A Short Overview of 3D Printing and Its Impact on Businesses

3 D p r i n ti n ga n D t h e f u t u r eo f m a n u f a c t u r i n g

Te c h n o l o g y P ro g ra m F al l 2 0 12

3D Printing and the Future of Manufacturing

a b o u t t h e L e a D i n g e D g e f o r u m

L E F T E c h n o L o g y P r o g r a m L E a d E r s h i P

W illiam K off

Vice President and Chief Technology

Officer, Office of Innovation

A leader in CSC’s technology community, Bil l

Koff provides vision and direction to CSC and its

clients on critical information technology trends,

technology innovation and strategic

investments in leading edge technology. Bil l plays

a key role in guiding CSC research, innovation,

technology leadership and alliance partner

activities, and in certifying CSC’s Cen- ters of

Excellence and Innovation Centers. [email protected]

P aul g ustafson

Director, Leading Edge Forum Technology Program

Paul Gustafson is an accomplished

technolo- gist and proven leader in emerging

technologies, applied research and strategy.

Paul brings vision and leadership to a portfolio

of L E F programs and directs the technology

research agenda. Astute at recognizing how

technology trends inter-relate and impact

business, Paul applies his insights to client

strategy, CSC research, leadership

development and innovation strategy.

[email protected]

COVEr : T he Urbee from KOr EcoLogic is

the world’s fi rst 3D–printed car. T he

entire car body is 3D–printed using

S tratasys printers, and there are plans to

3D print the car’s interior. T he car is

designed to be highly energy efficient,

including manufacturing processes, and

could be in low-volume production by

2014. www.urbee.net

As part of CSC’s Office of Innovation, the Leading

Edge Forum (LEF) is a global community whose

programs help participants realize business benefits

from the use of advanced IT more rapidly.

T he LEF works to spot key emerging business and

technology trends before others, and identify

specific practices for exploiting these trends for

business advantage. T he LEF draws from a global

network of thought leaders and leading

practitioners, proven field practices, and a powerful

body of research.

T he LEF Technology Program gives CTOs and

senior technologists the opportunity to explore the

most pressing technology issues, examine state-

of-the-art practices, and leverage CSC’s

technology experts, alliance program and events.

T he reports and papers produced under the LEF

are intended to provoke conversations in the

marketplace about the potential for innovation

when applying technology to advance

organizational performance. Visit csc.com/lef.

T he LEF Executive Programme is a premium, fee-

based program that helps CIOs and senior business

executives develop into next-generation leaders by

using technology for competitive advantage in

wholly new ways. Members direct the research

agenda, interact with a network of world-class

experts, and access topical con- ferences, study

tours, information exchanges and advisory

services. Visit lef.csc.com.

In this ongoing series of reports about

technology directions, the L E F looks at

the role of innovation in the marketplace

both now and in the years to come. By

studying tech-

nology’s current realities and anticipating its

future shape, these reports provide organizations

with the necessary balance between tactical

decision-making and strategic planning.

mailto:[email protected]












http://www.urbee.net/





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CSC LEADING EDGE F ORUM 3D Printing and the Future of Manufacturing

Access this report via the LEF RSS feed (csc.com/lefpodca

st) or the LEF website (csc.com/3dprinting)

3 D p r i n ti n g a n D t h e f u t u r e o f m a n u f a c t u r i n g

conTEnTs 2 Remaking Manufacturing

5 The Rise of 3D Printing

9 3D Printing at Work

14 3D Printing at Home

17 Democratization of Manufacturing

21 Impact on Commercial Manufacturing

24 Technology Advances On the Horizon

26 Platform for Innovation

29 Notes

32 Appendix: Further Reading

33 Acknowledgments

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http://csc.com/3dprinting







manufacturing as we know it. T he Economist calls

3D printing the third Industrial Revolution, following

mecha- nization in the 19th century and assembly-line

mass production in the 20th century.1

c L a s s i c d i s r u P T i o n

3D printing is a classic disruptive technology

according to the disruption pattern identified by

Harvard Busi- ness School professor Clayton

Christensen.2 It is simpler, cheaper, smaller and

more convenient to use than traditional

manufacturing technology. Current 3D printing tech-

nology is “good enough” to serve markets that

previously had no manufacturing capability at all

(e.g., small businesses, hospitals, schools, DIYers).

However, the technology is not expected to flourish

in traditional manufacturing markets for a number of

years, so it is unlikely that an entire commercial

passenger airplane will be 3D–printed any time soon.

Still, traditional manufacturers need to take notice;

there are many examples of “good enough”

technologies that eventually disrupted and dominated

their industry, including transistor radios and personal

computers.

All disruptive technologies start out inferior to the

dominant technology of the time. When the fi rst

experimental 3D printers emerged 20 years ago,

they were nowhere near the production quality of

traditional manufacturing processes. However, as

Christensen observed in his research, the new

technologies find a market that is underserved by

the current technology (which is often focused on

the higher end of the market). 3D printing found

rapid prototyping, which was an extremely costly

Who would have thought that modern

manufacturing could be done without a factory?

Since the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing has

been synonymous with factories, machine tools,

production lines and economies of scale. So it is

startling to think about manufacturing without

tooling, assembly lines or supply chains. However, this

is exactly what is happening as 3D printing

reaches individuals, small businesses and corporate

departments.Today you can make parts, appliances and tools in a

wide variety of materials right from your home or

workplace. Using a computer, simply create, modify

or download a digital 3D model of an object. Click

“print,” just as you would for a document, and

watch your physical 3D object take shape. No longer

the stuff of science fiction, 3D printing is a new

reality.

While this new reality is exciting, it also poses

significant questions for the future of how we

manufacture goods. Factories will not disappear, but

the face of the manufacturing industry will change

as new entrants, new products and new materials

emerge, and mainstay processes like distribution

may no longer be needed. Today’s consumers

clamor for customized products and services and for

speed of delivery. Yet customization and immediacy

— right here, right now — are not economical with

traditional manufacturing processes, which are

optimized for large volumes of consistent output in a

factory far away.3D printing changes the calculus of manufacturing

by optimizing for batches of one. 3D printers are

being used to economically create custom, improved

and sometimes even impossible-to-manufacture

products right where they will be used. A single

printer can produce a vast range of products,

sometimes already assembled. It’s a factory without

a factory floor and it has created a platform for

innovation, enabling manufacturing to flourish in

uncommon areas and spawning a new generation of

do- it-yourself (DIY) manufacturers. T he new

players, with their innovative processes and

technology, will disrupt

3d pr inti ng c h a n ge s the ca lcu lus of manu factur ing b y opti miz ing for b atches of on e.

r e m a k i n gma n u f a c t u r i n g

2


and labor-intensive process using traditional

manufacturing techniques. 3D printing enabled

cheap, high-quality, one-off prototypes that sped

product development.

As 3D printing technology evolved, it started to be

used to directly manufacture niche or custom

goods in low volumes. According to Christensen, a

disruptive technology continues to evolve to the

point where it can serve the needs of the higher-

end market at a lower cost, at which point it takes

over the dominant players.

T his is the path 3D printing is on today. 3D

printing is evolving rapidly, with practical

examples in numerous industries including defense,

aerospace, automotive and healthcare. Although 3D

printing has been applied mainly to low-volume

production, the products can be far superior (lighter,

stronger, customized, already assembled) and

cheaper than if created with traditional manufactur-

ing processes. T hat is because 3D printing can

control exactly how materials are deposited (built

up), making it possible to create structures that

cannot be produced using conventional means.

Another disruptive element of 3D printing is the fact

that a single machine can create vastly different

products. Com- pare this to traditional manufacturing

methods, where the production line must be

customized and tailored if the product line is

changed, requiring expensive investment in tooling

and long factory down-time. It is not hard to

imagine a future factory that can manufacture tea

cups, automotive components and bespoke medical

products all in the same facility via rows of 3D

printers.

Fle xibi l i ty to bui ld a wide ra n g e of p roducts , c oupled with the fact that 3d pr inti ng can b e d o n e near the point of c onsumpti on, impl ies a ser ious c h a n g e to su p p l y chains and business models .

Flexibility to build a wide range of products,

coupled with the fact that 3D printing can be

done near the point of consumption, implies a

serious change to supply chains and business

models. Many steps in the supply chain can

potentially be eliminated, including distribution,

warehousing and retail.

T he economics of manufacturing also change.

Manu- facturing is less labor intensive, uses

less material, produces less waste, and can use

new materials that are light and strong.

Depending on the material used, products made

with 3D printing techniques can be up to 65

percent lighter but just as strong as traditionally

manufactured products.3 Customization becomes

very easy, triggering new product strategies and

customer

relationships through collaboration with customers

to create products (“co-creation”).

It is easy to dismiss the impact of 3D printing if you

focus only on the capabilities of today’s 3D printers

compared to the capabilities of modern, highly

automated factories. Today, and for the near

future, 3D printing cannot produce entirely finished

products on an industrial scale. However, to dismiss

3D printing’s impact is to ignore the impending

disruption, just like the minicomputer makers did

when personal computers appeared.

T hat said, like the personal computer, the first

transistor radios and other disruptive technologies,

3D printing will take time to evolve and challenge the

incumbents. Today’s technical barriers such as

materials cost, quality, size limita- tions and

throughput capacity will need to be overcome. As well,

business and economic barriers such as retooling an

entire industry and redesigning business strategies,

processes and roles will need to be addressed. (See

Figure 1.)Initially, then, 3D printing will focus on new

rather than established markets. T here are already

many examples of this, such as prosthetic limb

coverings and vintage replacement parts. Over time,

opportunities to comple- ment existing

manufacturing will emerge. T his may be through

leaner methods, hybrid machines, or changes to the

supply chain or design process.

As the history of disruptive technologies has

shown, 3D printing will not be stopped.

Competition will drive the market forward, and over

time barriers will come down. History has also

shown that once a disruption starts, adoption occurs

much faster than anyone imagines possible.

3


ing’ technologies, from 3-D printers to laser

cutters, is democratizing innovation in atoms. You

think the last two decades were amazing? Just wait.”4

T his report focuses on the opportunities and potential

of 3D printing. Traditional markets may not yet

recognize or require the benefits of 3D printing, but

that is expected to change as the manufacturing

sector feels the impact of this radically different

production method.

3D printing is providing a platform for collaboration

that is accelerating innovation and disruption in

the material world, just as the Internet fostered

collaboration, innovation and disruption in the digital

world.

In Makers: T he New Industrial r evolution, Chris

Anderson, author and editor in chief of Wired, writes:

“The idea of a ‘factory’ is, in a word, changing. Just as

the Web democ- ratized innovation in bits, a new

class of ‘rapid prototyp-

F i g u r e 1. 3D PRINTING AT A GLANCE

Source: CSC

u n i q u E a d v a n Ta g E s

• Affordable customization

• Allows manufacture

of more efficient

designs

— lighter, stronger,

less assembly

required

• One machine,

unlimited product

lines

• Very small objects (nano)

• Efficient use of raw materials (less waste)

• Pay by weight — complexity is free

• Batches of one, created on demand

• Print at point of assembly/consumption

• Manufacturing accessible to all — lower entry barriers

• New supply chain and retail opportunities

a r E a s o F F u r T h E r d E v E L o P mE n T

• Printing large volumes economically

• Expanding the range of printable materials

• Reducing the cost of printable materials

• Using multiple materials in the same

printer, including those for printing

electronics

• Printing very large objects

• Improving durability and quality

4


While experiments occurred as far back as the 1960s, it

was not until the mid 1980s when pioneers such as

Charles Hull (founder of 3D Systems) and Scott Crump

(founder of Stra- tasys) developed a range of

technologies now known as 3D printing. T heir work

was based on additive processes that created solid

objects layer by layer.

As the processes evolved, they became known as

additive manufacturing (AM). Because many AM

methods were based on ink-jet printing technology, the

term “3D printing” (while sometimes misleading) has

been broadly adopted by the industry and mass media

to refer to any AM process. For simplicity this report

uses the term “3D printing” to describe the creation of

physical objects, layer by layer, from data delivered

to a 3D printer. (See Figure 2).

By contrast, a 3D printer can produce an adjustable

wrench in a single operation, layer by layer. T he

wrench comes out of the printer fully assembled,

including all its moving parts. (See Figure 3.) After

some post-production work such as cleaning and

baking, depending on the material, the wrench is ready

for use (though currently it is not as strong as its

drop-forged metal counterpart).

