3D Printing Applications You’ve Never Heard Of

What was once a thing of science fiction has become relatively commonplace, so you may not find it all that impressive anymore. That may change when you see just how varied and valuable 3D printing has become. Read on to discover seven wild and wonderful 3D printing applications.

1. Body Parts

You may have seen 3D printed medical devices like casts or braces before. Now, however, scientists can 3D print functional body parts, including kidneys, bones and blood vessels. Most of these applications use materials from human cells, so you don’t have to worry about having pieces of plastic inside you.

This technology could revolutionize medicine. Patients wouldn’t have to worry about their body rejecting a transplant since doctors can print an exact biological match.

2. Houses

Sure, you can 3D print a scale model of a construction project, but why stop there? With a large enough machine, you can print entire buildings. This idea isn’t just a theory, either, as there are already neighborhoods of 3D printed houses standing today. These massive printers use eco-friendly cement-like materials to build homes in only a few days. Before long, you may see 3D printed houses and offices in all parts of town.

3. Food

Why order in when you can print a pizza? You may not be able to so this moment, but NASA started researching 3D printed pizza back in 2013. The goal of this project is to provide astronauts with food in outer space, but the space organization isn’t the only one looking to print food.

From chocolate to dough balls, companies and consumers alike have found ways to 3D print snacks within minutes. As technology develops, you may be able to print virtually any food you could want.

4. Cars

You may be surprised to learn that the first 3D printed car project started ten years ago. Since then, manufacturers from Toyota to Bugatti have unveiled models that are either entirely 3D printed or feature many printed parts. This technology adds material instead of cutting it away, making it less wasteful than other forms of manufacturing. An increase in 3D printed cars would lead to a smaller carbon footprint for the automotive industry.

5. Instruments

Want to start learning guitar but don’t want to shell out for a brand-name instrument? With 3D printing, making your own just got a lot easier. People have used 3D printers to make instruments from guitars to saxophones and even restore antique models. By printing a missing or broken part, you can fix up old antiques affordably and easily. 

6. Clothes

It can be hard to find an outfit that fits just the way you like. Some companies have started 3D printing custom clothes and accessories, allowing for personalized fits and designs.

At the moment, 3D printed clothing may not be the most comfortable thing in the world, but it shows promise. You may not want a plastic shirt, but cheap custom-made glasses frames may be more enticing. Like with other applications, these items will become more practical over time.

7. Medicine

Bones and organs aren’t the only medical application of 3D printing. Pharmaceutical companies can use these machines to cheaply and quickly produce medicine. Some 3D printed drugs are already FDA-approved, so it may not be long before more comes to market.

Exciting 3D Printing Applications You Need to Know About

This technology may not be a thing of the future anymore, but it certainly has a bright future ahead of it. Whether you realize it or not, 3D printing applications are disrupting every industry.