Tuesday, February 10, 2015

NaBloPoMo: Make...3D Print!


3D prints of a miniature human face

Today's NaBloPoMo prompt is this: "Have you ever used a 3D printer or had something 3D printed? If you could use a 3D printer today, what would you make?"

There have been quite a number of synchronicities in my life and this is certainly one of them. Just yesterday, Monday, during Family Day holiday in British Columbia, I went to the library and noticed this piece of news on the front page of Sunday's local newspaper.

It featured a large coloured photo about 3D technology. This followed with a few inside pages of examples: a 3D mask and figurine somewhat analagous to a selfie I suppose, also prosthetics (which is what came to my mind initially regarding the question when I first read it last week) as well as orthotics and even human tissue! Wow! How exciting!

I had read or heard of this technology some time ago, a few weeks or perhaps even a few months ago via a previous news article or maybe even an inspirational TED talk. Regardless, aren't scientific breakthroughs utterly amazing?! Though I thought this technology was quite new, it has actually been around since 1984! How come I am only coming upon this rather recently?

Scanned Spinosaurus skull in two sizes

Possibilities of 3D printing around the human body that I imagined - animal bodies too - reproducing organs and body parts such as skin tissue, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, teeth, etc. And what about those who are disabled, some who require prosthetics or the like?

I love out-of-the-box thinking and being inspired with creative efforts such as this: the possibilities are endless, limitless, out of this world!

How excited are you about this relatively new technology? And what would you 3D print if you had such a machine?

Pictures from Wikipedia. I attempted to download two videos without success.

19 comments:

  1. Yes, the tech world is growing in leaps and bounds. Havent seen a 3D printout as yet/ I think, I'd like to take 3D printouts of some awesome cake designs! I am hooked to cakes and bakes now-a-days! :D

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    1. Ah, now that sounds like a really cool idea Shilpa! :) <3

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  2. I haven't seen a 3D printer but it sounds pretty awesome.

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    1. Me neither, not yet except online and hopefully we both will be able to see it soon one day and in process! ;) <3

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  3. We are progressing by leaps and bounds no? Love it, love the way technology creates magic!

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  4. This is the first time that I have heard about 3D printer. Sounds so exciting.

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    1. And me recently and it's been around a long time: a well-hidden secret for the most of us! ;) <3

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  5. Very cool technology. Amazing what they come up with. I haven't seen 3D printing but it sounds fascinating and almost like futuristic science fiction to me.

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    1. I agree, very much like futuristic science fiction except that it's already NOW...WOW! ;) <3

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  6. Very cool the leaps and bounds that technology has taken! It seems anything we can imagine or dream up can be a reality. Awesome!

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    1. Yes, we can create what we wish from our imagination...isn't that cool?! :) <3

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  7. Yes, I have seen it and a friend of mine has one for his business. Blows me away

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    1. Oh that's so neat that you've seen it in action I presume: how lucky for you! :) <3

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  8. I actually find these 3 D printers quite amazing. My son got to use one recently for one of his science projects. I haven't used one personally but would love to.

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    1. Yes, they certainly sound amazing Rachna. Lucky your son got to experiment with one! ;) <3

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  10. I wonder what a 3D head of mine would look like... frankly I would be scared to have a bodyless head floating around my house :P

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    1. Your comment made me laugh Raj! ;) You needn't print your own head! ;) <3

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