Thoughts on the 3D Printing Revolution and its consequences

on the web's future

Nils Perret

Background

● Worked as a broadcast developer for 5 years

● In English: I implemented virtual TV programs using real-time 3D broadcast software, where the audience could interact with the show.

● I was both programming (mainly in Python) and designing / modelling the 3D format.

What is 3D Printing?

● Additive process of making a three- dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model.

How does it work?

● The object is made by building up multiple layers of material.

● Depending on the printer, the 3D printing process can vary quite a bit:○ Fused deposition modeling○ Stereolithography○ Selective laser sintering○ Powder bed and inkjet head 3d printing○ And many more...

Timelapse of a print

Materials

● Material science plays a huge role in the world of 3D printing

● Some example of materials used:○ Plastics:

■ Polylactic acid (PLA)■ Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)

○ Metals○ Concrete○ Glass○ Skin○ Biological cells○ Wood filament○ Even chocolate! :)

Materials

Titanium Concrete (Contour Crafting)

Glass Multi-material Bone

Colours

● Colours can also be added at the time of printing

Fine, but why would it be a revolution?

● It is my belief that 3D printing will fundamentally impact numerous industries and will most probably generate new business models, thus changing the way society works.

● This is obviously debatable, and quite a few people think otherwise.

Industries benefiting from 3D printing

● Manufacturing● Engineering● Medicine● and many more!...

Examples of 3D printed objects

● Shoes● House● Toys● Eyeware● Kidneys● Bones● Anything, really! :)

3D Scanner

● A 3D scanner is a device that analyzes a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape and possibly its appearance (i.e. color). The collected data can then be used to construct digital, three dimensional models.

3D Scanner

Examples of 3D Printing Websites

● My Robot Nation● Make Eyewear● Freedom of Creation● i.materialise

Examples of online 3D modeling tools

● 3dtin● TinkerCad

3D implications for the web

● Increasing demand for 3D web applications in the future

● People will expect a richer and more intuitive (read: 3D) interaction in the applications they use

WebGL

● JavaScript API for rendering interactive 3D graphics and 2D graphics within any compatible web browser without the use of plug-ins.

● Allows GPU accelerated usage of physics and image processing and effects as part of the web page canvas.

● WebGL elements can be mixed with other HTML elements and composited with other parts of the page or page background.

WebGL examples

● Google Chrome Experiments● Subsurface scattering

Suggestions

● Teach yourself the basics (or more) of 3D modelling

● Get familiar with the 3D tools in the Adobe CS software (yes... developers too!)

● Get familiar with WebGL and associated libraries (e.g. three.js) (yes... designers too!)

Teach yourself 3D!

● Get to know a 3D modelling software:○ Blender: open-source and free. Steep learning

curve, though○ Sketchup: easy to use 3D modelling tool○ Modo: a powerful, elegant and flexible 3D

application○ 3D Studio Max: a standard within the 3D modelling

world○ Maya: probably the most widely used within the film

industry○ Many more exist! Chose one and have fun! :)

Links

● A document with the links and more information can be found here:

http://v.gd/CCnbD0