Portfolio of works

SUMMARY - This is an internal report

that will explain 3D printing and some of

the areas it is used in. It is a discussion

paper to understand how 3D printing can

be used to help promote small business

opportunities in Australias

manufacturing industry for regional and

remote Queensland. It will highlight

peoples understanding and perception

of this new technology and recommend

the best way to promote it for business

opportunities for the benefits to the

individuals, business and industries.

3D PRINTING AND OPPORTUNITIES

BY CHRISTOPHER SEETO JUNE 3, 2013

TITLE PAGE

AUTHOR: CHRISTOPHER SEETO

TITLE: 3D PRINTING AND OPPORTUNITIES

COMMISSIONED BY: SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY PROJECT

DATE: JUNE 3, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGEi

SUMMARY.i

TITLE PAGE.ii

TABLE OF CONTENTSiii

INTRODUCTION.1

SECTION 1: 3D PRINTING AND THE TYPES1

SECTION 2: AREAS OF IMPACT..2

SECTION 3: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION3

TABLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND GRAPHS4

REFERENCES5

INTRODUCTION1

3D printing is an emerging technology that has been in the news

lately. These broad stroke stories have been fuelling peoples

imagination, fascination and curiosity.

This is not a study but a discussion on a theme for people

interested in technology, science, manufacturing, food production

and healthcare and is a company internal report. This paper is

focused on 3D printing, industry impact and what it offers

businesses.

For convenience, this paper has been organised in several sections

to enable the finding of information. The first section will explain

what 3D printing is and some of the types. Followed by three

areas it is impacting on. It then concludes with the effects on

business and recommendation about promoting business

opportunities.

SECTION 1: 3D PRINTING AND THE TYPES

3D PRINTING

It is also known as Additive manufacturing. It is a process where a digital model makes a three-

dimensional object (solid object). This is done through the additive process where successive layers

of material are laid down to build the object.

Figure 2 3D Printing Process (Additive Manufacturing) Cr: Christopher Seeto

COMMON TYPES

I will discuss the three most common types of the five that are available:

1. Extrusion Thermoplastic material flows through an extrusion nozzle which heats and melts

the material and is controlled by the computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software that

helps to produce the required 3D object.

2. Granular The technique fuses parts of the materials in the granular bed layer and moves

around repeating the process until the object is built. This 3D printer uses thermoplastics,

metal powders and ceramic powders as the 3D printing material.

Figure 1 An ORDbot Quantum 3D printer Photo Cr: Wikipedia

3. Light-Polymerization Uses liquid polymer material which sits in a vat (well) and is exposed

to light to harden the liquid polymer. Small increment movements downward of a plate

combined with the light exposure enables the object to be built.

The other two types are Wire and Laminated.

SECTION 2: AREAS OF IMPACT

HEALTHCARE

3D printing is moving in to the area of regenerative medicine and is now referred to as 3D bio-

printing.

It has been recorded in science and medical journals that this technology has enabled us to print

human embryonic stem cells, blood vessels, skin tissues, heart tissue, bone and cartilage (laboratory

test stage).

Here are some of the lists of breakthroughs from the science and medical journals:

Human Embryonic Stem Cells University of Edinburgh

Blood Vessels and Heart Tissue University of Missouri

Skin Tissue Laser Center Hannover

Cartilage Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

MANUFACTURING

It is possible to manufacture tangible items from any idea.

Basically you can print out anything from cell phone cases,

shoes, jewellery, cups, flowerpots, tools, Research and

Development model parts, guns, figurines and even concrete

blocks.

The power of manufacturing is now being transferred from

factories to anyone with a laptop.

FOOD

Modern Meadows is the leading company in this field.

Andras Forgacs is the CEO of the company and comes from

the University of Missouri where he worked on the heart

tissue project for regenerative medicine.

In a recent Questions and Answer with Reddit members, he explained that the company would be

able to produce first wave of meat products such as minced meat like hamburger patties and

sausages as well as pates and the possibility of seafood.

