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US PRESIDENT BARACK Obama declared in his State of the Union Address last year that 3D printing would be used to create jobs in America, referring to an innovation institute in Youngstown, Ohio which was once a shuttered warehouse but is now a state-of-the art lab where workers are mastering 3D printing. That day, President Obama launched three more manufacturing hubs, where businesses will partner with Departments of Defence and Energy to turn certain regions into global centres of high-tech jobs.
In May 2013, in its report entitled “Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy”, the McKinsey Global Institute identified 3D printing as one of the evolving technologies that could have massive, economically disruptive impact. It estimates that 3D printing could generate economic impact of $230 billion to $550 billion per year by 2025. While this technology has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, governments around the world still need to address the challenges of 3D printing. There is huge potential for Ireland to lead the way by considering and addressing these challenges.
3D printing is a manufacturing process whereby products are built up, layer by layer, using a range of different materials. The process starts with a three dimensional digital file of the object using CAD (Computer Aided Design) software or by 3D scanning an existing object.
3D printers are growing in sophistication and can create increasingly complex objects, including those with different component parts. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, the sales of personal 3D printers grew 200 per cent to 400 per cent every year between 2007 and 2011.
Businesses can benefit in many ways by using 3D printing. For example, bespoke pieces can be produced by purchasing and downloading the appropriate CAD file and then printing it themselves rather than having the part sent by the original manufacturer who may be based overseas. This can reduce costs and remove the need to transport bulky goods around the world.
Potentially 3D printing can address concerns about the waste and environmental impact of manufacturing processes and supply chains by reducing the amount of material wasted and the number of steps required for parts to be produced, assembled, distributed and transported.
3D printing brings a number of legal challenges.
For example, it will revolutionise piracy because, once in possession of a 3D printer and the right materials, anyone can become a copier either by acquiring (legitimately or otherwise) the CAD file or by scanning the original object. It will be difficult to differentiate between genuine and counterfeit goods. This is of particular concern in for manufacturers of certain items, such as medical devices because counterfeit products are unlikely to be produced in clean environments or to meet the same safety requirements as the original product.
With the first 3D printed guns having already been test-fired, 3D printing creates a public safety risk as well as a potential security nightmare. Even if legislation was passed banning the 3D printing of weapons, the online distribution of 3D printable files for weapons (similar to the illegal trade in music, movie or software files) will be difficult to control. Governments will need to find ways of controlling such activities.
There are also intellectual property implications for 3D printing. As 3D printing makes copying easier, there is significant potential for infringing a third party’s intellectual property rights. Defining who has legal responsibility for the quality and safety of 3D printed products will also need to be addressed if the market for such products is to flourish. Developing standards will play an important part in that regard as it will instil confidence amongst business and consumers. Standards could apply to the 3D printer, the materials used and/or the digital software and systems that translate designs in to 3D objects. Usually, such standards are developed by business themselves but governments may have to develop such standards if businesses are reluctant to do so.
3D printing is not science fiction. Various industries, like the motor, aerospace, fashion and toy manufacturing industries, are embracing 3D printing technology in order to push the boundaries in their respective fields.
Fashion designers are using the technology to design and produce new collections. The first 3D printed fashion collection debuted on a runway at Amsterdam Fashion Week in 2010 when Dutch fashion designer, Iris van Herpen (former intern of the late great Alexander McQueen) previewed her SS11 collection “Crystallization” which included a 3D printed piece, created in collaboration with the architect Daniel Widrig and MGX.
Recently, the toy company, Hasbro announced a partnership with 3D printing company, 3D Systems to “co-develop and commercialise innovative play printers and platforms” which refers to the entirety of Hasbro’s world-renowned brands.
3D Systems is also working with the confectionery company, Hershey to explore the potential of 3D printed chocolate. Disney has also developed software to turn animated characters into 3D printed mechanical toys. However, some companies such as Lego have expressed concerns about adopting 3D printing, stating recently that it does not see 3D printing as a viable replacement for the moulded LEGO elements as they have very strict demands for the quality, durability and safety of its products.
