In this blog post, we will examine the principles of 3D printing, its applications (in fields such as medicine and architecture), potential risks, and industrial implications, using the disguise scene from the movie ‘Mission: Impossible III’ as a starting point.
The Movie Scene and the Reality of 3D Printing
Released in 2006, the Tom Cruise-starring film ‘Mission: Impossible III’ gained immense popularity thanks to its solid storyline and various visual highlights. Among these, the scene that caught the attention of many scientists was the one where the protagonist disguises himself as a villain to carry out his mission. In that scene, a printer receives a photo of the villain and instantly produces a three-dimensional mask of his face, which the protagonist uses to deceive the enemies and complete the mission. While many people thought this technology was merely a cinematic effect, it has become a reality—and that reality is the 3D printer.
What is a 3D printer?
The “D” in 3D printer stands for “Dimension.” In other words, a 3D printer is a machine capable of printing desired shapes in three dimensions. In fact, 3D printing technology was originally developed 30 years ago by an American company to create prototypes before manufacturing finished products. Recently, as patents on 3D printer technology have expired, the technology is gaining renewed attention. So, what is the principle behind this technology?
Principles: Additive and Subtractive Methods
The principles of 3D printing are divided into additive and subtractive methods, depending on how the three-dimensional shape is created. The additive method involves building up the desired shape by stacking thin layers (layers) one on top of another. Just as a building is completed by stacking floors one by one, a 3D printer creates a three-dimensional object by repeatedly stacking thin layers—ranging from 0.001 mm to 0.01 mm—hundreds or thousands of times. Considering that the thickness of standard A4 paper is between 0.1 mm and 0.15 mm, one can appreciate just how incredibly thin these layers are. If the layers are thick, the layers become visible on the surface, but the thinner the layers, the smoother the surface becomes. Subtractive manufacturing is a method where a sculptor carves a massive block to create a form; while it can produce intricate exteriors, it is impossible to carve out the interior, making it less versatile than additive manufacturing.
Applications: From Medicine to Architecture
3D printers can print everything from simple shapes like sculptures or toys to complex and intricate structures like machine parts, depending on the design, leading to a wide range of ongoing research. Initially, only plastic materials could be printed, but recently, it has become possible to print not only fiber materials like nylon but also hard materials like metal, making it feasible to produce products that require high strength, such as automotive or aircraft parts. In the UK, there was a reported case where a man who suffered a depressed skull fracture in a traffic accident was implanted with a 3D-printed artificial bone and made a full recovery. Additionally, in the Netherlands, an experiment is underway to build a house by printing and assembling sections using a large 6-meter 3D printer; it is said that the house will take about three years to complete.
Issues and Technical Limitations
The fact that 3D printers can produce virtually anything is both an advantage and a disadvantage. At one point, a video of a test firing of a 3D-printed gun caused controversy on social media; the gun’s destructive power in the video was sufficient to harm a person.
The problem is that anyone with a blueprint can create such weapons, and since there is currently no clear way to identify who created a particular object or how it will be used, a solution is needed. Technical limitations include slow production speeds, making them unsuitable for mass production, and the fact that standard 3D printers have size restrictions, making it difficult to create large-volume objects.
Future Outlook
If these issues are resolved, 3D printers have great potential to transform the future industrial landscape. Currently, the structure is such that consumers purchase products mass-produced by companies, but once 3D printers become widespread, a new model will emerge where companies sell blueprints instead of the products themselves, and consumers produce the items themselves. Individuals with design skills will be able to create their own products for personal use or sale, thereby contributing to economic revitalization. Global interest in 3D printing is so intense that former U.S. President Barack Obama remarked, “It has the potential to change the way we manufacture in every sector.” It remains to be seen whether 3D printing will overcome its current challenges and, by combining with rapidly advancing industrial technologies, spark a new wave of innovation.
