Report on 3D Printing/Technology

The topic of this report is the Immersive form known as 3D Technology.

Immersion 2014, an Immersive Education Initiative brings together leading experts on Immersion forms and immersion technology in Los Angeles, California, June 6-8, 2014.  The iED Summit presents a robust schedule of presentations for a number of tracks, such as “Arts and Culture”, “Entertainment”, “Human-Computer Interaction”, etc.  Presentations by a number of experts  immersive forms are available in each track and address and cover a wide range of applications within these tracks.  There is a tremendous amount of information available at the summit website: http://summit.ImemersiveEducation.org  where you can explore new forms and applications of immersive technology.

3D Technology, the topic of this report has many applications that I will explore in more detail; not only the applications but the hardware that is used to create the technology and how it is delivered.  3D Technology appears to be a topic of interest at the latest iED summit.

The keynote presentation Frozen: The Art of 3D Storytelling at Immersion 2014’s Entertainment track was given by Katie Fico who works with Disney Animation Studios. Another presentation on this technology titled From Bits to Atoms – The Rise of #D Printing was delivered by Jon Cobb to name two.

The Immersive form known as 3D technology is also known as “additive manufacturing”.  3-D is an acronym for three-dimensional presentation. Additive manufacturing refers to the process where, under a computer’s direction, layer after layer of material is put down creating the 3D product. This process developed over time and at various points in its history the name referred to different types of materials.  It was a recent as 2010 that 3D Printing and AM have become “synonymous for these technologies.

The equipment or hardware used to develop 3D products are varied depending upon the product desired. One of the analogies that I have heard about how this equipment works is like making a loaf of bread, one slice at a time it is the “layering” that creates the 3 dimension.  The controlling computer has the blue print of what is to be made and puts down layer after layer to create the object. Each layer is very small/thin, and complex in its structure. Another analogy would be looking at an infinite number of cross-sections of an object and gluing them together.   

Another use of 3D printing is in the development of animation.

It adds dimension to the experience of watching the animated film.  The movie Frozen discussed at the iED summit exhibits that dimension and additive connection with its 3D figures. Compare these two animated films involving snowmen. On the left is Olaf from Frozen – on the right Frosty from Frosty the snow man.  An incredible difference! 

 

This video show the Quantum ORD bot Printer that is making screwless gears.  It is making 4 gears at the same time.  It is controlled by a computer design, adding layer after layer to construct each of the gears.  This is one of the most common use of 3D printing; that of creating mechanical parts and objects.

3D Printing has also been found to be very helpful in the classroom.  It puts the tools of making prototypes into the hands of the students Developing the prototype involves design and engineering skills which are difficult to teach without the hands on experiences.  Students can see and experience the real form of objects in subjects that were, in the past, only pictures on a page.  Learning about science has taken on a whole new dimension – compare these two pictures of a DNA helix.  The 3 dimensional one on the certainly looks more "real".

3D printing/additive manufacturing seems to be at the cusp of really developing and becoming the norm.  It is an incredible tool.