The medical field has also embraced 3D printing technology. In March 2014, Morriston Hospital in Swansea reconstructed the face of a patient who suffered multiple trauma injuries in a motor bike accident in pioneering surgery where 3D printing was used at every stage. While 3D printed implants have previously been used to help correct congenital conditions, the current surgery used custom-printed models, guides, plates and implants to repair injuries months after they were sustained.
An Irish company that is leading the way in paper 3D printing technology is Mcor Technologies Limited which was founded in 2004 by brothers, Dr. Conor MacCormack and Fintan MacCormack.
This home grown business recently struck a deal with the international office supply company, Staples, to launch a new online 3D printing service called “Staples Easy 3D”. The service offers customers low-cost 3D printed products from Staples stores. Customers simply upload electronic files to the Staples Office Centre and pick up the models in their nearby Staples stores, or have them shipped to their address. The service is initially being made available in the Netherlands and Belgium but the intention is to swiftly roll it out to other countries.
With a number of relevant patents due to expire in 2014, there will undoubtedly be an increase in the adoption and development of 3D printing. The opportunities presented by 3D printing are huge but the challenges raised by the technology need to be addressed by governments, legislators and regulators as steps needs to be taken now if the 3D printing is to develop and flourish.
Maureen Daly is Partner and Head of the Technology and Brands Unit at Beauchamps Solicitors.
Follow Opinion & Insight on Twitter: @TJ_Opinions
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I’m looking forward to downloading a 3d printer blueprint, and making a second printer in my first printer.
Not looking forward to constant corporate surveillance however. Those people will be losing a sh*t ton of money and will have much incentive to monitor internet use.
Quiet a nerd fest thing to do. Get 3D printer examine it and then make an improved version of itself on same 3D printer.
Big communities online constantly developing these. Fascinating in that it is a crowd sourced hardware and technological advancement.
A machine to build machines is a nerd fest thing to do? No, no it’s not.
It’s low cost, often from parts you may already have many of. It means that you can build something other than a 3d printed; maybe a vinyl cutter, precision 3D mill, laser cutter – basically a mini fab-lab for your own home.
You just haven’t seen enough of the internet yet Seanie.
3d printing and automation are going to decimate jobs across various sectors of the economy. There is a massive jobs crisis coming in the transport and manufacturing industries. I haven’t really seen this discussed anywhere. Cars that can drive themselves have been around for years and are going to become commonplace soon. We won’t need taxi/bus/truck drivers soon, just a handful of people to coordinate fleets from an office. As the author points out, 3d printing will reduce the need to ship goods from overseas, further reducing employment in transport. 3d printing will also reduce the number of employees needed to manufacture a good, machines are cheaper to run than employees after all.
jimbo i agree with you up to a point. However driverless trucks,while the technology is there,are a while off. They are being prevented by legislation not technology. You maybe operate a vehicle that can drive itself but it must be accompanied by a driver. Piloteless planes have been around for a lot longer & most planes i believe can fly themselves but i dont think we are going to have many pilotes on the dole. In my view the opposite is the case.
In the short term the impact won’t be too severe, but in the next 20-30 years it will. Hopefully we will have planned for this by then.
Who thought it was science fiction? It’s been around for years
Printing workable human livers is beyond science fiction. Human ears have been printed using a stem cell goo. A printed pouch that will slip over the heart and keep it pumping indefinitely.
We should have stayed on Pluto because this stuff is far out.
There is a view that 3D printing technology will be able to solve all world hunger and also allow for very efficient distribution of things like medicines to remote locations.
One of the founders of Microsoft is funding research into how printing technology can be used to produce food that contains all essential nutrients to alleviate inefficienies of supply due to famine, ware, drought etc. The foodie in me hates the concept but you can picture how it could work well.
The same principle applies to distributing drugs using something like a 3d printer.
