, and chromolithography has been developed to create new designs and patterns. This was the era when 3D printers became more creative, allowing several materials that are produced in order to improve printing styles. This mode became a medium for artistic research made by a team of researchers and engineers during that time to further improve newly designed objects and materials.
In the 18th century, Hectograph 3D design has been developed, improving the quality of each design. Other types such as offset printing, hot metal typesetting, and mimeograph has been designed to promote a high quality materials that are more realistic. When the era of photography began, Photostat and rectigraph has been developed, which integrated the use of photographic presentation that can be applied with the application of 3d design. In the 1990’s 3D printing becomes more complex and more creative, which can be printed by any household for as long as they have a portable printing machines. This includes screen printing, spirit duplicator types, dot matrix printing, xerography, and phototypesetting 3D printing designs. In the modern era, inkjet printing, dye-sublimation, laser printing, thermal printing, and digital printing evolved, making art as an accessible way of creating new designs at the push of the button according to Klimas (2013).
Development of 3D printing according to its use
One major manufacturing application helps 3D printing suitable for business applications in the industrial setting. One is all about the mass customization of a certain products being published and then printed by manufacturing companies and industries. Companies produce a product that has one design but numerous copies that will cater the demand of the society. One example is mobile device that seeks to promote the brand of the company by having a one major product that suits the communication need as well as networking with other companies in the future. Rapid manufacturing is one of the ideal ways to help 3D printing to improve their facilities. Rapid prototyping is a historical milestone that seeks to promote a new style of printing that creates one distinct copy that seeks to promote the brand of a certain company through its product such as food, furniture, other electronic device, and clothing.
3D application is also used for industrial applications such as in the jewel industry that seeks to promote the art and style of fashion. For the automotive industry, the production of cars represent a major 3D printing technology that utilizes a different process of creating a product that are large enough to improve transportation facilities. Construction of engineered materials and other industrial designs are also made to ensure that infrastructure development enhances a new safety application and styles within the company. Examples of industrial products are steel beam, cement products, wood products, and electrical products that are made of one distinct feature that represent a company’s brand. Food manufacturing companies are also mass produced with a variety of a distinct product that represents their company’s brand. Examples are burgers, spaghettis, chicken, and beverage products that entice consumers to identity and start patronizing their products as mentioned by Matsomoto, et al., (2015).
Implication
It has been learned that 3D printing is not the usual computerized products that we usually see such as the printing technology that creates an innovative design that is produced by a portable printing device. There are different types of 3D printing that entices brands to create a high quality frame and marketing advantage to the target markets. This is because there are massive manufacturing companies that are producing products to sustain the market demands of the operating institution. In this way, the marketing advantage of an operating institution becomes more accessible due to the advantage of its printing design that suits productive campaign of printing. There is a continuous process of 3D printing that benefits the consumers because we always depend on products that improves our lifestyle whenever we use it for our professional and personal benefit that can last for a long time.
As an educative response of 3D printing, the course of design and style enhances a new creative approach of enhancing printing perspective to improve the quality of designs of an object while enhancing an artistic reference to a certain piece. As a new perspective, the value of 3D design can promote our daily routine because almost all of our facilities are being produced by 3D printing. This is the reality that we should realize on an everyday basis because we have been living in a product of 3D printing technology so that our lives become easier. Accessibility is one of the major influences of 3D printing designs because all products are being manufactured and undergo a comprehensive logistics process that enhances a new productive approach to improve printing technology. Embracing the use of 3D printing is one way of patronizing our society’s influence by having a creative facility that improves human lifestyle in the long process according to Kostakis & Papachristou (2014).
References
Bump, Philip (2013). “How Defense Distributed Already Upended the World”. The Atlantic Wire.
Matsumoto, Jane S.; Morris, Jonathan M.; Foley, Thomas A.; Williamson, Eric E.; Leng, Shuai; McGee, Kiaran P.; Kuhlmann, Joel L.; Nesberg, Linda E.; Vrtiska, Terri J. (2015). “Three-dimensional Physical Modeling: Applications and Experience at Mayo Clinic”. Radiographics. 35 (7): 1989–2006. doi:10.1148/rg.2015140260.
Klimas, Liz (2013-02-19). “Engineer: Don’t Regulate 3D Printed Guns, Regulate Explosive Gun Powder Instead”. The Blaze.
Kostakis, V. & Papachristou, M. (2014). “Commons-based peer production and digital fabrication: The case of a RepRap-based, Lego-built 3D printing-milling machine”. Telematics and Informatics. 31 (3): 434–443.
Wu, D.; Rosen, D.W.; Schaefer, D. (2015). “Scalability Planning for Cloud-Based Manufacturing Systems.” Transactions of the ASME”. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering. 137: 040911.
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