Common Applications Of 3D Printing: From Aerospace To Fashion

Common Applications Of 3D Printing: From Aerospace To Fashion

From aerospace and medical purposes to fashion and automotive innovations, there are nearly limitless possibilities of 3D printing for prototyping, manufacturing and customization. A 3D printer constructs a model human figure in the exhibition '3D: printing the future' in the ... [+] Science Museum in London. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) 3D printing is the process of creating a solid, three-dimensional object from a computer file. 3D printing is an additive process, meaning the printer lays material (like plastic filament) on a flat surface over and over. 3D printing has plenty of professional uses, like medical implants and car parts, especially as printing has become more affordable and widespread. 3D printing has various useful purposes in the healthcare industry, including creating metal implants that can be used in a patient's knees, skull, spine or hips. 3D printers can also create medical equipment and prosthetics at a lower cost. The dental industry has greatly benefitted from 3D printing, which can be used to create implants, crowns, retainers, dentures and anatomical models. 3D printing can also create hearing aid and surgical models and can assist doctors with preoperative planning. 3D printers can be used for both big and small purposes in construction.