A CBC News article posted last November 7, 2013 discusses the potential of 3D printing in the manufacturing industry. Previously a costly and crude technology, 3D printing is now more affordable and suitable for various applications. The article interviews several industry experts who see a great future for 3D printer usage:
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Given the speed at which science and technology have evolved in the past few decades, it’s not surprising to hear about and even own things that used to be figments of your imagination. If you had to put up with a bulky mobile phone with a retractable antenna during the 1980s, you probably now enjoy the benefits of a lightweight and convenient smartphone. When it comes to the manufacturing industry and the medical field, however, 3D printing technology is a key innovation everyone is raving about and rooting for.
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Every year, various technological innovations never fail to surprise and amaze global consumers. In fact, a fine example of an impressive development in the manufacturing industry, which is slowly extending its influence over other sectors, is 3D printing. Today, projects or industries that require rapid prototyping in Ontario via 3D printing can be handled by a number of established companies like Objex Unlimited.
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What used to be science fiction stuff has now become a reality. Rapid prototyping, which enables designers and manufacturers to create 3D scale models of parts or assemblies using so-called additive technology, is set to revolutionize various aspects of everyday life. Søren Petersen, resident engineering and design researcher for Huffington Post, has this to say about the fast evolving technology:
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Technology moves at an exhilarating pace as various experts continue to discover new ways to bring groundbreaking concepts and solutions to fruition. The field of medicine is one of the primary beneficiaries of modern technological advancements, particularly tools and gadgets that enable faster delivery of medical solutions to various injuries and ailments. A story posted on Marlin Finance shares that 3D printers and scanners are starting to make promising strides in the medical field.
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Sheffield-based Fripp Design, a small manufacturing company in the north of England is hoping to revolutionize the world of prosthetics.

Photograph: Fripp Design

“Fripp Design has developed a system for fast and low-cost manufacture of facial prostheses such as nose and ear replacements for accident victims. “Conventional maxillofacial prosthetics are incredibly laborious and expensive to produce,” says their creator, industrial designer Tom Fripp. And it takes normally 10 weeks to complete one. “You have to take an impression from the area of trauma, cast a plaster positive, then make a mould, carve the desired form in wax, and cast it in silicone. The end result of this handmade process costs between £1,500 to £3,000.”

Working with researchers at the University of Sheffield, Fripp’s company have developed a process that can print a customized nose or ear within 48 hours. First the patient’s face is 3D-scanned, then the specific contours are added to a digital model of the new prosthetic part for a perfect fit. These features are either taken from the scan of the patients’ relatives or the patient’s own file, for example one ear can be scanned and mirrored to replicate another.

Meanwhile they are also working on 3D-printed eyes. A handmade eye can cost up to $10,000, but a 3D printed one will only cost around $160.

The parts are printed in full colour in starch powder using a Z Corp Z510 colour 3D printer. The lightweight model is then vacuum-infiltrated with medical grade silicone, binding it together. The cost of making such a part is almost the same as a handmade prosthetic, but Fripp says once the file is created, it can be used infinitely. And the cost can be lowered to £150.

The main barrier is the high cost of 3D-scanning technology as well as getting approval from the health authority. Fripp expects the technology to be ready in about a year.”

Article Source | 3Ders.org