Will 3D printing change the world?Friday 17 May 2013 Much attention has been paid to 3D printing lately, with new companies developing cheaper and more efficient consumer models that have wowed the tech community. They herald 3D Printing as a revolutionary and disruptive technology, but how will these printers truly affect our society?Beyond an initial novelty, 3D Printing could have a game-changing impact on consumer culture, copyright and patent law, and even the very concept of scarcity on which our economy is based. From at-home repairs to new businesses, from medical to ecological developments, 3D Printing has an undeniably wide range of possibilities which could profoundly change our world. The attached video will let you look at what 3D printing is and the world of possibilities the technology is opening. Take it one step further - it also has the potential to change the wood products and manufacturing business. We reported in an earlier issue of Offcuts that they're looking to produce the world’s first 3D printed house this year. We’re very lucky to have attracted one of this region’s 3-D Printing experts, Olaf Diegel, Professor of Mechatronics and head of the Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G) at Massey University to outline advances and opportunities for wood products companies at this year’s Wood Processing Summits being run as part of the WoodEXPO 2013 series in September. Check out some of the world renowned guitars produced by Olaf at www.odd.org.nz. |
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