T he difference between traditional manufacturing and

3D printing is how the objects are formed. Traditional

manufacturing processes generally use a subtractive

approach that includes a combination of grinding,

forging, bending, molding, cutting, welding, gluing and

assembling. Take the production of a seemingly

simple object such as an adjustable wrench. Production

involves forging components, grinding, milling and

assembling. Some of the raw material is wasted along

the way, and vast quantities of energy are expended in

heating and reheating the metal. Specialist tools and

machines, optimized to produce wrenches of one size

and

nothing else, are required. Almost all everyday objects

are created in a similar (but usually even more

complex) manner.

F i g u r e 2. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, builds objects layer by layer. Traditional

manufacturing typically uses a subtractive process, whereby materials are cut, ground or molded to create an

object.

Source: Stratasys

F i g u r e 3. T his 3D-printed adjustable wrench

does not require assembly.

Source: CSC

t h e r i s e o f 3 D p r i n ti n g

5


and optimize objects that cannot be built with

traditional processes. T his is opening the door to

creativity, including beautiful works of art such as

Geoff Mann’s “Attracted to Light,” a piece that traces a

moth’s erratic flight around a light source.7 Such an

object is simply not possible using a traditional

manufacturing technique.

c h o c o L a T E , c E L L s , c o n c r E T E : E x T r a o r d i n a r y P r o P E r T iE s F r o m o r d i n a r y a n d n o T- s o - o r d i n a r y ma T E r i a L s

3D printing started with plastics, but today there

is an astounding and growing range of printable

materials that includes ceramics, food, glass and even

human tissue.

Commercially available machines print in a range of

plastics or metals. T hese printers generally work in one

of two ways: a material (e.g., various plastics) is

melted and extruded through a tiny nozzle onto the

build area, where the material solidifies and builds

the object up layer by layer; or a bed of powdered

material (e.g., plastic, various metals) is laid down,

layer by layer, and selectively fused solid. Usually some

post-production work is required, such as cleaning

the excess powder, baking to achieve strength or

hardness, or dissolving support structures in a solution.

Researchers, organizations and hobbyists have

modified the underlying methods to dramatically

broaden the range of possibilities. For example,

researchers at the University of Exeter modified a

3D printer to print chocolate.8 (See Figure 5.) Cornell

University, working with the F rench Culi- nary Institute

in New York, took the idea further by creating a range

of 3D-printed food items such as miniature space

shuttles made of ground scallops and cheese.9

Furthermore, as the wrench example shows, objects

can be printed with a high degree of spatial

control. T his allows movable components and

intricate internal structures to be created in a single

print. However, more significantly, the added control

frees designers from the limits of traditional

manufacturing, allowing people to create

HOW DOES FDM COMPARE T O ALTERNATIVE

METHODS AT THOGUS?

T he principles have even been applied to

biological substances, opening the door to

research on a range of health applications:

• Washington State University has developed a bone-

like material that provides support for new bone to

grow.10

• Researchers from the University of Glasgow have

developed a system that creates organic

compounds and inorganic clusters, which they

believe could have long- term potential for creating

customized medicines.11

• Organovo has created a range of human tissue using

human cells as material and has even printed a

human vein.12

Admittedly, 3D printing isn’t going to take over the

creation of wrenches — at least not any time soon.

T he industry is in its infancy and the technology

rarely supports volumes larger than 1,000 units.

However, as the technology evolves, volumes will

increase.

In the meantime, for low volumes, 3D printing already

provides significant value. Development cost and time

can be cut by eliminating the need for tooling used

in traditional manufacturing. Because 3D printing

enables precise control of the material being used,

the designer can recreate the internal structure of a

product for optimal effect. For example, creating a

lattice or honeycomb interior instead of a solid block

lightens the product without sacrificing strength. Being

able to 3D print the internal structure is a key feature.

There is also reduced waste compared to some

traditional manufacturing processes, which can leave up

to 90 percent of the raw material on the factory floor.5

Thogus Products, a custom plastic injection molder,

found that for a particular specialty part, 3D printing

(the Fused Deposition Modeling or FDM method) reduced

the cost of manufacturing from $10,000 to

$600, the build time from 4 weeks to 24 hours, and the

weight of the object by 70-90 percent.6 (See Figure 4.)

F i g u r e 4. T his table shows the benefits of

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing

compared to traditional manufacturing methods.

Source: Stratasys

pa r t /f D m t o o L

a L t e r n a ti V e m e t h o D

End of arm robot

$60024 hours

$10,0004 weeksAutomated

turntable

$8,8002 weeks

$50,0008 weeks

Steel plates

$20 2 hours

$2002 weeks

6


Most fascinating is research that shows how 3D

printing can revolutionize the properties of

products. Just like laminated wood (plywood) has

long been used as a lighter, stronger and more

flexible alternative to solid timber, 3D–printed

components can exhibit properties that exceed the

capabilities of traditionally manufactured components,

even if they are made from the same mate-

rial. Two examples of this are 3D–printed wood that

does not warp,13 and the work underway to use living

cells to 3D print organs needed for transplants. (More

on that later.)

Researchers are working on a range of techniques

that can control the exact material properties of

printed components, even down to the microscopic

crystalline structures of metals,14 essentially

changing how the material’s underlying atoms and

molecules are arranged. For example, 3D printing of

metal can result in more uniform micro- structures

due to rapid solidification, in contrast to the

traditional metal casting and forging that require metal

to cool from the outer surface to the core.15 T his

allows engineers to control the object’s strength,

hardness, springi- ness, flexibility and ability to

support stress. T he result of this research will be

products exhibiting combinations of physical,

electrical and mechanical properties that are only

dreamed about today.

Source: David Martin

T he University of Illinois Lewis Research Group has

created a number of custom “inks” (printing materials)

with extremely small feature sizes. (See Figure 6.) T he

researchers have demonstrated many functional

materials for improved conductiv- ity, lighter-weight

structures and even self-healing polymers. For example,

the team has created a reactive silver ink for

F i g u r e 5. 3D-printed chocolate from researchers

at the University of Exeter illustrates custom

shapes.

F i g u r e 6. CUST OM “INKS” DESIGNED F OR 3D PRINTING

c o L L o i d a L in K s F u g i T i v E in K s n a n o Pa r T i c L E in K s

Source: Lewis r esearch Group, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (http://colloids.matse.illinois.edu), and CSC

Printing advanced

ceramic, metallic and

polymer materials

under ambient

conditions using

commercial 3D printers

for prototyping and

digital manufacturing

2 5 0 2 5 0 n m

P o Ly E L E c T r o Ly T E in K s s o L - g E L in K s

Printing fugitive

inks for 3D

microvascular

networks for tissue

engineering, light-

weight structures,

self–healing

materials and soft

robotics

Printing silver

nanopar- ticle ink that

conducts electricity for

wearable electronics,

improved solar cells

and transpar- ent

conductive devices

Printing polyelectro-

lyte, silk and

hydrogel inks for

drug delivery,

photonics,

membranes, tissue

engineering and 3D

cell culture

Printing sol-gel inks

for sensor,

photonics, catalyst

supports and novel

electrodes for dye-

sensitized solar

cells, batteries and

capacitors

decreasing feature size

Sam

ple

A

pplic

ations

2 05

2 0 0

7

http://colloids.matse.illinois.edu/












and specially formulated concrete.19 T he social

implications of using automated construction to replace

dilapidated or destroyed dwellings are significant.

Still, the price of materials is a significant barrier to 3D

printing. For example, the cost of plastic feed

material used in 3D printing ranges from

$60-$425/kilogram (2.2 pounds), while the equivalent

amount of material used in traditional injection molding

is only $2.40-$3.30.2 0 Although the higher cost is not a

problem for prototyping or small volumes, it is not

economical for large volumes.

For some materials, 3D printing is more than just a

niche alternative — it is actually the ideal production

method. T itanium is one example; it is light, stronger

than steel (for its density) and more corrosion resistant

than stainless steel. In fact, it is a near-perfect metal

for many applications. Aside from its current cost, the

main drawback of titanium (and the reason its use is

limited to specialist applications in aerospace, medical

implants, jewelry and performance cars) is that it is

difficult to work with. It has a tendency to harden

during cutting, which results in high tool wear, and when

being welded it is susceptible to contamination that

weakens the welds if the proper precautions are not

adhered to strictly.T his is where 3D printing comes in. Directly printing in

titanium is attractive because it eliminates the problems

of machining. Further, as the printing machines get

bigger, entire assemblies can be printed, eliminating the

need for welding.

To address the current high cost

of titanium metal (it is as much

as 50 times more expensive

than steel), researchers are

developing processes to create

powdered titanium at much lower

costs. Currently the printing

powders are produced by

reducing titanium ingots into

fine, uniform powders (in a highly

energy-intensive process). But

just as the Bayer process

reduced the cost of aluminum

from $1,200/kilogram to

$0.60/kilogram at the end of the

19th century, today’s research is

looking at industrial processes

for producing titanium printing

powders at a fraction of the

current cost.21

high-performance electronics that is faster to make

(minutes to mix versus hours using particle-based

inks) and can be printed in small amounts. T he ink can

be stored longer than traditional ink and has a lower

processing temperature, allowing electronics to be

printed on low-cost materials such as flexible plastic,

paper or fabric substrates.16 In another application, the

silver ink has been printed onto three-dimensional

surfaces to create small electrical antennas that

perform an order-of-magnitude better than traditional

antenna designs. T hese antennas show potential for

implantable or wearable antennas, sensors and

electronics.17Also conducting research into 3D printing and

materials is the MIT Media Lab, which is

experimenting with printing large molds for concrete

structures using a spray polyurethane foam. (See

Figure 7.) Printing with polyurethane offers benefits

in weight, cure time, control and stability compared

to concrete. It also serves as thermal insula- tion.

Once printed, the mold can be filled with concrete or

another castable building material. MIT has printed

several prototype wall molds that are 5-6 feet tall as it

explores the benefits of large-scale 3D–printed molds

including design, cost, efficiency and safety.

Contour Crafting proposes 3D printing an entire

house, targeting low-cost and emergency housing

(after a natu- ral disaster, for example).18 T he

company claims an entire 2,500-square-foot home

can be built in 20 hours (doors and windows added

later) with extremely large 3D printers

F i g u r e 7. MIT is experimenting with 3D printing large forms made

from polyurethane (like the one seen in this rendering). T he forms

would be filled with concrete and used in building construction.

Source: Mediated Matter Group, MIT Media Lab

8


Prototyping new products is the largest

commercial application for 3D printing today,

estimated to be 70 percent of the 3D printing

market.22 Prototyping gives designers (and their

customers) a way to touch and test products as

concepts or functional objects early in the design

cycle. T his avoids expensive changes later in the

process, saving significant time and money when

bringing new products to market.

By rapidly printing prototypes, manufacturers can

significantly shorten the development lifecycle. One

example comes from Akaishi, a Japanese

manufacturer of cor- rectional footwear and

massage devices. T he company found that by 3D

printing prototypes in-house, it could reduce lead

time of new products by 90 percent compared

to its previously outsourced prototyping service.

T his allows its designers to have 100 percent

confidence in a product’s functionality before it

ever reaches the customer.23 Prototyping also

facilitates experimentation and innovation. For

example, using 3D printing, Bell Heli- copter can test

new designs in days versus weeks using traditional

methods.24In some industries, 3D printing has shifted from

prototypes to direct part production, also known

as direct digital manufacturing. T he technology is

being applied to short production runs and does

not require tooling, thus allowing flexibility,

adaptability and speed to market. T his is enabling

countries with strong intellectual capital but high

manufacturing costs to once again compete in

manufacturing. As Scott Hay, founder of 3De, a small

rapid product development company based in

Florida, told IndustryWeek, 3D printing “is a terrific

win for American manufacturing.”25 3De designs

specialized high-precision surgical systems, which are

then printed by a U.S.-based 3D printing service,

GPI. T here is no cost advantage in off-shoring the

production of 3D components, unlike traditional

manufactured components that are cheaper to

manufacture overseas.

