David Sheffler, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, likes to joke that he works with the Neanderthal version of the Star Trek replicator. He agrees, however, that the emergence of 3-D printing is turning a technological vision of the future into reality.
Sheffler uses 3-D printers at the Engineering School to produce prototypes of an aircraft called the Razor, among other things. The printer builds the prototype in layers based on a 3-D computerized design. Excited to apply this technology to engineering projects, Sheffler said its possibilities are limitless.
“I’m blown away by the medical applications,” Sheffler said. “People are literally trying to make human parts, and that’s just revolutionary.”
So far, researchers around the world have experimented with bone and liver printing, both considered relatively simple body parts. This technology can also be applied to creating specialized prosthetics — but Sheffler said the possibilities do not stop there. The near future may see the application of 3-D printing to virtually all consumer goods, he said.
“That’s where people say this technology [is] going,” Sheffler said. “You would order something online, then download a file and print your thing out.”
Despite these potentially radical implications, Sheffler said, 3-D printers are still limited in terms of quantity and quality. Because they print in layers, these printers cannot as yet capture the “warp and weave” of fabrics, meaning fabrics made with 3-D printers often feel stiff and artificial. These printers are also unable to produce in large quantities.
“The value of 3-D printing is it allows you to make limited quantities very cost effectively,” Sheffler said. “It doesn’t scale well. So that’s kind of where the limit is right now.”
The rise of 3-D printing also has widespread social implications, Sheffler said.
“This is commonly called a disruptive technology,” he said. “That means you’ve got a well-established system, and this new thing comes along and completely throws it on its head.”
Sheffler said this “disruption” to our worldview could have positive and negative effects — while it has a life-saving potential, it may also stifle creativity.
“Jobs will change, but sadly, I think it probably will dumb the population down,” Sheffler said. “It strips away … the artistry of things.”
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