From manufacturing to medicine or even food production! But now, we can 3D printers being used in ways that go beyond industrial purposes. We can even use them at home to create everyday objects like toys, phone cases, jewelry, or even furniture, why not? It sounds kind of far-fetched, no? But it works better than you would think. Imagine being able to make anything you want. A new pair of shoes? Check. An iPhone case that fits your phone? Check. A unique wrench for your toolbox? Double check!
Look at Hasbro! They have recently announced a new project called the “Hasbro Selfie Series” figures. They aim to use 3D printing technology to produce custom-made action figures for fans. Through the use of a smart device, we can now scan our faces and have personalized action figures that look just like them. And they will be delivered right to our doorstep!
“We believe 3D printing offers endless potential to bring incredible new play experiences for kids, and we’re excited to work with 3D Systems, a recognized industry leader in this space,” Brian Goldner, Hasbro CEO, stated.
But let’s face it – when it comes to mass production, we all know that the manufacturing process has a significant environmental impact. A negative one, might I add. As companies, we have to use a lot of energy to manufacture and transport, which, unfortunately, causes pollution and harm to our world. But with the rise of 3D printing and its increased use of it has brought an innovative and sustainable manufacturing process that can reduce waste and save resources in various ways.
Several startups have already embraced 3D printing in their production processes. General Electric, Nike, Hershey’s – all of them are innovatively using 3D printers. And for good reasons! They are thought to be the next, most sustainable, efficient, but also affordable option for manufacturing.
Well, it all comes down to the materials used. 3D printing offers a wide range of options, including thermoplastic polymer ABS, which is known for its durability. However, it is also known to not be environmentally friendly because it’s not easily biodegradable. Nevertheless, there’s an increasing use of PLA plastic, which is a biodegradable alternative and it is more eco-friendly.
Even more so, as the 3D printing industry expands, using recycled materials becomes an even more attractive option. Nowadays, there are many machines available that can recycle thermoplastic, including materials from failed prototypes. The best part is that the recycled filament is even more durable than the original and can be recycled over and over again, making for a more sustainable production process.
Look at Nike’s new shoe Air Zoom Alphafly Next Nature. For the development, they have used recycled waste from the 3D printing process to create its Flyprint and Flyknit upper. This approach both improves sustainability and minimizes the amount of materials required for production.
But the benefits of 3D printing are not only because of its materials that are far less damaging to the world but also because of the way that they are used. With traditional manufacturing methods, we would be wasting a lot of material as we try to get to the finished product by removing the excess block of material. With 3D printers, on the other hand, the production process is much more clear-cut and accurate that allows us to develop a product with the necessary amount of materials only. This way, we would make the product from scratch by adding layers of materials one at a time to create that shape.
3D printing also has a major advantage that often goes unnoticed – it can save a lot of fuel! In a typical process of production, a product is manufactured in one place and then transported several times before reaching the shelves. What does that mean exactly? Well, a lot of fuel is consumed, and a lot of greenhouse gasses are released. However, with a 3D printer, the entire process can happen locally without the need for physical transportation, cutting down both on emissions and your costs.
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