In the future, it may be possible for the military

to print replacement parts on the battlefield instead

of relying on limited spares or the supply chain. While

this is still some time away, there are developments

that suggest movement in the right direction. For

example, the Trainer Develop- ment Flight (TDF)

facility at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas is

using 3D printing to develop training aids for the

Components used in military equipment must be

strong, durable and, above all, reliable, as failure can

put lives at risk. Consider the mount for camera

gun sights on the M1 Abrams tank and B radley

fighting vehicles. T hese high-precision components

are mounted on the exter- nal body of the tanks,

where they must survive incredibly harsh shock,

vibration and environmental conditions. EOIR

Technology, a leading defense system design and

development company, was able to manufacture

mounts durable enough for use on the tanks using

a 3D printer. What’s more, by switching to 3D

printing technology, the company reduced the

manufacturing costs from over

$100,000 per unit to under $40,000.26

3 D p r i n ti n ga t w o r kToday 3D printing is being used in many areas for

both prototyping and direct digital manufacturing.

F ollow- ing are examples from defense, aerospace,

automotive and healthcare.

d E F E n s E

in the future, it m ay b e p o ssible for the mil itary to print rep la cement parts on the b att lefi eld instead of re ly ing on l imite d spares or the su p p l y chain.

9


lons of fuel annually.32 Boeing, as well as other

aerospace giants GE and the European Aeronautic

Defence and Space group (EADS), maker of the

Airbus, are conducting further research to optimize

parts such as wing brackets. (See Figure 8.) Ferra

Engineering, an Australian aerospace contractor (that

supplies Boeing and Airbus), has a contract to 3D

print large two-meter-long titanium parts for the F -35

joint strike fighter, reducing machining time and

materials waste.33 Boeing even envisions 3D

printing an entire airplane wing in the future.3 4

Another benefit is the use of distributed

manufacturing to address supply chain issues.

Components mass-produced in one part of the world

can take weeks to arrive at an assembly factory.

But 3D printing components on site eliminates

shipping time, reduces friction in the supply chain

and reduces inventory levels at the factory.

An extreme example of a long supply chain is space

exploration. Imagine if it were possible to print

products, tools or replacement parts on the

International Space S tation

Air Force and other U.S. Department of Defense

branches.27 Given the highly specialized nature of the

equipment, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),

and the low volumes required, using original parts or

even manufacturing rep- licas is a lengthy and

expensive exercise. However, using 3D printing in

combination with traditional manufacturing techniques

has enabled the government to save over $3.8 million

from 2004-2009, not to mention provide improved

and timely training in areas including avionics,

weapons systems, medical readiness and

telecommunications systems. More recently, student

interns working on a U.S. Army research project

created and flew a 6.5-foot-wingspan plane (a UAV)

made entirely of 3D–printed parts to help study the

feasibility of using such planes.28A quite different military application of 3D printing is

the creation of topographical models to provide

better intelligence. T he U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers used this technique when responding to

Hurricane Katrina. T he Corps generated and

regenerated models of New Orleans as the situation

evolved. T he models, which could be created in about

two hours, showed changing floodwater levels, build-

ings and other features of the area. T his aided in

situational understanding and helped guide the relief

effort as soldiers and civil authorities worked to save

people and property.29 T he 3D mapping was critical for

its visualization and speed; one can imagine it being

applied in other fields that require knowing the lay of

the land, from mining to archeology.

a E r o s P a c ELike many industries, aerospace is leveraging 3D

printing to improve the performance of assets,

reducing maintenance requirements, consolidating

components and saving fuel costs with lighter parts.

Boeing, a pioneer in 3D printing, has printed 22,000

components that are used in a variety of aircraft.3 0

For example, Boeing has used 3D printing to

produce environmental control ducting (ECD) for its

new 787 aircraft. With traditional techniques, the

ECD is created from up to 20 parts due to its

complex internal structure. However, with 3D

printing, Boeing produces the ECD as one piece. T he

new component reduces inventory, does not require

assembly and improves inspection and maintenance

times.31 As the 3D–printed parts weigh less, the

aircraft’s operating weight decreases, resulting in fuel

savings. According to American Airlines, for every

pound of weight removed from its aircraft, the

company saves more than 11,000 gal-

Source: EADS

F i g u r e 8 . T his 3D–printed metal Airbus

wing bracket is lighter and stronger than

the

conventional wing bracket in the

background that it could potentially replace.

10


or even on Mars. T hat is exactly what groups like

Made in Space and Lunar Buildings are investigating.

Both organizations are developing tools, processes

and systems for directly manufacturing in space,

avoiding the costly and decade-long planning cycles

required to send a rocket into space with the

necessary replacement parts and tools. Made in Space

has a contract with NASA and is currently conducting

zero gravity tests, with plans to trial 3D printing on

the International Space S tation. T his would allow

astronauts to print tools and parts in space exactly

when needed.35 (See Figure 9.)

Today, NASA’s next space exploration vehicle

(rover) includes about 70 3D–printed parts; NASA

engineers also 3D print prototypes to test parts before

production.36

Looking ahead, NASA is exploring 3D printing as a

service (3DPaaS) for rapid pre-prototype work.

“We are bullish on 3D printing,” says Tom

Soderstrom, IT chief technology officer at NASA

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “3D printing makes it

easier to capture the imagination of the mission

concepts. We can see what others are imag- ining.”

Engineers could use 3DPaaS to rapidly obtain peer

reviews, additional design concepts and approval to

prototype. Initial prototyping and iterations would be

done using low-cost, fast-turnaround open source

CAD tools and 3D printers. “We like the open

source, open design approach. It would allow us to

get outside ideas about the designs more easily and

to get started much sooner,” Soderstrom adds.

Once the design is deemed ready for full-scale

prototyping, it would go to large-scale 3D printers to

build a version 1.0 object. T he result would be faster

build times, lower costs and more confidence in the

version 1.0 design.

Space is not the only extreme environment for 3D

printing. Industrial designer Markus Kayser has

demonstrated a solar-powered 3D printer creating

crude glass out of sand in the Sahara desert.37

(See Figure 10.) It isn’t space, but it does show

that 3D printing can be done

Source: Made in Space

with basic resources in extremely

remote environments.

a u T o m o T i v E

For years, major automotive

manufacturers have been using

3D printing for prototyping.

However, the automotive

industry is poised to begin

applying the process to more

than just prototypes of small

custom parts.Take, for example, the Urbee, billed

as the world’s first printed car.

T he two- passenger Urbee,

created by KOR EcoLogic,

dismisses preconceptions about

limits to 3D printing sizes. To be

clear, not all parts are 3D–printed

— just the shell of this hybrid

prototype car — though interior

components are

Source: Markus Kayser

F i g u r e 9 . T his Made in Space team is conducting

3D printing zero gravity tests for 3D printing in

space.

F i g u r e 10. Glass is printed in the Sahara desert with sand “ink”

and a solar powered 3D printer.

11


h E a L T h c a r E

T he most inspiring use of 3D printing is in the

healthcare industry, where 3D printing has the

potential to save lives or dramatically improve them.

3D printing in healthcare still has some years to go

before mass adoption, but early developments to

create tissue, organs, bones and prosthetic devices

provide a glimpse of how lives may be improved.

Using a patient’s own cultured cells or stem

cells, the Wake F orest Institute for Regenerative

Medicine has developed a 3D printing technique for

engineering tissue and organs. T he ultimate goal

is to help solve the shortage of donated organs

available for transplant. Sci- entists are working on a

variety of projects including ear, muscle and a long-

term effort to print a human kidney. (See Figure

12.) T he printer is designed to print organ and

tissue structures using data from medical scans,

such as CT or MRI. T he basic idea is to print living

cells

— and the biomaterials that hold cells together —

into a 3D shape. T his organ or tissue structure

would then be implanted into the body, where it

would continue to develop. T he kidney project is

based on earlier work that used cells and

biomaterials to engineer a “miniature” kidney that

was able to produce a urine-like substance when

implanted in a steer.In addition, there are a growing number of applications

for 3D printing in surgery. For example, the Walter

Reed Army Medical Center has created and

successfully implanted

planned to be 3D printed.38 (See Figure 11.) T he Urbee,

which could be in low-volume production by 2014,39

has planted the seed for mass customization of large-

scale car components. Watch for unique car styles,

designs and shapes to appear in the near future.

Indeed, the world’s first race car created largely

with 3D printing competed on the track in the Formula

Student 2012 challenge in July 2012.4 0 T he car was

created using a 3D printing technique called

mammoth stereolithography (SL) from Materialise, a

rapid prototyping company.41 Mammoth SL is designed

for printing large objects and has a build area of over

6.5 feet (two meters).42

Engineers at BMW have leveraged 3D printing to

create ergonomic, lighter versions of their

assembly tools to increase worker productivity. By

improving the design, workers are carrying 2.9

pounds (1.3 kilograms) less and have improved

handling and balance. As BMW engineer Günter

Schmid says, “This may not seem like much, but

when a worker uses the tool hundreds of times in a

shift, it makes a big difference.”4 3

In addition to ergonomics, another area where 3D

printing can make a big difference is marketing.

Imagine showing a full-scale 3D model instead of a

CAD drawing as part of a bid proposal. One company

has done that with car interi- ors, showing front and

back with all the attachment points as part of its

presentation. Pictures may tell a thousand words,

but touch and feel make it real.

F i g u r e 11. T he Urbee (“urban electric”) boasts the world’s first 3D–printed car body, an ultra aerodynamic

design and high energy efficiency. T he hybrid car uses renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro) and ethanol

(for long distances). T he car could be in low-volume production by 2014. Future plans include 3D printing

the interior (right).

Source: KOr EcoLogic

12


over 60 titanium cranial plates.4 4 In June 2011 the

fi rst 3D–printed jaw, also made of titanium, was

successfully implanted in an 83-year-old woman by

Dr. Jules Poukens of Hasselt University.4 5 T hese

implants perfectly match a patient’s body and

provide better fixation, which can reduce surgery

time and infection.4 6

Perfectly matching a person’s body is key for

prosthetic devices too. 3D printing is ideal for these

highly customized, small production runs (quantities

of one) that demand strong but light-weight materials.

3D printing would enable those with limb loss to get

exactly what they want for look, feel, size and weight,

all for a fraction of the cost of a traditionally-made

prosthetic. Bespoke Innovations, now owned by 3D

Systems, uses 3D printing to make custom coverings

for artificial limbs and aims to 3D print the entire

prosthesis in the future.47 (See Figure 13.) A related

example is 2-year- old Emma, born with a rare

disease called arthrogrypo- sis, who wears 3D–printed

“magic arms” that give her the strength to lift her real

arms — and a whole new lease on life.48 T he “magic

arms” can be reprinted as she grows and are light

enough for her 25-pound body. Another example are

3D-printed hearing aids that, though pricey, provide

excellent sound quality due to their custom fit.

F i g u r e 12. T hese 3D–printed structures — kidney

(top left), ear (top right) and finger — could one

day help address the organ shortage and the

need to repair if not replace damaged body parts.

Source: Wake Forest Institute for r egenerative Medicine

F i g u r e 13. T he 3D-printed metal lace cover on this prosthetic leg is delicate yet

strong and reflects the wearer’s individuality.

Source: Bespoke Innovations

13


3 D p r i n ti n g

a t h o m e3D printers have created a new generation of DIY

manufacturers. T hese individuals are using 3D

printing services online or their own low-cost 3D

printers to create custom products that address

unmet needs.

g r o W i n g s E r v i c E s ma r K E T

3D printers make it economical to create highly

unique products that quench the rising thirst for

personalization. Whether it is a smartphone case

personalized with your name (see Figure 14), an

avatar from World of Warcraft or a self-designed robot

toy, there are a range of services like F reshfiber,

FigurePrints, My Robot Nation and Sculpteo at

one’s disposal. T he consumer market is buzzing

with affordable custom products, all available

through the Internet using “as a service” techniques.

Expect to see 3D printing stores in a shopping mall

near you soon!

Source: Sculpteo

A growing population of DIY

designers is using these services

to create and upload products and

ideas to websites like Shapeways, a

start-up “working to democratize

creation by making production

more accessible, personal, and

inspiring.”49 (See Figure 15.)