Figure 3 A model (left) that was digitally acquired by using a 3D scanner, the scanned data processed using MeshLab, and the resulting 3D model used by a rapid prototyping machine to create the resin replica (right) Photo Cr: Wikipedia

SECTION 3: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.3

CONCLUSION

In a survey undertaken by Create It Real, many of the respondents deemed that the 3D printers

main purpose is in creating prototypes, creativity and customisation. However, many of the

respondents though that 3D printers were still too expensive for the public to use. What was even

more interesting was the fact that the people who took part in the survey perceived that 3D printers

were a professional tool for producers and a Gadget.

In order for Australia to boost skills and the economy for the manufacturing industry, there needs to

be a way to demystify peoples perception of 3D printings expensiveness and as a professional tool.

RECOMMENDATION

In evaluating the survey results of peoples perception of 3D

printing I recommend that the best way to demystify and to

boost Australias manufacturing challenge is to organise a 3D

Printing Expo. This would provide a catalyst for small

business and entrepreneurs in remote and regional

Queensland.

The benefits of this 3D Printing Expo are:

Meeting Australias manufacturing challenge in the new economy

Increase peoples understanding of this new technology

Inform them of the areas where this technology is being used

Provide the opportunity for small business and entrepreneurs to turn ideas into products

Improve productivity and costs to existing businesses

Showcase that the new technology is now affordable to consumers E.g. kits costs $250

Use 3D printers through companies like Shapeways who allows people to design the product

and they will produce and ship the product for them

Highlights the power of manufacturing to the individual through the use of laptops

Highlight companies involved with the 3D Printing Industry in Australia

Figure 4 A crowded exhibition hall during CeBIT 2000. Photo Cr: Wikipedia

TABLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND GRAPHS 4

ORDBOT QUANTUM 3D PRINTER1

3D PRINTING PROCESS (FLOWCHART).1

MESHLAB 3D PRINTED MODEL2

CROWDED EXHIBITION HALL.3

REFERENCES ..5

Burg, Natalie. (2013) 3D Printing Could Be A Boon for Small Business. [Online] Forbes, May 6,

2013. Retrieved May 25, 2013 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/capitalonespark/2013/05/06/3d-

printing-could-be-a-boon-for-small-business/

Cuni, Bernat. 3D Printing creates opportunities for small businesses. [Online] Cunicode. Retrieved

May 25, 2013 from http://cunicode.com/small-bu3dprinting-creates-opportunities-for-small-

businesses-cnnmoney/

Day, Peter. (2013) 3D printing: A force for revolutionary change. [Online] BBC, May 21, 2013.

Retrieved May 25, 2013 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22559022

Fab, General. (2013) 3D Printing Survey Results. [Online] Fabbaloo, Apr 13, 2013. Retrieved May

25, 2013 from http://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/4/14/3d-printing-survey-results.html#.UarujkCnrUU

Forgacs, Andras. (2013) 3D Bio-Printed Meat is no Longer Science Fiction. [Online Lecture 14 min

2 sec] My Science Academy, Feb 12, 2013. Retrieved Feb 25, 2013 from

http://myscienceacademy.org/2013/02/12/3d-bio-printed-meat-is-no-longer-science-fiction/

Hart, Brad (2012). Will 3D Printing Change The World? [Online Article] Forbes, Mar 6, 2012. .

Retrieved Feb 25, 2013 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/gcaptain/2012/03/06/will-3d-printing-

change-the-world/

Lewis, Tanya (2013). 7 Cool Uses of 3D Printing in Medicine. [Online Presentation] Live Science,

Feb 4, 2013. . Retrieved Feb 25, 2013 from http://www.livescience.com/26853-3d-printing-

medicine.html

Simms, Craig (2012). Human organ 3D printing gets a helping hand from Autodesk. [Online

Article]. Cnet Australia, Dec 19, 2012. Retrieved Feb 25, 2013 from

http://www.cnet.com.au/human-organ-3d-printing-gets-a-helping-hand-from-autodesk-

339342874.htm

Wikipedia 3D printing (2013). [Online] Retrieved Feb 25, 2013 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The First Australian 3D Printing Exp