Three-dimentionals printers are becoming increasingly cheap and accessible, suggesting that they someday might be as common in homes as laser printers are today. Though large industrial 3D printers can still cost more than $20,000 US Dollars (USD), new home-use prototypes are expected to cost about $2,000 USD and weigh only about 3 pounds (1.4 kg).
More facts about 3D printing:
- Three-dimensional printing works on a principle of layering. The printer heats a specific type of resin, causing it to harden into a very thin layer. As the layers build, the heat imprint changes, which makes the resin form the desired shape.
- A 3D printer can be used to make a wide range of things, from custom jewelry to industrial prototypes to artwork.
- The medical world is already making use of 3D printing to make customized hip replacements, heart valves and even cellular structures to repair or replace parts of organs.