L o W - c o s T P r i n T i n g i n u n E x P E c T E d P L a c E sIn 2008-09 the 3D printing

market took a major turn with

the availability of open source

manufacturing kits priced under

$1,000, including various

derivatives of the RepRap open

source project (discussed later) and

the Cup- Cake CNC from MakerBot

Industries. T hese devices ushered

in a new group, hobbyists, who

previously couldn’t afford their

own personal machines. And like

all technologies, prices have

continued to fall; for example,

the

Source: Shapeways

F i g u r e 14. 3D printing services make

personalized products like this smartphone case

affordable.

F i g u r e 15. T he Shapeways 3D printing marketplace removes

barriers to manufacturing by providing 3D printing services via

the web and enabling people to share their designs.

14


Printrbot LC launched in 2012 for $549.5 0 T he

availability of low-cost 3D printers has spurred many

to manufacture at home, bypassing numerous steps.

(See Figure 16.)

What’s more, with their roots in open source,

many 3D printers are evolving rapidly and can now

compete with some commercial printers. (See Figure

17.) For those that

need higher quality products, a vari-ety of online printing bureaus

allow prints in different materials

(metals, plastics and glass).

To get an idea of what these DIY

manufacturers are printing, take

a look at T hingiverse.com, a

website with self- created files

for 3D printing. Created by

MakerBot Industries, the website

has a large community of

individuals who have shared over

25,000 models ranging from

toys and gadgets to replacement

parts.51 All are available for

downloading and printing by

anyone. Recently, one of our

researchers faced the prospect of a

14-hour flight holding an ebook

reader, with no time to buy a

reader stand before leaving for

the flight. After a few minutes

searching on T hingiverse.com, he

was able to download a foldable

stand design, print it in 45 minutes,

and use it on the flight that night.

(See Figure 18.)

In addition to homes, low-cost

printers have made their way

into other unexpected places. For

example, at

Source: MakerBot Industries

F i g u r e 17. T he MakerBot Replicator 2 comes fully assembled,

unlike its predecessor, and is designed for high-quality DIY

manufacturing.

Low-cost 3D printing enables anyone with a digital design to bypass the traditional supply chain and

manufacture a product themselves. What are the implications for companies operating in the supply chain?

Source: CSC

transport transport transport transport transport

PROTOTYPE MANUFACTURE ASSEMBLY DISTRIBUTION RETAILWAREHOUSEIDEA/ DESIGN

END USER

3

15

D P R T

F i g u r e 16. T HE LONG-T ERM OPPORTUNITY F OR INDIVIDUALS

INING


Outside of ordinary replacements, there are some

parts and objects that are simply no longer in stock.

For example, due to the scarcity of replacement dials

for a vintage boombox, someone created a printable

alternative.55

T hat is the beauty of 3D printing: creating functional, if

not obscure, parts. One of the most high-profile

examples comes from American comedian Jay Leno. In

an article in Popular Mechanics, Leno discusses his use

of 3D printing to re-manufacture parts for his rare and

vintage vehicle collection: “Any antique car part can be

reproduced with these machines

— pieces of trim, elaborately etched and even scrolled

door handles. If you have an original, you can copy it. Or

you can design a replacement on the computer, and the

3D printer makes it for you.”56 He goes on to explain

how his 1907 White Steamer is back on the street due

to the use of 3D printing to recreate an incredibly rare

slide valve (D-valve).Using 3D printing, Leno can create functional parts for

testing (i.e., to see if the part is the right size and

shape before using a traditional CNC milling

process), create molds to cast a part in aluminum,

and even replace metal parts with plastic. He explains:

“My EcoJet supercar needed air-condi- tioning ducts. We

used plastic parts we designed, right out of the 3D

copier. We didn’t have to make these scoops out of

aluminum — plastic is what they use in a real car. And

the finished ones look like factory production pieces.”57

3D printing is breaking down barriers to

manufacturing. Although it is hard to predict

where 3D printing at home will lead, it is a safe bet

that consumers won’t use these printers to

recreate what they can already buy in stores.

T hey will be creating things you simply can’t buy,

such as irreplaceable parts and personalized objects

and gadgets.

Southview Middle School in Edina, Minnesota, the

industrial technology teacher uses a 3D printer so

students can experience their designs and concepts

as physical models.52 In Australia, a local

municipality has created a 3D printing lab in a

library so the community can play with and

understand the technology.53

It is important to note that libraries, schools and

homes have different quality requirements than

factories. Con- sumers, who have never had such

manufacturing powers before, are quite forgiving of

faults in 3D-printed objects they have created

themselves, as long as the object serves its

required function. Consumers may not be so

forgiving of such flaws in products they purchase.

ma K i n g T h i n g s W o r K

While not for everyone, 3D printers allow the Mr. or Ms.

Fix- It to take control of their appliances. Examples of

replacement parts emerging in the T hingiverse

library include a wheel for a dishwasher, a

keyboard support stand and a portable camera

battery door. Some of these parts have had

significant downloads. For example, a touch screen sty-

lus for the Nintendo DS has over 300 downloads;54

clearly, a lost stylus is a common problem with a

simple solution.

F i g u r e 18. T his e-reader stand was 3D–printed

by our researcher in less than an hour. T he

design is available on T hingiverse by designer

Billy Carr (“uni stand” by codemanusa).

Source: CSC

a lthough it is hard to p red ict where 3d pr inti ng at h o m e will lead, it is a safe bet that c onsumers won’t use these printers to rec reate w h at they can alre a d y b u y in sto res.

16


3D printing at work or at home signifies the

democratization of manufacturing. (The very name

“3D printing” instead of “additive manufacturing” is a

nod to a broader audience.) Until now, the creation of

high-quality physical products or prototypes required

very expensive machinery and investments in

tooling and sophisticated CAD/ CAM software. T his

posed a barrier, preventing many good ideas from ever

being built (even to a prototype stage), as most people

lacked the skills and financial resources to design,

let alone manufacture or distribute, a product.

However, in the last decade these traditional barriers

have been stripped away.

While 3D printing is at the heart of the DIY

production process, there have been developments

in all elements of the DIY manufacturing lifecycle

including free or low- cost 3D modeling and

scanning tools (for design), sharing websites (for

marketing and distribution), investment websites (for

funding), and a new open design ethos (industry

collaboration). T hese elements now allow almost

anyone to become a manufacturer or contribute to

the manufacturing process.

s o P h i s T i c a T E d mo d E L i n g ma d E s i m P L E

3D modeling and visualization play a crucial role

in the early phases of product development. However,

in the past, software was often expensive and required

extremely powerful machines, making personal use

impractical. Today this has changed. Now, most home

PCs can run some of the world’s most sophisticated

software such as Creo 2.0 or SolidWorks. What’s

more, there are a number of free or low-cost

modeling tools, such as 3DT in, SketchUp and Blender,

that contain powerful design capabilities but are

simple enough for anyone to use. For something even

simpler, there is T inkercad, which is free and let’s

people play with the basics of 3D modeling.

Bypassing the modeling effort altogether, a range

of affordable 3D scanners enables physical

objects to be digitized, modified (within limits)

and reproduced directly by a 3D printer.

Interestingly, several software products are blurring

the distinction between scanning and modeling. By

automating much of the 3D modeling experience,

they allow almost anyone to rapidly gener- ate

sophisticated models. Check out Continuum Fash-

ion58 and FaceGen.5 9 Both services — one for

fashion, the other for facial modeling — hide the

back-end 3D modeling effort from the individual,

who simply wants the output. More recently,

Autodesk launched a cloud service that allows

people to create 3D models with a few swipes on

their iPad or by uploading photos of an object from

multiple angles.6 0Another example of the democratization of design

comes from 3D software house Digital Forming,

which provides software that enables companies to

share product design with their customers. T he

software lets consumers tweak dimensions of the

desired product, whether it is the perfect lamp or a

custom cuff link. Consumers can adjust shape,

surface design, color and material (within limits).

T his closer relationship between consumer and

manufacturer will spur a greater expectation for

customization.Although 3D printing makes one think of the

hardware and objects produced, a key part of the magic

of 3D printing is the software. Formlabs made

software ease-of-use a cornerstone of its

sophisticated 3D printer (discussed later).

Elsewhere, a team of researchers has created soft-

ware that examines the geometry of the CAD model

and determines where to add joints, so elbows and

knees get hinges, for example.61 T he software

optimizes for full movement and no collisions with

other joints or possible movements. 3D printing

then allows the whole model, including its joints and

moving parts, to be materialized all at once.

Sophisticated modeling made simple.

D e m o c r a ti z a ti o no f ma n u f a c t u r i n g

17


T he Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has

been a leader for some time in connecting

consumers and small businesses to large-scale

manufacturers, breaking down barriers to

manufacturing. T his consumer-to- business model

encourages small, custom transactions and is

“ideally suited for the micro-entrepreneur of the DIY

movement.”6 5

But Alibaba was about shipping products, whereas

3D printing is about shipping designs, continuing the

evolution of the digitization of things. Being able

to ship and print the design means that printing

can be done on demand, whether through a service

bureau, a company’s own 3D printing capability or

even the end consumer. T hese innovative printing

options will drive the next generation of

distribution and pose major upheaval for tra-

ditional manufacturers, whose businesses revolve

around shipping products, not designs.

s h a r E T h E d E s i g n , s h i P T h E d E s i g n

After producing a product on a 3D printer,

creators turn to marketing and distribution. Several

years ago, if funding was scarce, the creator would

initially manufacture and market a low volume of

product for a specialist application. Over time, if the

product was successful, further investment would be

made so larger volumes could be marketed and

distributed around the world. It was only at this point

that the product could reach a broader customer base.

Now, thanks to online marketplaces like

T hingiverse, Shapeways and Sculpteo, the marketing

and distribution problem has been significantly

reduced. As of August 2012, Shapeways had

nearly 7,000 shops and over 160,000 members

who had printed over one million products.6 4

Shapeways enables designers to get paid for their

products and also handles distribution, so products

can be purchased and delivered anywhere in the world.

d é j à v u : T h E i n T E L L E c T u a L P r o P E r T y d E b a T E

18

Despite the allure of 3D printing

and the democratization of

manufacturing, 3D printing

poses serious questions about

intellectual property. To be clear,

this issue is not unique to 3D

printing; patent and copyright

infringement has been debated

for decades, stoked more recently

by the advent of Internet piracy, and

will continue to be fought for

years to come.Nonetheless, 3D printing and

supporting tools allow almost

anyone to intentionally or

unintentionally recreate an

existing product design, distribute

that design, and manufacture the

product. Although technically this

was possible decades ago, today’s

digital designs and 3D printers,

linked by the Internet, make it

significantly easier.Armed with a low-cost 3D scanner

and 3D printer, you can buy a

product off the shelf such as a toy,

scan that object or its parts, and

distribute the design all

over the world. Previously,

manufacturing posed a barrier

because the model could not be

created and distributed readily like

this; if you wanted that toy, you had

to purchase it. However, with 3D

printers it is possible to simply

print the toy yourself. While the

individual benefits, the

manufacturer loses out on its

significant investment in design,

manufacturing and marketing.Some are fearful that 3D printing

will cripple traditional

manufacturers, lik- ening it to

Internet piracy in the music and

movie industries. While those in

the music industry argue that

illegal downloads have hurt it

severely, others believe the

industry was already in trouble

and needed to reinvent its dated

business model. Either way,

piracy is a heated issue.As with music and movies,

digital rights management (DRM)

discus- sions for manufacturing

designs have

begun to appear. Intellectual

Ventures, run by former Microsoft

CTO Nathan Myhrvold, has been

granted a patent for managing

“object production rights” for 3D

printing specifically (though not

exclusively); it remains to be seen

to what extent this patented

technique for preventing

unauthor- ized object copying will

be used.62In his paper “It Will Be Awesome if

T hey Don’t Screw it Up: 3D

Printing, Intel- lectual Property,

and the Fight Over the Next Great

Disruptive Technology,” Michael

Weinberg, a staff attorney at

advocacy group Public

Knowledge, agrees with concerns

but also compre- hensively breaks

down arguments and current

legislative issues across multiple

intellectual property dimensions.63

He highlights both the threats and

opportunities of 3D printing. An

important reminder from Weinberg

is that prog- ress, and those who

are inspired, should not be stopped

by those who fear.


T h E r e p r a p s T o r y — o P E n s o u r c E ma n u F a c T u r i n g

19

T he year 2008 was a turning

point for DIY manufacturing

because a new product called the

RepRap was released. T he RepRap

is a low-cost 3D printer, but what

is truly unique about the RepRap

is how it is designed,

manufactured and distributed.

