3D printing has been called a new industrial revolution. In the future we can print everything we need from a home printer. 16 year old Mikkel Christensen Killingmo has already begun.
On his desk for 16-year-old Mikkel Christensen Killingmo is what has been called the new industrial revolution.
This is a printer that is connected to a computer. So far, it is known to most people.However, this printer does not print sheets of two-dimensional designs or text.
This print dørstoppere, judge whistles and everything else of little things that Mikkel need in the house. Given that there may be plastic.
All he has to do is download a 3D model from the Internet, put it into the computer program that talks to the printer and press the "print".
The machine then put the plastic layer by layer, and a few minutes later, he has a tangible version of the model he saw on the computer screen.
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Let's look at some examples.
It prints out a one-dimensional version of the Star Wars character Yoda. The decorations on the shelves as:
And here is someone print out a flexible spring from his 3D printer:
3D printing allows you to create a bicycle chain that hangs together right out of the printer.
3D printing is not brand new technology. It has been used in the industry a long time, mostly for the construction of prototypes.
- It's about taking a data file with a picture of something and build it in three dimensions. It is an effective way to create prototypes and test how they look. You make one, look at it and maybe adjust a bit. And on the basis of the prototype can make a mold, said Morten Dæhlen at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oslo.
He and the other at the Institute have begun to concentrate fully on this technology for educational purposes.
- We have invested in this because we believe that the use will increase in business and industry.
3D printing also allows for making things that were previously impossible.
- Instead of having a piece and then cutting or milling away material, so the thing built up layer by layer from a data model. And it provides new opportunities in how to make things, it means that you can print out in one piece without putting so much together, says Kyrre Glette the department.
Engineering Yngve Hafting have used the 3D printer to create a continuous bicycle chain, for example.
He explains in brief what 3D printing is based on:
- First, you have a drawing, a three-dimensional model on a computer screen. So importing Mon 3D model into a program that can create information that the printer needs. Then print out a layer of plastic at a time. Each team has a certain thickness, about 0.2 millimeters.
- New Industrial Revolution
Dæhlen believe this is part of a new industrial revolution where computer technology to an even greater extent than today will be used in the production of goods. It will not be many years before 3D printers will be used for industrial production on a larger scale.
- 3D printers are becoming so accurate that they can create things that are good enough as a product. And they can be made in different materials. The most we are using it now are plastic materials, but it can also be made of metals. And when they are good enough they can produce finished parts.
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- How long is it until you can press the button and presto I get my new cell phone out?
- Then we have the ability to print with very many different materials to build all the plastics and electronics in one. And we're not totally today, said Glette.
But he adds that it is attempting to print electronics, and that we have come a little.
It is already possible to print in other substances than plastic.
- You can print out the metals, but with a slightly different process. Then you have powder that can melt then solidifies with a laser. Aluminium powder for example. Do you have a large enough printer, you can theoretically print out a bicycle, said Glette to echo presenter Mona Myklebust.
And it's not just industry that has begun to play around with this technology. Around the world sitting there interested in technology and builds 3D printers for home use. In Norway, there are between 100 and 200 home-made printers.
Dæhlen think it's going to be common to have a home printer.
- The price of the printers you can buy and build at home is probably around 10,000 dollars today. It's going to go down. So this is going.
Built printer at home
To see the 3D printer to Mikkel out.
Photo: Private
Mikkel Killingmo Christensen is one of those who have built their own 3D printer in his bedroom.
- There is no limit to what this can print out as long as it is in plastic, he declares.
And Christensen have all faith that this is the future.
- I do not think there are very many years the prices have been much lower and you get a finished print that you do not need to do something. And then I think you can go on Expert or how it should be and buy one for between 1000 and 2000 million maybe.
Christensen download models from the website Thingiverse.com, where people in the world share drawings to 3D printers. He has printed out a door stop that is in daily use in the bedroom.
- And my dad has actually ordered one thing. We have a boiler in which the knob on the lid is broken, so I should really try to print.
Printer prints out the children
Another part of the revolution of this technology lies in what is called the RepRap project or model.
The type of 3D printer makes it in fact possible to print out other printers, in that technology, design, drawings and thoughts shared on the network.
How will the printer be able to spread among consumers regardless of dealers or shops.The neighbor can print a printer to you, which you in turn can use to print out what you need in the house.
Mikkel Christensen Killingmo have printed out the parts for a mate. And his printer parts come from a different parent printer.
- I think 50 percent of the parts are in plastic. And the plastic parts on my printer I bought from a guy on eBay who had also printed out the parts here. So that means that all printers are in a large family tree. So it's pretty cool, says Christensen.
Hear what happened when he tried to print out a referee whistle on his homemade 3D printer:
Replace plants?
The man behind the RepRap model, Adrian Bowyer, believes his technology will reduce the number of factories and number of trucks on the roads that distribute the plant produces.
But before we can cut out the shop or retailers, we must also be able to produce the raw material itself, the printer needs to make these things.
Today, Chistensen and his peers put on strips of plastic that is melted and solidifies again.
But the whole world is on trial and error and develop this technology. And it goes fast.
- It's very funny that anyone can want to contribute to such an exciting new project that may have great significance for us in the future, says Christensen.
See how the judge whistle were to:
