3D printing
3D printing
Contents
About 3D Printing
History
When did 3D printing start: Evolution from 2D:
Concerns
Intellectual Property Rights
Finally, given the ease with which certain objects can now be replicated, it remains to be seen whether changes will be made to current copyright legislation so as to protect intellectual property rights with the new technology widely available.
Misuse
Labor Substitution
Continuing Advancements
4D Printing
4D printing incorporates one more dimension: the function of time. The team dubbed "Self-Assembly Lab"[1] at Massachusetts Institute of Technology collaborated with Stratasys, a major 3D printing manufacturer, and the software corporation Autodesk Inc to develop a custom-built and adaptable technology[2].
As an extension of 3D printing, 4D printing aims to skip the step of assembling the printed material ourselves to having them self-assemble as well as autonomously reshape over time. These programmable materials are created with multi-material 3D printing and their responses to changes in environment (mimicked with simple energy inputs of water, heat, and light), as well as geometric code Cite error: Closing </ref>
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tag, showing how a single 1D strand dipped in water could proceed to self-fold into the letters 'M I T'.
Concerns
This complex technology introduces many possibilities in engineering. It has already appeared in several businesses, such as sportswear, but soon, the focus may shift from the inorganic world to organic life. There is also opportunity for misuse of the programmable matter, and issues in regulation concerning intellectual property law and patenting[3].