In May 2008, the second

RepRap printer was assembled.

Within minutes of being turned

on, it had started printing the

components to build the third

RepRap, and so on. Today, it is

estimated that over 20,000

RepRaps exist, most of them using

components manufactured by other

RepRaps67 — a neat example that

gets closer to the vision of self-

replicating machines.

One of the aims of the RepRap

is to enable individuals or small

enter- prises, especially in poorer

parts of the world, to be able to

build complex products for

themselves with virtually no

capital investment (a RepRap kit

costs about $500).

Inspired by open source

software models, the RepRap

design is also open source. T his

means the entire design

(hardware, electronics and

software) is not protected by

any patents and anyone can

modify and contribute

improvements (provided they

make them freely available). A

whole community of

enthusiastic users actively

participates to innovate and

improve the design.

Because the design is freely

available, anyone can download,

manufacture and sell the

RepRap. In this way, many

individuals and small companies

manufacture and sell RepRaps

online, either in kit form or as

fully assembled and tested models.

As a result, the rate of

innovation of the RepRap and its

derivatives is accelerating faster

than equivalent commercial 3D

printers. In the future, open

source approaches may be

applied to all sorts of

manufactured products, leading to

superior products that are more

reliable and functional because a

global community continually

improves them.

c r o W d - F u n d i n g

Although low-cost 3D printers and accessible CAD

software lower barriers to entry for bringing new

products to market, some capital is still required. T his

is where pioneering initia- tives like Kickstarter come

in. Kickstarter, a crowd-funding website for creative

projects, allows anyone with a good idea to advertise for

seed funding, usually provided by large numbers of

small investors. T he rewards for the investor are set by

the entrepreneur and typically range from thank-you

certifi- cates for small donations to free copies of the

product being sponsored. Most projects raise less than

$10,000 though the highest funding to date for a single

project was $10 million.Formlabs, an MIT Media Lab spin-off, achieved its 30-

day funding goal of $100,000 in less than three

hours6 6 and reached over $1.5 million in one week.

What’s all the excitement about? Formlabs provides

an affordable high- resolution 3D printer (still in

testing) for designers, engineers and serious

hobbyists. T he Form 1 printer uses ste-

reolithography, the method used in high-end printers,

thus bringing professional-quality printing to

individuals. T he democratization of manufacturing

and the democratization of investing go hand-in-

hand.

o P E n d E s i g n

“Open source” is best known as the term

associated with freely-available software like Linux,

Android and Apache. T he philosophy behind open

source is that information should be shared freely

by a community of contributors, who work to

improve the product and contribute their work back to

the community for free use. T he power of this phi-

losophy is demonstrated by Wikipedia, which, through

the contributions of millions of people, has become the

premier reference encyclopedia in dozens of languages

and is freely available, while its “closed” competitors

(like Encyclopedia Britannica) have become obsolete.

Similarly, the term “open design” has come to be

applied to the design of physical products, machines and

components through public sharing and contribution.

Low-cost 3D printers and availability of software for

creating and sharing printable designs are enabling the

necessary conditions for sharing designs of physical

components. T he concept of open design is starting to

take off with products like VIA OpenBook (an open

source laptop) and RepRap (an open source 3D printer).


issued the Experimental Crowd-derived Combat-

support Vehicle (XC2V) Design Challenge, conducted

in partner- ship with open design automobile

manufacturer Local Motors.6 8 In a stunning display of

the power and enthusi- asm of the open design

community, Local Motors turned the winning design

into a working prototype in just 14 weeks —

about one-fifth the time of the automobile

industry average.6 9 (See Figure 19.)

As well as fostering small-scale DIY product

innovation by interested communities, open design

can provide a frame- work for developing advanced

technology projects that are beyond the resources of

any single company or even country.

In 2011, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research

Projects Agency (DARPA) turned to the public for

inspiration to design a replacement for the iconic

Humvee. DARPA

F i g u r e 19. T his potential Humvee replacement was created by an open design community, which built a

working prototype in just 14 weeks.

Source: Local Motors

20


While it is difficult to say with certainty how 3D

printing in its various forms (e.g., desktop, large-scale)

will impact traditional manufacturing, emerging trends

indicate that a fun- damental paradigm shift has already

started. As 3D printing evolves, the new world of

manufacturing looks like this:

• T ime-to -market for pro ducts shrinks. T his will be

due, in part, to faster design and prototyping

cycles as a result of 3D printing, but also to the

elimination of tooling and factory setup times

for new products. Being “agile” will no longer be a

competitive advantage but a basic necessity to stay

in business.

• P ro ducts have superior capabil iti es. T he barriers

for manufacturing will be lowered, bringing new

competitors with new ideas. At the same time,

products incor- porating 3D-printed components

will exhibit superior features such as being

smaller, lighter, stronger, less mechanically

complex and easier to maintain. T hese products

will hold distinct competitive advantage.

• o pen design is here to stay. Communities of end

users will increasingly be responsible for product

designs, which will be available to anyone with the

necessary skills and tools who wants to design

and then manufacture. T hese open-design products

will be superior to propri- etary products.

Manufacturers will compete on how well they

implement the designs and their build quality, which

will be mercilessly rated by end users on the

Internet.• c ustomizati on is the new normal. As innovative

companies use 3D printing and other rapid

techniques to offer customization at no additional

cost, consumers will come to expect

customization as the norm. T he per-unit

manufacturing costs of small production runs (even

batches of one) will approach those of long runs as

technology barriers fall.

• T he economics of off-shore change. T he price advantage

associated with mass production in low-cost regions

will

be challenged by 3D printers providing just-in-time

manufacturing near the point of sale or point of

assembly. Sup- ply chains will be re-optimized to

factor in the advantages of just-in-time, particularly

for low-volume or highly specialized components.

Conversely, designers will be able to minimize

costs by using low-cost, high-volume components

wherever possible, connected with specialized just-

in-time components produced at the point of

assembly.Amidst this new world of manufacturing, traditional

manufacturing processes must evolve or die. (See

sidebar.) In a recent report, LEF researcher Simon

Wardley noted that when an activity, in this case

manufacturing, becomes a commodity, traditional

practices must evolve to embrace the new, though

highly disruptive, business processes. He states that

the 3D printing disruption “will almost certainly be led

by new entrants whose practices will be radically

different from those of existing players.”70 T herefore,

in pre- paring for this change, traditional manufacturers

must keep abreast of evolving 3D printing practices

and be aware of their own internal barriers (e.g.,

culture, organization) that could prevent them from

taking advantage of the change.

As more organizations and individuals become

manufacturers, the lines between manufacturer and

customer will blur. When there is a retailer in

between, those lines will blur too. Manufacturing will

move into retailing. Consum- ers and new entrants

will move into manufacturing. Will traditional

manufacturing be dead in 10 years? No, but it will

look very different.

i mpa c t o n c o m m e r c i a L

ma n u f a c t u r i n g

a s m o re o rga n i z a ti ons and individuals b e co m e manu facturers, the l inesbetw een manu facturer and c u stomer will b lur.

21


h y P o T h E T i c a L c a s E s T u d y :3 d P r i n T i n g b L u r s r E T a i L a n d ma n u F a c T u r i n g

22

Gordon Fuller, CSC

Retro Company is a specialty

retailer selling reproduction home

furnishings (door handles, cabinet

pulls, lanterns) in mall stores and

online. T he company is

evaluating a five-year strategic plan

to open 200 additional stores. To

support the demand from those

stores, U.S.-based Retro is

considering expanding production

at its two factories in North

America and increasing its sourcing

from Asia. However, the company

also realizes that its product line

may be compatible with 3D print-

ing, a potential game-changer for

its business, so it incorporates

the technology into its planning.After analyzing the materials

needed for its products, expected

use and durability, and future

printing capabilities, Retro

determines that 3D printing is

possible, not only by Retro but by

its customers. T he company

dives further into analysis for the

following questions:

• Since much of its inventory

is reproductions of American

colonial and other historic

objects, does Retro own the

intellectual property of these

designs and can the company

protect it?

• If customers print the

products themselves, can the

company offer any warranty or

guarantee?

• Is the company liable for

safety issues when it does

not control manufacturing?

T he results of this analysis

persuade Retro that intellectual

property protection cannot be

enforced since Retro itself takes

photographs of his- torical artifacts

for its reproductions. T his makes

the company vulnerable to

alternate designs from competitors

or home enthusiasts. Legal input

sug- gests that Retro can alter its

warranty and return policies

depending on the source of the

product, but the company does

alert its lobbyist in Wash- ington,

D.C. to monitor legislation

regarding at-home manufacturing.Although the costs of

manufacturing, inventory and

distribution are expected to fall

dramatically over the next few

years by using 3D printing, the

unknown impact on sales when

customers print designs them-

selves means a cost-benefit

analysis is impossible at this

early stage. T he company does

estimate, however, that 60

percent of its customers will have

the capability to print their own

products after eight years.b uild or b u y?

Retro turns to finding ways to

improve sales and customer

retention to respond to this at-

home manufacturing market.

T he company analyzes its store

and website demographics to

determine customer profiles and

to identify customization

opportunities 3D printing would

offer for both customers and

product designers. It also

segments customers into “build” or

“buy” categories. A complete rede-

sign of the website would be

required

since the company would be

selling 3D printer files along with

manufactured items. T he

website would need to offer

choices of material, identify

compatible printers based on

the materials, and provide other

options. T his new sales channel

would also require additional

services and opportunities to

enhance customer loyalty.As the impact of customer

choice becomes evident to more

divisions within the company,

enforcement of intellectual

property protection is again

fiercely debated as a way to

retain market share. Hosting a

design store for enthusiasts

and possible competitors may

cannibalize sales even more.

Retro concludes that more

customers would be alienated by

restrictions than would be retained

by rights management and

reaffirms its strategy to remain

open with its designs and website.Retro’s manufacturing strategy

is also revised. With the drop in

physical goods sold as people

purchase digital designs,

production volumes are projected

to decrease. T he company

determines that additional

sourcing is still needed from

Asia, but decides to reduce the

length of its fixed-term contract

from eight to four years and

instead purchase options for years

five through seven. However,

Retro realizes its suppliers are

vulnerable to 3D printing as well,

and due diligence is required on

the customer mix of those

companies; if too many of its

suppliers’ other customers are

impacted by 3D print-


h y P o T h E T i c a L c a s E s T u d y :3 d P r i n T i n g b L u r s r E T a i L a n d ma n u F a c T u r i n g (c onti nued)

ing, then the supplier could

collapse, leaving Retro without

inventory.

T his ties into the calculations

for the planned 200 retail stores.

Focus groups suggest that

customers would still patronize a

showroom to handle the

merchandise, especially if any item

from the catalog could be

printed on site as a sample. New

break-even numbers are estimated

for retail operations, and supplier

vulnerability is off- set by

contingency plans to add more

printers to stores if needed.d igital inventory

T he dramatic shift in sales

volume from retail operations to

an online design catalog will be

a surprise to

shareholders, and the

temptation is to squeeze profit

from the existing stores before

the paradigm has shifted. Retro

is also wary about sig- naling its

intentions to the market and losing

a competitive advantage. T he

company’s board determines that

its fiduciary responsibility to

shareholders outweighs

preserving the status quo. It

approves confidential plans to

convert the company’s entire

inventory into 3D printer files,

as well as ensure that all new

product designs are created as

3D files from the beginning.

Work begins on the website

redesign as well as a pilot store

program for the new retail sales

concepts. S tore expansion

plans move ahead, though the

planned locations for the fi rst two

years are reduced

until the preliminary analysis from

the pilot program is ready.

Retro knows it is breaking new

ground in the 3D printing arena,

but wants to do so ahead of

competitors or new entrants. T he

retailer is seeing the lines

between manufacturing and retail

blur as customers take on manu-

facturing themselves and retailers

sell digital designs, not physical

products. As Retro expects its

entire business model to shift in

response, one strategic option

being considered is whether a new

company should be formed as a

“pure” 3D enterprise. Retro decides

not to do this for the first two

years, preferring to evaluate its

strategy and personnel to

determine if they are suf- ficiently

agile to make the switch.

23


ing is that the materials are all printed in one job run.

