The Coolest Things People Are Making on 3D Printers
If you can think it, you can create it — thanks to 3D printers. 3D printers are revolutionizing the DIY world, enabling people to make the most unlikely products themselves, on the spot.
Want a bike? Print one out. Need a pair of scissors? They’ll be ready in a jiffy. Need a set of false teeth? Here you go!
The concept behind 3D printing is simple: a printer physically turns your digital computer file into a physical object (you can download designs for 3D printing projects from sites like Thingiverse). Working like the old-fashioned dot-matrix printers — which printed a bunch of tiny dots that, together, formed words and images — 3D printers print layer after layer of images on top of plastic (or other material) to form objects.
The process can take hours or days. But one of the biggest benefits of 3D printing: it doesn’t leave much excess raw material behind.
Related story on Yahoo Makers: 2 Easy Crafts Made With Recycled Materials
Another benefit is that it has the potential to turn everyday people into DIY manufacturers. Imagine a future where every home has a 3D printer; if you run out of nails while hanging pictures, for instance, you could print your own. Think of all the meaningless errands we’ll all avoid!
We’re getting a glimpse of the future of 3D printing as engineers, manufacturers, and even regular do-it-yourselfers are creating cool things using this exciting technology. Here are some of our favorite 3D printing innovations we’ve seen lately.
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