The Popular Culture of 3D Printing

Abstract

As 3D printing technology achieves mainstream adoption, people are forming new relationships with products as they shift from passive consumers to “prosumers” capable of both producing and consuming objects on demand. This is fueled by expanding online 3D printing communities, with new data within this chapter suggesting that prosumers are challenging existing understandings of popular culture as they bypass traditional mass manufacturing. With 3D digital files rapidly distributed through online platforms, this chapter argues that a new trend for “viral objects” is emerging, alongside the “3D selfie,” as digital bits spread via the internet are given physical form through 3D printing in ever increasing quantities. Analysis of these trends will provide academics, educators, and prosumers with a new perspective of 3D printing's socio-cultural impact, and further research directions are suggested to build a broader discourse around the opportunities and challenges of a cyberphysical future.

A review of 3D printed patient specific immobilisation devices in radiotherapy

“…Given that research has only gained momentum in the last five years, it appears that academics and medical practitioners are still in the early experimental phase of developing 3D printed immobilisation technology, and this recent growth may be due to several factors: Firstly, costs of 3D printers and their materials have rapidly declined as the technology has become more mainstream [46,47], making them accessible to researchers within medical and other disciplines [48]. Secondly, 3D printing technology has shifted from a predominantly rapid prototyping technology to an end-use manufacturing technology as materials have matured, making the production of functional parts, such as immobilisation devices, possible.…”

A quantitative analysis of 3D printed face shields and masks during COVID-19

“…For example, IC3D Budmen self-reported that 3,026,172 of their face shields had been 3D printed at the time of writing (Budmen, 2020), while 3D printer manufacturer Photocentric has been awarded a contract from The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom to 3D print over 7.6 million face shields in the coming months (Hanaphy, 2020). Shared through online platforms where people collectively download, iterate, connect and learn how to assist their community (Novak & Bardini, 2019;Özkil, 2017), the widespread 3D printing movement response to COVID-19 was unprecedented. As traditional manufacturing and supply chains stabilise through the middle of 2020, researchers must now provide governments, regulatory bodies and the broader 3D printing community with new insights that will guide proactive, long-term strategies to combat the long-term threat of COVID-19 and future health crises (Gates, 2020).…”

3D Printing: An Alternative Microfabrication Approach with Unprecedented Opportunities in Design

“…In addition to professional 3D printers designed for manufacturing, desktop 3D printers aimed at the consumer market have enabled fast uptake in laboratory research. The popularity of 3D printing by consumers has made the technology highly accessible, with printers available for under US $500, complemented with numerous free and open source software options . Technical performance in this market segment varies significantly, and most printers on offer may not meet the specification of professional 3D printers; however, surprisingly capable 3D printers can be obtained and upgraded, allowing for economic prototyping in a research setting.…”