Instead of being printed as separate components and

attached one at a time, they are fused together

simultaneously.74 Multi- material printing lets creators

combine various properties in one model. One day a

complete product or device could be printed as one,

such as a mobile phone that includes plastic cover,

metal, electronics and glass screen.

Although such a Star Trek-type replicator is still years

from being mainstream, another device that is similar

to the replicator for its recycling capabilities may be

closer to reality. T he Filabot is a desktop device that

can recycle a range of plastics, including milk jugs and

soda bottles, into spools of plastic filament for 3D

printers.75 (See Figure 21.) Funded and launched through

Kickstarter, the Filabot has moved from concept to

prototype in a matter of months and contains some

3D–printed parts itself.76

Like all technology, 3D printing will continue to

evolve. In addition to cost reductions (particularly in

the consumer space) and eventual miniaturization,

researchers are breaking new ground in terms of

print size, material integration and speed. T here are

even systems being developed that combine the

benefits of the traditional subtractive processes

(e.g., CNC machining) with 3D printing (additive pro-

cesses). T hese hybrid approaches perform 3D printing

and machining at the same time, eliminating post-

processing. For example, most metallic objects created

by 3D printing require human intervention for either

finish-machining or polishing. However, a Japanese

heavy machinery manufacturing company, Matsuura

Machinery Corporation, has developed a system that

combines 3D printing (laser sin- tering technology)

with high-speed milling that mills edges of the printed

object in five-layer increments.71T hese developments are creating new, unimagined

solutions to existing problems, opening the door to

new market entrants and paving the way for a

constant stream of “world’s firsts.”

Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology have cre-ated 3D objects only microns in size using a technique

called two-photon lithography.72 T he researchers’

breakthrough has been to speed the technique, making

it more feasible for industry. Whereas printing speeds

used to be measured in millimeters per second, they

are now measured in meters per second. T he race

car in Figure 20, approximately 285 microns long

(the average human hair is 40-120 microns in

diameter), has 100 layers that were printed in four

minutes.73 While the structure is already miniscule, it is

expected that printers will one day produce even

smaller objects, opening new possibilities for innovation

in areas such as medicine.Breakthroughs in multi-material printing are enabling

more complex products. T he current leading multi-

material 3D printer is the Objet Connex500, which

allows up to 14 plastic- like materials to be printed at

the same time. T his could be a rubber-like plastic or a

more rigid ABS plastic. What is amaz-

t e c h n o L o g y a D Va n c e s

o n t h e h o r i z o n

F i g u r e 2 0 . T he Vienna University of Technology’s

3D–printed race car, approximately 285 microns

long, was printed in four minutes, demonstrating

that high- speed ultra-precise 3D printing is

possible, opening doors for innovation in areas

such as medicine.Source: Vienna University of Technology

24


It is clear that traditional industry players will compete

with new entrants offering alternative solutions

previously not possible, thus disrupting markets.

Consider Align Technol- ogy, which in 1999

introduced clear teeth aligners under the Invisalign

brand that compete directly with wire dental braces.

Costing slightly more than braces, the aligners incre-

mentally shift teeth until they are straight, without the

dis- comfort or look of wire braces. T he aligners are

made with 3D printers,77 enabling the mass

customization necessary to create cost-effective

customized dental devices. In the past, creating such

high-quality molds of individual mouths had not been

economically feasible. T his early use of 3D printing

enabled an industry first — invisible orthodontics — and

injected competition into an otherwise staid market.Expect to see a number of other industry fi rsts over

the next few years. T hey will join a list that includes:

• the first fully printed shoe, created by a Dutch

research institute, TNO Science and Industry,

and concept design firm Sjors Bergmans Concept

Design78

• the first printed bike, made from nylon and as strong

as its steel and aluminum counterpart, developed by

the Euro- pean Aerospace and Defence group79 (see

Figure 22)

• the fi rst printed plane (3.2-foot wingspan) that

has actually taken flight, by engineers at the

University of Southampton in the U.K.8 0

• the first artificial insect with 3D-printed wings that

has sustained untethered hovering flight for 85

seconds, by researchers at Cornell University81 (see

Figure 23)

F i g u r e 21. T he Filabot lets people recycle plastic

in a desktop environment to create their own

plastic filament for a 3D printer. T he Filabot

extends the DIY of 3D printing to the raw

materials themselves.

Source: Tyler McNaney

Photo credit: Whitney

Trudo

F i g u r e 22. T he first 3D–printed bike, made from

nylon and developed by the European Aerospace

and Defence group, is strong enough to replace its

steel and aluminum counterpart. T he bike is a

technology demonstrator that lays the groundwork

for bike manufacturers to one day be able to 3D

print a bike to fit the rider’s exact size.

F i g u r e 23. Researchers at Cornell University

created the first artificial insect with 3D-printed

wings that sustained untethered hovering.

Source: EADS

Source: Charles r ichter and Hod Lipson

25


In the short term 3D printing will not go head-to-

head with traditional large-scale manufacturing

but will increasingly be used for prototyping, tooling

of traditionally manufactured items, and the direct

manufacture of highly custom or technically complex

low-volume items.

As the limits on object size and printing speed

decrease and the price of printing materials falls,

the economics of manufacturing will change

dramatically in favor of 3D

Given the deep roots of traditional manufacturing

and the challenges the nascent 3D printing movement

poses, will 3D printing really disrupt the

manufacturing industry? In short: yes. As T he

Economist reported, we may be on the verge of

the third Industrial Revolution, and like all

revolutions, the impacts run wide and deep. (See

Figure 24.) T he question for manufacturers

anywhere in the supply chain is how they will need

to change — not disappear — to adapt to 3D printing.

p L a tf o r m f o ri n n o Va ti o n

F i g u r e 24. 3D PRINTING IMPACTS

Source: CSC

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

AUTOMOTIVE

HEALTHCARE

CONSUMER& RETAIL

GENERAL MANU- FACTURING

SUPPLY CHAIN

COMMERCIAL

LIKELY DEVELOPMENTS

NOW & IMMEDIATE FUTURE

FUTURE SCENARIOS

Weight reduction on aircraft

Novelty items

Co-creation with customers

Nano-scale medicine

Printing on the battlefield

Pharmaceuticals production

Retooling & reskilling

Direct supply: Ship the design, not the product

Reallocation of capital to new industries

Crowd-funding models perfected

Niche, low volume parts

Design and prototyping

Customized products

After-market customization, vehicle restoration

Medical instruments

T issue & simple printed organs used in transplants

Light-weight & specialist components in some vehicles

Printing entire aircraft wings

Application in space exploration

Crowd-sourced vehicle design & manufacture

Complex printed organs

Self-healing military vehicles

Printing entire aircraft

Innovative vehicles enabled by 3D printing

Intellectual property issues debated

Boom of start-ups enabled by 3D printing technology

Rising demand for powdered titanium & other feed materials

Recycling used for feed materials

Of-shoring modes begin to be challenged

Adjustment of commodity values as a result of changing demand patterns

Reorganization of business models

Printed electronics embedded in parts

3D printing coexisting with traditional manufacturing

26

New innovative products appearing with printed components

Prosthetics, dental & bone implants

Rapid prototyping & product design

Low-volume specialist manufacturing

New in-store experiences& innovative marketing

Grandparents buy 3D printers for themselves

Rows of 3D printers on factory floors

Printing bureaus servicing niche markets

Popularity of DIY & “Maker” communities


printing. T his is especially the case when considering

the end-to-end cost of designing, manufacturing,

assembling, transporting, distributing and operating

a product. People will increasingly use products

that contain 3D– printed components (or are

entirely 3D printed), from cars and airplanes to

consumer electronic devices and kitchen appliances.

Because of the superior characteristics of 3D–

printed products, these products will be more

desirable. S tart- up manufacturers will flourish

with new and innovative ideas, and they will have

the means to rapidly scale up production with

minimal capital investment. T hese start- ups, with

their agility and incredibly short time-to-market,

will be the competitors of tomorrow.

Anyone doubting the new sources of competition

need only look at the capability of the hobbyists

and open design community today. Without access to

large factories, teams of industrial designers or big

capital, communities can profitably sell 3D printers

for as little as $600 and build prototype military

vehicles in 14 weeks. T hese guys are already beating

large-scale corporations hands- down in niche areas.

For large-scale corporations that design and build

things, 3D printing is an opportunity for IT to

forge new relationships with manufacturing and

with those who need to visualize designs, like

scientists and engineers. One

example of this is part of a broader strategy by

James Rinaldi, CIO of NASA Jet Propulsion

Laboratory, to “change what ‘IT’ stood for from

‘information technology’ to ‘innovate together.’”82

Gabriel Rangel, solutions engineer in JPL’s Office of

the CIO, innovated together with the fabrication

group at

JPL to create its 3DPaaS model. T he key innovation is

the consumerization of 3D printing, which lets

many innovations flourish by using desktop 3D

printing in-house for pre-prototyping. Later, the

printing of fewer, more expensive, more refined 3D

designs can be automatically outsourced as a service.

T he result is that by partnering with scientists,

engineers and the shop floor to re-think processes

— aided by new design tools and 3D printers —

the IT group has accelerated JPL’s ability to print

physical designs early in the product development

cycle that can be shared, modified and re-printed,

over and over, long before a prototype is built. T his,

in turn, means higher confidence in the final design

that is prototyped and, ultimately, produced.

3D printing is a digital technology, not just a

manufacturing technology. With its open and

democratic properties, 3D printing sets the stage

for innovation. It has lowered the barrier to entry

for manufacturing, igniting the creativity of the

masses. 3D printing is creating new products and

services, supporting greater levels of col-

laboration, and fostering disruptive market entrants.

Manufacturers need to prepare for these disruptions

and can begin by asking some key questions that

challenge current assumptions. (See sidebar.)

F o r larg e - s c a l e c o r p o ra ti ons that d e s i g n a n d b u i l d t h i n g s , 3 d pr inti ng is a n o p p o r t u n i t y fo r iT to fo rg e n ew re la ti on s h i p s wi th m a n u fa c t u r i n g a n d wi th t h o s e w h o n e e d to v i s u a l i ze d e s i g n s , l ike sc i enti sts a n d eng ineers .

27

3d pr inti ng is a dig ital tec h n o l og y, not just a manu factur ing tec h n o l og y. W ith its op en and d e m o c rati c p roperti es, 3d pr inti ng sets the sta g e for innovati on.


manufacturing will one day be as common as

desktop printing. When that happens, and factories

without factory floors are the norm, it will be

hard to imagine how companies and consumers once

lived without 3D printing.

T he changes surrounding 3D printing are

significant; we are only scratching the surface of

what the ultimate impact will be. T he glimpses of

disruption seen today suggest wholesale change in

the future. Customized, no-ship

q u E s T i o n s F o r ma n u F a c T u r i n g F i r m s

To help manufacturing firms grasp

the future opportunities and

challenges of 3D printing, here are

10 questions to consider. Some

may have already been answered

and some may be uncomfortable

or difficult to answer, but all are

relevant.

1 When products can be

manufactured with the same

ease as walking down the hall to

print paper copies, how will you

keep your company’s business

model relevant?

2 What are the business

implications of delivering a

digital design rather than a

physical product to your

customers? When your cus-

tomers do manufacturing

instead of you, what are the

implications for product quality,

product safety (e.g., a product

recall) and intellectual

property protection?3 How can your company use

3D printing to improve

your end product? Possibilities

include consolidating

components to reduce

maintenance, creating

lighter- weight products and

leveraging new materials

research.

4 In a world of 3D printing, will

your customers continue to

need large production runs?

Even if it is more cost-effective

for your company to

manufacture large quantities,

will your customers demand

more frequent changes and

upgrades? Has the expected

lifetime of your product

changed?5 Is your factory going to

become an assembler rather

than a manufacturer? A

hybrid? What effect will this

have on your existing pro-

duction lines for length,

direction, workstations,

staffing, storage, etc.? How

will your inbound logistics

processes change to reflect

those alterations?

6 What is the new

relationship between IT and

manufacturing? Between IT and

product designers, scientists

and engineers? How can IT use

3D printing to enable

manufacturing, not overtake it?

7 Where are the opportunities

for driving greater customer

intimacy, such as

customization and co-

creation with your end

customer?

How can you best integrate

online buying and mass

customization to meet

customer needs? What types

of technology platforms are

required to enable this? Is

your company or industry

susceptible to open design

trends?8 How will you prepare for

new competitors, including

new entrants and DIYers? Do

the current benefits of 3D

printing (low cost, high

customization, delivery close

to point of use) challenge

your existing product line? Do

future areas of 3D printing

research pose a threat?

9 What organizational factors

could prevent (or support)

your adoption of 3D printing

— for example, operating

model, resource allo- cation,

on-shore/off-shore mix,

financial model, culture —

and how will you address them?

10 Where should your company

make capital investments

today? What training and

education investments are

required? What investments

should your company avoid?

28


n o t e s

1

29

“A third industrial revolution,” T he Economist, 21 April 2012. http://www.economist.com/node/21552901

2 Clayton M. Christensen, T he Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail(Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1997).

3 “The future of manufacturing...on two wheels,” EADS press release, 7 March 2011. http://www.eads.com/eads/int/en/news/press.20110307_eads_airbike.html

4 Chris Anderson, Makers: T he New Industrial r evolution (New York: Crown Business, 2012), p. 14.

5 “3D printing breaks out of its mold,” Physics Today, October 2011. http://www.physicstoday.org/resource/1/phtoad/v64/i10/p25_s1?bypassSSO=1

6 “61-Year-Old Company Reinvents Itself With FDM,” S tratasys Case S tudy, 2011.http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Commercial-Products-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Thogus-Products.aspx

7 Studio*Mrmann, Attracted to Light, http://www.mrmann.co.uk/long-exposure-series-attracted-to-light

8 “Printer produces personalised 3D chocolate,” BBC News, 5 July 2011. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-14030720

9 “Printing F ood With 3D Printers,” TechCrunch, 1 March 2011. http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/01/printing-food-with-3d-printers/

10 “Researchers use a 3D printer to make bone-like material,” UA Magazine, 30 November 2011. http://www.united-academics.org/magazine/2865/researchers-use-a-3d-printer-to-make-bone-like-material/

11 “3D printers could create customised drugs on demand,” BBC News, 18 April 2012, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17760085; and “The ‘chemputer’ that could print out any drug,”Kurzweil Accelerating Intelligence, 26 July 2012, http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-chemputer-that-could-print-out-any-drug

12 “Scientists Use 3D Printer to Create First ‘Printed’ Human Vein,” Inhabitat, 22 March 2010. http://inhabitat.com/scientists-use-3d-printer-to-create-first-printed-human-vein/

13 “Makers will love to 3D Print with Wood,” 3D Printing News and Trends, Howard Smith blog, 27 September 2012. http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/3d-printing-wood-grain.html

14 “3D printing breaks out of its mold,” Physics Today, October 2011. http://www.physicstoday.org/resource/1/phtoad/v64/i10/p25_s1?bypassSSO=1

15 Wohlers Report 2011: Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing State of the Industry, p. 130. http://www.wohlersassociates.com/2011contents.htm

16 “Particle-free silver ink prints small, high-performance electronics,” University of Illinois press release, 12 January 2012. http://news.illinois.edu/news/12/0112ink_JenniferLewis.html

17 “3-D printing method advances electrically small antenna design,” College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, press release, 16 March 2011.http://engineering.illinois.edu/news/2011/03/15/3d-printing-method-advances-electrically-small-antenna-design

18 Contour Crafting, http://www.contourcrafting.org/

19 “Giant 3D Printer Builds Homes in 20 Hours,” Tom’s Hardware, 8 August 2012, http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/3D-Printer-Homes-housing-printing,news-39380.html; and“A Huge 3D Printer Can Build A Custom, Enviro-Friendly House In 20 Hrs,” THE9BILLION, 15 August 2012, http://www.the9billion.com/2012/08/15/a-huge-3d-printer-can-build-a-custom-enviro-friendly-house-in-20-hrs/


21 John E. Barnes et al., “Evaluation of Low Cost T itanium Alloy Products,” Materials Science F orum, April 2009, vols 618-619, p. 165. http://www.scientific.net/MSF.618-619.165

22 “Personal Manufacturing,” Chemical & Engineering News, 14 November 2011. http://cen.acs.org/articles/89/i46/Personal-Manufacturing.html

http://www.economist.com/node/21552901






















http://www.eads.com/eads/int/en/news/press.20110307_eads_airbike.html



































http://www.physicstoday.org/resource/1/phtoad/v64/i10/p25_s1?bypassSSO=1












































http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Commercial-Products-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Thogus-Products.aspx














































http://www.mrmann.co.uk/long-exposure-series-attracted-to-light























http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-14030720


























http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/01/printing-food-with-3d-printers/




























http://www.united-academics.org/magazine/2865/researchers-use-a-3d-printer-to-make-bone-like-material/




































http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17760085%3B


























http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-chemputer-that-could-print-out-any-drug























http://inhabitat.com/scientists-use-3d-printer-to-create-first-printed-human-vein/






























http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/3d-printing-wood-grain.html








































































http://www.wohlersassociates.com/2011contents.htm

























http://news.illinois.edu/news/12/0112ink_JenniferLewis.html
























http://engineering.illinois.edu/news/2011/03/15/3d-printing-method-advances-electrically-small-antenna-design































http://www.contourcrafting.org/



















http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/3D-Printer-Homes-housing-printing%2Cnews-39380.html
































http://www.the9billion.com/2012/08/15/a-huge-3d-printer-can-build-a-custom-enviro-friendly-house-in-20-hrs/



























































http://www.scientific.net/MSF.618-619.165
















http://cen.acs.org/articles/89/i46/Personal-Manufacturing.html






















23 “FDM reduces tooling costs by 99% and prototyping costs by 73%,” S tratasys case study, 2010. http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Consumer-Product-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Akaishi.aspx

24 “FDM Helps Bell Helicopter Build Quality Prototypes,” S tratasys case study, 2009. http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Aerospace-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Bell-Helicopter.aspx

25 “Additive Manufacturing Goes Mainstream,” IndustryWeek, 10 March 2012. http://www.industryweek.com/articles/additive_manufacturing_goes_mainstream_26805.aspx?ShowAll=1

26 “Tough Enough for Armored Tanks,” S tratasys case study, 2002.http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Military-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Case-Study.aspx

27 “FDM Direct Digital Manufacturing Saves $800,0 0 0 and T hree Years Development T ime Over F our-Year Period,” S tratasys case study, 2009.http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Military-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Sheppard-Air-Force-base.aspx

28 “Student Engineers Design, Build, Fly ‘Printed’ Airplane,” UVA Today, 5 October 2012. http://news.virginia.edu/content/student-engineers-design-build-fly-printed-airplane

29 “U.S. Military Better Visualizes Unfamiliar Settings With 3D Printing,” 3D Systems. http://www.zcorp.com/en/Solutions/Geospatial/U.S.-Military-Better-Visualizes/spage.aspx

30 “3-D printing could remake U.S. manufacturing,” USA Today, 10 July 2012. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/story/2012-07-10/digital-manufacturing/56135298/1

31 Additive Manufacturing Technology Roadmap for Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, March 2011, p. 22. http://www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au/media/Documents/Publications/Additive%20Manufacturing%20Tech%20Roadmap.pdf

32 “Fuel Smart Celebrates its 5th Anniversary,” American Airlines, http://www.aa.com/i18n/aboutUs/environmental/article2.jsp

33 “Local firm leads with 3D manufacturing,” T he Australian Financial Review, 10 September 2012. http://www.afr.com/p/national/local_firm_leads_with_manufacturing_cdMd7rMhCh9CalDDxrRorI

34 “Next 3-D F rontier: Printed Plane Parts,” WSJ.com, 14 July 2012. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303933404577505080296858896.html?KEYWORDS=boeing+3D+printing

35 “Made-in-Space Parts Could Become Space Travel’s New Norm,” Space.com, 19 July 2012, http://www.space.com/16656-space-manufacturing-3d-printing.html; and “3D printing’s stellar, amazing year,”Make Parts Fast, 25 December 2011, http://www.makepartsfast.com/2011/12/3007/3d-printings-stellar-amazing-year/

36 “NASA’s human-supporting rover has FDM parts,” S tratasys case study, 2012. http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Aerospace-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/NASA.aspx

37 “3D Printer Harnesses the Sun to Transform Egyptian Sand Into Glass,” Gizmodo, 26 June 2011. http://gizmodo.com/5815588/3d-printer-harnesses-the-sun-to-transform-egyptian-sand-into-glass

38 Jim Kor, “URBEE: Designing with Digital Manufacturing in Mind,” 2012, p. 8.

39 “Urbee Hybrid B reaks Cover — in Manitoba,” Edmunds Inside Line, 23 September 2011,http://www.insideline.com/car-news/urbee-hybrid-breaks-cover-in-manitoba.html; and “Local electric/ethanol car definitely a labour of love,” Winnipeg F ree Press, 6 September 2012,http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/Local-electricethanol-car-definitely-a-labour-of-love-168764056.html

40 “The Areion by F ormula Group T : T he World’s First 3D–printed Race Car,” Materialise. http://www.materialise.com/cases/the-areion-by-formula-group-t-the-world-s-fi rst-3d-printed-race-car

41 “Mammoth S tereolithography,” 3D Printing News and Trends, Howard Smith blog, 30 August 2012.http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.com/2012_08_01_archive.html

42 Mammoth S tereolithography, Materialise, http://prototyping.materialise.com/mammoth-stereolithography

43 “Manufacturing Jigs and Fixtures with FDM,” S tratasys case study, 2009.http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Automotive-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/BMW-Manufacturing-Tools.aspx

n o t e s

30

http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Consumer-Product-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Akaishi.aspx













































http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Aerospace-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Bell-Helicopter.aspx

















































http://www.industryweek.com/articles/additive_manufacturing_goes_mainstream_26805.aspx?ShowAll=1
































http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Military-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Case-Study.aspx











































http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Military-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/Sheppard-Air-Force-base.aspx


















































http://news.virginia.edu/content/student-engineers-design-build-fly-printed-airplane

























http://www.zcorp.com/en/Solutions/Geospatial/U.S.-Military-Better-Visualizes/spage.aspx







































http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/story/2012-07-10/digital-manufacturing/56135298/1





















































http://www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au/media/Documents/Publications/Additive%20Manufacturing%20Tech%20Roadmap.pdf



































http://www.aa.com/i18n/aboutUs/environmental/article2.jsp






















http://www.afr.com/p/national/local_firm_leads_with_manufacturing_cdMd7rMhCh9CalDDxrRorI

























http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303933404577505080296858896.html?KEYWORDS=boeing%2B3D%2Bprinting









































http://www.space.com/16656-space-manufacturing-3d-printing.html%3B






















http://www.makepartsfast.com/2011/12/3007/3d-printings-stellar-amazing-year/



































http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Aerospace-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/NASA.aspx














































http://gizmodo.com/5815588/3d-printer-harnesses-the-sun-to-transform-egyptian-sand-into-glass


























http://www.insideline.com/car-news/urbee-hybrid-breaks-cover-in-manitoba.html%3B




























http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/Local-electricethanol-car-definitely-a-labour-of-love-168764056.html


































http://www.materialise.com/cases/the-areion-by-formula-group-t-the-world-s-first-3d-printed-race-car








































http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.com/2012_08_01_archive.html

http://prototyping.materialise.com/mammoth-stereolithography


























http://www.stratasys.com/Resources/Case-Studies/Automotive-FDM-Technology-Case-Studies/BMW-Manufacturing-Tools.aspx


















































44 Wohlers Report 2011: Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing State of the Industry, p. 164 (see graphic). http://www.wohlersassociates.com/2011contents.htm

45 “Transplant jaw made by 3D printer claimed as fi rst,” BBC News, 6 F ebruary 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16907104

46 “High tech implants resist infection,” EE T imes, 31 July 2012. http://www.eetimes.com/design/medical-design/4391426/High-tech-implants-resist-infection

47 “3D Printed Prosthetics Company Bespoke Acquired By 3D Systems,” Singularity Hub, 8 June 2012. http://singularityhub.com/2012/06/08/3d-printed-prosthetics-company-bespoke-acquired-by-3d-systems/

48 “3D-printed exoskeleton gives a little girl use of her arms (video),” 3 August 2012. http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/03/3d-printer-little-girl-magic-arms/

49 Shapeways, About Us, http://www.shapeways.com/about/

50 “Printrbot LC,” http://printrbot.com/shop/printrbot-lc/

51 T hingiverse, http://www.thingiverse.com/newest Data as of November 2012.

52 “Southview Middle School Gets a Grip on Design with Dimension 3D Printing,” S tratasys. http://www.dimensionprinting.com/successstories/successstoryview.aspx?view=57&title=Southview+Middle+School+Gets+a+Gri p+on+Design+with+Dimension+3D+Printing

53 “Forum F renzy: Public Library (in Adelaide) Offering F ree 3D Printing Resources,” Core77, 13 September 2012. http://www.core77.com/blog/digital_fabrication/forum_frenzy_public_library_in_adelaide_offering_free_3d_printing_resources_23417.asp

54 Touch Screen S tylus, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:499

55 Volume Knob, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6008

56 Jay Leno, “Jay Leno’s 3D Printer Replaces Rusty Old Parts,” Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2009. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/jay-leno/technology/4320759

57 Ibid.

58 http://www.continuumfashion.com/

59 http://www.facegen.com/

60 “Autodesk bringing 3D modeling to the masses,” CNET News, 3 November 2011. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-57318231-52/autodesk-bringing-3d-modeling-to-the-masses/

61 “3D Printing? It’s the Software S tupid!,” 3D Printing News and Trends, Howard Smith blog, 30 August 2012. http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/3d-printing-its-software-stupid.html Example is from this blog post.

