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 Australia’s
manufacturing industry for regional and
remote Queensland. It will highlight
people’s 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 PAGE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………i
SUMMARY….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………i
TITLE PAGE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………iii
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
SECTION 1: 3D PRINTING AND THE TYPES………………………………………………………………………………1
SECTION 2: AREAS OF IMPACT…………………………..……………………………………………………………………2
SECTION 3: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION……………………………………………………………………3
TABLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND GRAPHS……………………………………………………………………………………4
REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1
3D printing is an emerging technology that has been in the news
lately. These broad stroke stories have been fuelling people’s
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 printer’s
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 people’s perception of 3D printing’s expensiveness and as a professional tool.
RECOMMENDATION
In evaluating the survey results of people’s perception of 3D
printing I recommend that the best way to demystify and to
boost Australia’s 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 Australia’s manufacturing challenge in the new economy
Increase people’s 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 PRINTER………………………………………………………………………………………………1
3D PRINTING PROCESS (FLOWCHART)…………………………………………………………………………………….1
MESHLAB 3D PRINTED MODEL…………………………………………………………………………………………………2
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 Expo”
The inaugural Australian 3D Printing Expo will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2013. It starts at 9am
and ends at 5pm at the Souths Leagues Club in Mackay, Queensland. It includes wide range of 3D
printing industry leading sponsors and exhibitors; as well as representatives of the local business
areas who will be attending.
This highly anticipated conference is the first in Australia to address the impact of 3D printing in a
range of industries including engineering, architecture, construction, manufacturing and health.
There have been broad stories about 3D printing in the media lately and people are fascinated and
curious about this new technology.
Lila Clarke, the Event Coordinator, described the 3D printing process by saying, “at a basic level, you
can create objects layer by layer in plastic. The mind-blowing future includes the possibility of
printing buildings in concrete as well as printing human organs layer by layer using cells and stem
cells.
“The reason for choosing Mackay instead of a major city is that there are more engineers by
population than any other city in Australia.”
“Holding the conference in Mackay allows the target market to be directly involved from the very
start”, said Ms Clarke.
The expo features a team of Australian and international industry leaders speakers which include:
Dr Mark Hodge – CEO, Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC)
Mr John Barnes – Titanium Theme Leader, CSIRO
Mr Bruce Grey – Managing Director at Advanced Manufacturing CRC
Professor Milan Brandt – Professor, RMIT
Simon Bartlett – Director, Rapid Pro
Mitchell Benness – Business Development Manager, 3D Systems
To find out further information about the conference or to register at the Expo, please go to
www.3dprintingexpo.org.
ABOUT 3D PRINTING EXPO
This is a business community project which has been initiated by a group of small business owners in
Townsville, Mackay, and Brisbane. The 3D Printing Expo’s mission is to introduce new business and
manufacturing technologies to remote and regional Queensland.
This new innovation will have an impact on the manufacturing industry just like the production line
that Henry Ford invented.
For media, interviews and photos please contact
Lila Clarke
3D Printing Expo Event Coordinator
Mobile: 0448 138 451
Press Release
Web Page
“Australia’s First 3D Printing Event”
Australia’s first 3D Printing Expo will be held in Mackay on
June 13, 2013. It is expected that there will be over 200
delegates who will attend; most of them will be representing
local businesses in Mackay and the surrounding areas.
3D printing has been impacting on news and media in broad
stories. People are fascinated and curious about the future
possibilities of what this new technology can do. It has been
reported that it can produce a gun, print concrete blocks to
build buildings, print human organs as well as bone and
cartilage.
It can also print food. Many people are now starting to coin 3D printing as a replicator after the
device that was featured heavily in the science fiction show “Star Trek”.
Australia’s first 3D Printing Expo was the brainchild of a group of small business owners in
Townsville, Mackay and Brisbane that wanted this business community project to happen. They
believed in their mission to introduce new business and manufacturing technologies to regional and
remote Queensland.
When Lila Clarke, the Event Coordinator, was asked why the
3D Printing Expo was being held here.
She said, “The reason for choosing Mackay instead of a major
city is that there are more engineers by population ratio than
any other city in Australia.”
She also added, “Regional centres like Mackay generally have
to travel to major cities to visit conferences. Holding the
conference in Mackay allows the target market to be directly
involved from the very start.”
One of the presenters at the Expo, Professor Milan Brandt of RMIT, understands the importance of
Australia’s manufacturing position with this new technology. RMIT University’s focus on 3D printing
manufacturing will enable Australia to boost skills and the economy.
Another speaker, Mitchell Benness who is the Business Development Manager of 3D Systems, will
provide a review of current solutions and applications for 3D printing by focusing on a range of
different industries and technologies.
It’s the application of the 3D printing technology that has seen the rapid growth of new businesses in
industries.
