3-dimensional (3D) printing is a process of making three-dimensional objects from a digital file. The 3D-printed object is created by using additive processes laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. In fact, also so called “volumetric 3D printing” is being researched, where entire structures can be formed without the need for layer-by-layer fabrication.
Presently, a portable 3D printer one may hold in the hand is even being researched, i.e a tiny device to enable a user to rapidly create customized, low-cost objects on the go, e.g. a fastener to repair a wobbly wheel or a component for a critical medical device.
The key to success is apparently use of visible-light-curable resins and visible-light-emitting chips to create a
chip-based 3D printer.
3-dimensional (3D) scanning involves capturing real-world objects and converting them into digital models. It has become an indispensable tool in various fields, not least in medicine, but also in fields like design and manufacturing.
By specialized scanners one creates accurate 3D representations of physical objects. These scanners work by capturing surface data (usually in the form of point clouds) and then reconstructing a detailed 3D model.
The technologies for both printing and scanning continues to develop, and now, incredibly, the idea of time as a 4th dimension is in a way also introduced here.
By adding the dimension of time, 4D takes printing and scanning a step further. Instead of capturing a static object, 4D scanners record changes over time.
With 4D printing, the resulting 3D shape can morph into different forms in response to environmental stimulus, with the 4th dimension being the time-dependent shape change after the printing.
Likewise with 4D scanning, for example in medical imaging, 4D ultrasound scans allow one to visualize moving structures like a beating heart or a developing fetus. This dynamic aspect clearly provides valuable insights for diagnosis, research, and monitoring.
With both printing and scanning, 3D and 4D have diverse applications and are playing pivotal roles as initial steps in these emerging and indispensable technologies.
Find more information about portable 3D printers here and explore the advancements in 4D printing technology here
(Article is based on the various articles available on the internet and edited by T.Sollie)