3D Printing Day - History of 3D printing
3D Printing Day
3D printing enthusiasts folks, today December 3rd (3D) we celebrate the INTERNATIONAL 3D PRINTING DAY!
After more than 30 years since the invention of the first 3D printer, this day strives to raise awareness, educate and promote the benefits of the 3D printing industry or Additive Manufacturing, as it is also known.
A technology that has been a huge boost to industry and society, creating and manufacturing new innovative and revolutionary opportunities.
Brief History of 3D Printing
The first 3D printer was created in 1984 by Charles Hull, who called it "stereolithography". Hull would go on to co-found 3D Systems Corporation, one of the largest and most prolific organizations operating in the 3D printing sector today.
The technology was initially called "Rapid Prototyping" (RP) because its initial applications were focused on prototyping product development within industrial sectors.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, R&D in this technology was largely concentrated on industrial applications, and the term "Rapid Manufacturing" gained prominence alongside "Rapid Prototyping" as processes and materials were developed that enabled the production of end-use parts.
In 2009, the first FDM patents expired, and a huge community of open-source 3D printer developers emerged. This led to the first desktop 3D printers becoming available to the public.
Current Applications
Today, 3D printing is used across many sectors including:
- Medical and dental industry
- Aerospace and automotive
- Architecture
- Industrial design
- Fashion and jewelry
- Education
- Food industry
And what's next? What we are sure of is that 3D printing technology has no limits and is booming. Undoubtedly, it has all the potential to continue surprising us and revolutionize many more sectors and industries that need a change to improve and become more sustainable and/or efficient.
Source: 3D Natives and Wikipedia.