I’m glad this is a column… It’s very much written from the point of view of looking at the potential legal issues around 3d printing and less about the incredible potential it has.
At FabLab Nerve Centre, we’ve just taken delivery 10 days ago of 3 of what is possibly the first of the 5th generation makerbot replicators in the UK and Ireland to add to the replicator 2 and UP 3d printers we already have. These machines may be something that have the potential to be miss used but we already had machines in the public domain that are capable of producing firearms/weaponry and counterfeiting of goods.
There are 2 full fablabs in Ireland (Derry and Belfast) and 2 which are in development (Cloughjordan and Limerick).
There should be one (at least) in each large town/city in Ireland but there doesn’t seem to be a real will to do that.
With them in place, people could access the technology in environments where education in the use of additive manufacturing and many other technologies which could also raise many of the same concerns as 3D printing -some of these technologies are far better suited to materials used in destructive products and counterfeiting than the types of 3d printers often talked about.
The ones usually seen are €500–€3000 machines which all use a method called FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) . The ones made by MCor for their Staples deal are far more suited to pretty amazing 3D representations of photography. Neither of these types are suited to any kind of weapon making unless you’re pretty good with a rubber band.
The types used by Cody Wilson and Defense Distributed which you might possibly trust not to blow up in your hand are printed by much more capable machines which are more likely to cost €100,000 minimum. (though his first which was demonstrated was printed on a $15,000 SST)
As the tech gets better and more accessible, yes it will be an issue – but then, should PLA & ABS plastics be banned? Should lathes be banned? I mean, you could make a basic barrel using a cnc lathe for €5K and then look at howstuffworks.com to find out how to build… You could also buy a precision 3D mill and make other items including your own custom circuit boards which could then be used for who knows what?
The real doom and gloom here is for those who want to stifle innovation by fighting to protect their patents and the author is going to be one of the winners as she fights “piracy”.
What has happened in media is now really going to get going in manufacturing – industries need to realise this and change – not pointing at “piracy” and crying that someone took their sweeties.
Personalised digital manufacturing is here.
The firearms on 3D is still a total MYTH. The “3D guns ” touted by the fear mongers are nothing but lowers of a modular rifle that does nt have any pressure bearing parts.IOW they are where the trigger mechanism is and where the magazine fits in.The critical parts are things like the bolt and barrel that contains the controlled explosion when a bullet fires. As of yet there is no polymer or plastic out there that will withstand contionously a explosion of over 3 metric tonnes .You still need steel for that,and it will be awhile yet before any printer works to produce liquid high tensile steel. Even the so called all plastic gun isn tall plastic it needs a steel barrel insert .
Tony, I couldn’t agree more regarding the need for makerspaces and fablabs. I’m working to set one up in Dublin. Would love to pop up to you guys and pick your experienced brains about it.
(Forgive the double posted comment. Mobile wouldn’t post inline.)
There’s a 3D print shop in Rathmines, opposite the top of Castlewood Avenue. Haven’t used it yet though.
There are some great online spots to have a look at if you want to make something.
thingiverse.com is a repository of stl files that can be used directly.
Sketchup can be a little tricky if you’re not determined.
Instructables.com is great for more than just 3d stuff.
123d is great as a simple 3d modeling tool too.
There are lots of things out there. The quaestion is if you’re willing to put in a bit of time to find or model.
The other thing is that plastic material may limit your work. There a flexible silicon like material called ninjaflex too that could suit some applications.
Well worth looking at videos of what people have done on whatever machines they have in that shop.
We are an Irish startup in this area – we use 3d printing and digital manufacturing to make all of our products. We also collaborate with designers worldwide through our design calls for ideas. You can check us out at :
http://www.FabAllThings.com
If you’re interested in this area, we update our twitter account daily with 3d printing news @FabAllThings!
Tony, I couldn’t agree more regarding the need for makerspaces and fablabs. I’m working to set one up in Dublin. Would love to pop up to you guys and pick your experienced brains about it.
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