Figure 6 RepRap version 2.0 (Mendel) Photo Cr: Wikipedia
Figure 5 Attendees at Event Photo Cr: Wikipedia
“3D Printing Manufactures New Business”
Andreas, an IT guy from Austria has a
problem, Lego had stopped making
hats for his Napoleonic figures. You
see, Andreas is a hobbyist and likes to
use the plastic characters that comes
with the Lego toy set to create
historically accurate dioramas (three
dimensional models). This meant that
he could no longer complete his
historical diorama and it proved an
impossible challenge to get the Lego
parts.
He had no experience in product
design and could not access a factory
to produce what he needed. He had
to come up with a solution that was cost effective and easy to manufacture the Lego parts.
He then heard about this new technology called 3D printing. He knew that this new technology
could create flowerpots, jewellery and nearly anything as long as you had an idea to create these
tangible items. However, the printer was too expensive.
He then came across a company called Shapeways. This company had 3D printers and they allowed
customers to supply the designs. This meant that all the person had to do was design the product
and they would print it out for him. This now meant that as a designer or entrepreneur you didn’t
need to own a 3D printer to benefit from this new technology.
So Andreas designed his hat for the Lego figurines and sent it to Shapeways where they printed it
out on the 3D printer. He then informed other hobbyists about his product and they liked it. His
popularity and the demand from other Lego customizers grew so much that he now sells the hats
and other items. He manufactures the items using the 3Dprinter and has a website where he sells
and distributes it.
3D printing technology allows people to turn an idea into a tangible product especially for small
businesses that make things and for entrepreneurs who dream of doing the same.
Figure 7 Lego Imagination Center at the Mall of America, before 2010 remodelling Photo Cr: Wikipedia
Case Studies
“3D Printing Manufactures New Business”
“Understanding 3D Printing”
Broad stories of 3D printing are opening up the possibilities of the future. With stories about
printing shoes, human organs, concrete blocks for houses and even food, it has captured the public’s
imagination. So what is 3D printing?
3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing. It is the process where a digital model of an
object goes through a process where layers of material are laid down to produce the 3D object.
There are several types of 3D printers but there are three
widely used types. The three types are Extrusion, Granular
and Light Polymerised.
Extrusion printers use materials like thermoplastics and some
edible materials. The plastic material goes through a
funnelled coil and is heated along the way and the heated
material forms at the end of nozzle to be layered to form the
3D object.
Granular printers can use thermoplastics, metal powders and
ceramic powders. The technique fuses parts of the materials on a granular bed and repeats the
process until the object is built.
The Light Polymerised printer uses a liquid polymer. Here the liquid polymer sits in a well and light
is used to harden parts of the liquid polymer. The plate moves down to repeat the process until the
object is built and then the liquid polymer is drained.
The arrival of 3D printing allows the opportunity for small
business and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into products.
The power of manufacturing is in the hands of the little guy
and the only limitation is the individual’s imagination.
The best thing about this new technology is that you don’t
need to own a 3D printer to benefit from this technology. An
innovative company called Shapeways allows budding
designers or entrepreneurs the opportunity use this
technology. All you need to do is design your product and
send it to Shapeways where they will print the item and send
it directly to your customer.
So start turning your product ideas into a business.
“Understanding 3D Printing”
Figure 8 The CandyFab granular printing system Photo Cr: Wikipedia
Figure 9 Colour miniature face models produced on a Spectrum Z510 3D Printer Photo Cr: Wikipedia
“3D Printing Out Small Business”
If you haven’t heard by now that there is a new technology called 3D printing that seems to be
revolutionising the world.
So what is 3D printing? 3D printing is also referred to as additive manufacturing. The 3d printing
process is where the digital model of a product has layered material successively laid down to
produce a 3D object.
This new manufacturing technology offers new opportunities for entrepreneurs and start- up
companies. It allows an individual to turn their ideas into a design and to introduce their product to
the marketplace through the internet.
This 3D printing technology is a potential game changer for small business as it places manufacturing
in the hands of the little guy. The best thing about it is the affordability and that the 3D object can
be printed right on the spot from a laptop.
It’s this type of technology that is helping innovators to start
new businesses and earn money.
Take for example an IT guy in Austria who loved playing with
Lego. He started out as a hobbyist and liked customizing his
Lego plastic characters so that he could create historically
accurate dioramas (three-dimensional models).
He designed Napoleonic hats for the Lego figures. He then
started making it for other Lego customizers and the product
became popular. He now sells and distributes the hats and
other items for Lego figures through a website.
Then there is Arian Croft who designed a miniature game that
can be manufactured by a 3D printer. He was prototyping a
multi-genre role playing game system and decided to use 3D
printing to combine it with a portion of his game system. The
Pocket Tactics idea was conceived on Tuesday night and playable by Friday.
Croft had sculpted the figures for years until he decided to find someone to make the 3D pieces for
him. The entire game can now be printed out on MakerBot.