62 “Nathan Myhrvold’s Cunning Plan to Prevent 3-D Printer Piracy,” Technology Review, 11 October 2012. http://www.technologyreview.com/view/429566/nathan-myhrvolds-cunning-plan-to-prevent-3-d/

63 Michael Weinberg, “It Will Be Awesome if T hey Don’t Screw it Up: 3D Printing, Intellectual Property, and the Fight Over the Next Great Dis- ruptive Technology,” Public Knowledge, November 2010. http://www.publicknowledge.org/it-will-be-awesome-if-they-dont-screw-it-up

64 Communication with Shapeways 30 August 2012.

65 Chris Anderson, Makers: T he New Industrial r evolution (New York: Crown Business, 2012), p. 210.

66 “FormLabs Day 2 646 backers, $924,858, 10 times target, 28 days to go,” 3D Printing News and Trends,Howard Smith blog, 28 September 2012. http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/formlabs-day-2-646-backers-924858-10.html See also: FORM 1: An affordable, professional 3D printer, Kickstarter,http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/formlabs/form-1-an-affordable-professional-3d-printer Formlabs rased a total of $2.9 million on Kickstarter.

67 “RepRap: T he 3D printer that’s heading for your home,” TechRepublic, 7 March 2012. http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/european-technology/reprap-the-3d-printer-thats-heading-for-your-home/229

n o t e s

31


























http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16907104



























http://www.eetimes.com/design/medical-design/4391426/High-tech-implants-resist-infection





























http://singularityhub.com/2012/06/08/3d-printed-prosthetics-company-bespoke-acquired-by-3d-systems/













































http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/03/3d-printer-little-girl-magic-arms/

























http://www.shapeways.com/about/

















http://printrbot.com/shop/printrbot-lc/











http://www.thingiverse.com/newest





















http://www.dimensionprinting.com/successstories/successstoryview.aspx?view=57&title=Southview%2BMiddle%2BSchool%2BGets%2Ba%2BGri















































http://www.core77.com/blog/digital_fabrication/forum_frenzy_public_library_in_adelaide_offering_free_3d_printing_resources_23417.asp









































http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/jay-leno/technology/4320759

























http://www.continuumfashion.com/














http://www.facegen.com/














http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-57318231-52/autodesk-bringing-3d-modeling-to-the-masses/







































http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/3d-printing-its-software-stupid.html




























http://www.technologyreview.com/view/429566/nathan-myhrvolds-cunning-plan-to-prevent-3-d/










































http://www.publicknowledge.org/it-will-be-awesome-if-they-dont-screw-it-up


























http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/formlabs-day-2-646-backers-924858-10.html




































http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/formlabs/form-1-an-affordable-professional-3d-printer







































http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/european-technology/reprap-the-3d-printer-thats-heading-for-your-home/229








































68 “Experimental Crowd-derived Combat-support Vehicle (XC2V) Design Challenge,” Challenge.gov. http://challenge.gov/DoD/129-experimental-crowd-derived-combat-support-vehicle-xc2v-design-challenge

69 “Local Motors Builds Crowd-Sourced XC2V Flypmode Combat Vehicle,” Edmunds Inside Line, 28 June 2011. http://www.insideline.com/car-news/local-motors-builds-crowd-sourced-xc2v-flypmode-combat-vehicle.html

70 Simon Wardley, “Learning from Web 2.0 — Executive Summary,” Leading Edge F orum Executive Programme, January 2012, p.4. http://lef.csc.com/assets/3535

71 K.P. Karunakaran et al., “Hybrid Rapid Manufacturing of Metallic Objects,” 14èmes Assises Européennes du Prototypage & Fabrication Rapide, 24-25 June 2009, p.6. http://code80.net/afpr/content/assises/2009/actes_aepr2009/papiers/s3_2.pdf

72 “3D Printer with Nano-Precision: Ultra-high-resolution 3D Printer B reaks Speed-Records at Vienna University of Technology,” Vienna University of Technology, 12 March 2012, http://www.tuwien.ac.at/en/news/news_detail/article/7444/;and “Small but perfectly formed: Scientists use world’s fastest 3D printer to create amazingly detailed F1 car (... that measures just 0 .3MM),” Mail Online, 13 March 2012,http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2114497/Scientists-use-worlds-fastest-3D-printer-create-amazingly-detailed-F1-car.html

73 Ibid.

74 Objet Connex500, http://objet.com/3d-printers/connex/objet-connex500

75 Filabot Personal Filament Maker for 3D Printers, http://filabot.com/

76 Filabot: Plastic Filament Maker, http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rocknail/filabot-plastic-filament-maker


78 “Footwear Customization 3.0: T he First Rapid Manufactured Shoe,” Mass Customization & Open Innovation News,24 October 2006. http://mass-customization.blogs.com/mass_customization_open_i/2006/10/footwear_custom.html

79 “3D-Printed Airbike Is As S trong As Your Aluminium Bike,” Gizmodo Australia, 8 March 2011. http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/03/3d-printed-airbike-is-as-strong-as-your-aluminium-bike/

80 “First 3D Printed Plane Takes Flight,” Daily Bits, 1 August 2011. http://www.dailybits.com/fi rst-3d-printed-plane-takes-flight/

81 3D Printed Hovering Ornithopters, Cornell Creative Machines Lab, http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/ornithopter

82 “NASA’s New Innovation Mission,” CIO.com, 27 July 2012. http://www.cio.com/article/711437/NASA_s_New_Innovation_Mission

All figures used with permission.

n o t e s

For those interested in keeping up with the latest developments in the 3D printing world, the following provide great reading.

• Fabbaloo: http://fabbaloo.com/

• It’s a 3D World: http://blog.objet.com/

• Singularity Hub: http://singularityhub.com/

• Makers: The New Industrial r evolution, by Chris Anderson

• 3D Printer: http://www.3dprinter.net/author/mark

• 3D Printer Blogs: http://3dprinterblogs.com/

• 3D Printing News and Trends (Howard Smith,

CSC): http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.com

a p p e n D i x : f u r t h e r r e a D i n g

32

http://challenge.gov/DoD/129-experimental-crowd-derived-combat-support-vehicle-xc2v-design-challenge

































http://www.insideline.com/car-news/local-motors-builds-crowd-sourced-xc2v-flypmode-combat-vehicle.html







































http://lef.csc.com/assets/3535


















http://code80.net/afpr/content/assises/2009/actes_aepr2009/papiers/s3_2.pdf































http://www.tuwien.ac.at/en/news/news_detail/article/7444/%3B






























http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2114497/Scientists-use-worlds-fastest-3D-printer-create-amazingly-detailed-F1-car.html

















































http://objet.com/3d-printers/connex/objet-connex500

http://filabot.com/

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rocknail/filabot-plastic-filament-maker


























http://mass-customization.blogs.com/mass_customization_open_i/2006/10/footwear_custom.html





































http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/03/3d-printed-airbike-is-as-strong-as-your-aluminium-bike/


































http://www.dailybits.com/first-3d-printed-plane-takes-flight/





















http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/ornithopter



















http://www.cio.com/article/711437/NASA_s_New_Innovation_Mission































http://fabbaloo.com/









http://blog.objet.com/








http://singularityhub.com/








http://www.3dprinter.net/author/mark
















http://3dprinterblogs.com/









http://3dprintingreviews.blogspot.com/


Nigel B rockbank, r MIT University

Bob Hayward, CSC

Bruce Jackson, 3D Printing Systems

Steven Keating, MIT Media Lab

Jim Kor, KOr EcoLogic

Jennifer Lewis, University of

Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dermid McKinley, Tasman Machinery

David Moschella, CSC

Dominic Parsonson, Tasman Machinery

Gabriel Rangel, NASA Jet

Propulsion Laboratory

Jon Schreiber, CSC

Howard Smith, CSC

Tom Soderstrom, NASA

Jet Propulsion

Laboratory

Simon Wardley, CSC

Terry Wohlers, Wohlers Associates, Inc.

T he LEF thanks the many others who contributed to 3D Printing. Special thanks go to g o r d o n F u L L E r

for his manufacturing expertise and business perspective, and to L i s a b r a u n for her writing and editorial

work.

and operations across Asia Pacific as well as

management of the local researchers and associates. A

3D printer hobbyist, he designed a cycling GPS holder

and printed the e-reader stand shown in Figure 18. v

[email protected]

j arro d is a senior consultant specializing in the mining

and metals industry. He works with tier-one global

companies to develop innovative business and

technology solutions that directly improve the

productivity, efficiency and safety of their operations.

Jarrod recognizes the potential for 3D printing to one

day solve the supply and logistics problems

related to maintaining complex mining equipment in

extremely remote locations. He has an interest in

robotics and has previously competed in international

competitions with a team of autonomous soccer-

playing robots, which in part spurred his interest in 3D

printing. [email protected] their passion for the application of

emerging technologies and their experience in the

mining industry, Vivek and Jarrod have co-authored

past works such as The Augmented Mine Worker —

Applications of Augmented r eality in Mining and A

day in the life of a mine worker in 2025 for the

Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Vivek

and Jarrod are based in Melbourne, Australia.

v ive k s rinivasan (left) and j arro d b a ssan (right)

conducted the research for 3D Printing. T his

work has fur- thered their understanding of the

potential opportunities of this new technology and

how it can be leveraged across industries.

v ive k is a regional manager for CSC’s Leading Edge

Forum Executive Programme, a global research and

advisory service that explores new thinking and

develops next practice road- maps that address the

major challenges at the intersection of business, IT and

management. Vivek works with clients to use recent

research in resolving their most pressing business

issues. Vivek is also responsible for business

development

a c k n o w L e D g m e n t s

33














w orldwide c s c h eadquarters

t he a mericas3170 Fairview Park Drive Falls Church, Virginia 22042 United States+1.703.876.1000

a sia20 Anson Road #11-01 Twenty Anson Singapore 079912 Republic of Singapore+65.6221.9095

a ustraliaLevel 6/Tower B 26 Talavera Road Macquarie Park, NSW 2113Sydney, Australia+61(0)2.9034.3000

e uro p e, middle e ast, a fricaRoyal Pavilion Wellesley Road Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 1PZUnited Kingdom+44(0)1252.534000

a bout c s cT he mission of CSC is to be a global leader in providing technology-enabled business solutions and services.

With the broadest range of capabilities, CSC offers clients the solutions they need to manage complexity, focus on core businesses, collaborate with partners and clients and improve operations.

CSC makes a special point of understanding its clients and provides experts with real-world experience to work with them. CSC leads with an informed point of view while still offering client choice.

For more than 50 years, clients in industries and governments worldwide have trusted CSC with their business process and information systems outsourcing, systems integration and consulting needs.

T he company trades on the New York S tock Exchange under the symbol “CSC.”

© 2012 Computer Sciences Corporation. All rights reserved. Produced in USA 11/12

A Short Overview of 3D Printing and Its Impact on Businesses

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