Croft quit his job in the medical field to focus on designing games and has already tasted success by
winning a MakerBot competition.
There is no way of telling how 3D printing can change the world economy. However, small business
and entrepreneurs will helm the transformation for sure.
Figure 10 Fully Assembled Thing-O-Matic with MK6 Stepstruder Extrusion Head Photo Cr: Wikipedia
“3D Printing Out Small Business”
“Australia Gets First 3D Printing Expo”
3D Printing has been gaining traction in the news lately and on the internet. There are a lot of broad
stories out there and it boggles the mind. It seems 3D printing is like something from the future, it
radiates the similarities to Star Trek’s replicator. It fuels people’s fascination and curiosity by
promoting future possibilities of this new technology.
So what are these future possibilities? It has been
factually reported that it can print out a working gun and
print out concrete blocks to build a house. In medicine it
can print human organs as well as bone and cartilage
with the latest development of printing a human ear in
the lab. Add to this food production where NASA is
going to trial it in space to print out pizza.
These stories electrified a group of small businesses
from Mackay, Townsville and Brisbane to initiate a
business community project for the region to produce
the 3D Printing Expo in Mackay. Their main goal for
regional and remote Queensland was to introduce this manufacturing technology to create new
business opportunities.
So why did they choose Mackay?
The Event Coordinator, Lila Clarke, said, “The reason for choosing Mackay instead of a major city is
that there are more engineers by population ratio than any other city in Australia”.
A speaker at the Expo, Professor Milan Brandt of the RMIT
University understands the importance of manufacturing to the
economy. Australian Manufacturing industries are facing
challenges and need to meet them through new skills and
technology like 3D printing (additive manufacturing).
However, many manufacturing organisations will face
challenges associated with 3D printers as it offers a great
opportunity for entrepreneurs and start-up business. 3D
printing allows you to turn an idea from design and introduce the product instantly to the
marketplace through the internet.
So if you are curious about 3D printing or interested in business opportunities, then come and visit
Australia’s first 3D Printing Expo in Mackay.
To get more information or participate in the Expo go to www.3dprintingexpo.org.
Figure 11 Attendees walking by the LG Electronics display Photo Cr: Wikipedia
Figure 12 Mackay Marina Photo Cr: Wikipedia
“Australia Gets First 3D Printing Expo”
Figure 13 3D Printed Jewellery Photo Cr: Wikipedia
Australian 3D Printing Expo
Mackay
Thursday 13 June 2013
Figure 14 3D Printer Photo Cr: IntelFreePress
Australian 3D Printing Expo
Here is your chance to learn about the biggest
game-changing technologies of the century.
This conference is the first one in Australia to
address the impact of 3D printing in a range of
industries.
The mind-blowing technology offers future
possibilities of printing concrete blocks,
human organs and food production.
3D printing (or additive manufacturing) is
revolutionising the manufacturing world just
like Henry Ford’s production line.
Attend the Expo and see what this fascinating
new technology is all about.
Learn how 3D printing turns people’s idea into
a tangible product to become an entrepreneur
or create a business.
Australian 3D Printing Expo
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Mackay
VENUE: Souths Leagues Club
AREA: Milton Platinum Room
TIME: 9:00am – 5:00pm
ADDRESS: 81 Milton Street, Mackay
REGISTER: Online at
www.3dprintingexpo.org
Figure 15 Mackay Marina Photo Cr: Wikipedia
Speakers
List of speakers at the 3D Printing Expo:
Mr Bruce Grey – Managing Director at
Advanced Manufacturing CRC
Dr Mark Hodge – CEO, Defence
Materials Technology Centre (DMTC)
Mr John Barnes – Titanium Theme
Leader, CSIRO
Professor Milan Brandt – Professor at
RMIT
Mr Simon Bartlett – Director at Rapid
Pro
Mr Mitchell Bennes – Business
Development Manager at 3D Systems
Figure 16 3D Printed Clothing Photo Cr: Wikipedia
Why MacKay?
Mackay was chosen instead of a major city
due to the fact that there are more engineers
by population ratio than any other city in
Australia.
Why A 3D Printing Expo?
The main goal is for regional and remote
Queensland to be introduced to new business
and manufacturing technologies.
A group of small business owners from
Townsville, Mackay and Brisbane initiated this
business community project.
Who Can Attend?
Anyone interested in emerging technologies,
manufacturing and industrial design.
Teachers and students from University, TAFE
and schools will receive a discount.
Contact 3D Printing Organisers
Lila Clarke
Event Coordinator
Mobile: 0448 138 451
Email: [email protected]
Mail: PO Box 448
New Farm QLD 4005
TO REGISTER FOR THE 3D PRINTING EXPO
GO ONLINE AT
www.3dprintingexpo.org
Figure 17 Exhibit Hall Photo Cr: Wikipedia
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