The concept of 3D printing originated as early as 1981 when Dr. Hideo Kodama created one of the first-ever rapid prototyping machines that made parts layer by layer using a resin that could be polymerized, or hardened, by UV light. This early idea and prototype marked the beginning of a massive industry that just kept advancing over the years. In 2023, people of all ages can own a 3D printer in their homes and can create 3D-printed objects as easily as pushing a button. The history of printers is vast, confusing, and extremely intricate, and much more information can be learned about the topic on many websites such as 3dsourced.com (https://www.3dsourced.com/guides/history-of-3d-printing/).
I could never replicate the history of 3D printing as well as this article did but a quick summary of it would be nonstop evolution. It began with stereolithography or hardening chemical monomers with UV light, and then through the years the size, speed, and optimization of the printers just kept improving. The machines impacted and continue to impact all parts of life such as healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and other various industries. One main event in 3D printing history that took me by surprise was when Stratasys acquired, (an American-Israeli company that created the FDM printer and then proceeded to do nothing with the patent for years), the patent for the simple FDM printer expired in 2009, which led to the creation and mass production of the small and simple 3D printers to be manufactured and mass produced. No one knows why Scott Crump, the founder of Stratasys, did not mass produce small consumer-friendly 3D printers, but we do know that his patent expiring allowed the industry to explode in popularity and become what it is today.
To convince you to dive into the world, you first need to know how to get a 3D printer for free. All you have to do is download Temu. This app was advertised three times during the Superbowl this year and is known to be “too good to be true,” as it gives you free stuff as long as you get a certain amount of people to click on your personal referral link. Essentially the steps are: download Temu, make an account, look for any of the events where you get free stuff in the app, and then get to the stage where you need to share Temu with new users. From there, you just wait and eventually your free item will arrive in the mail–hopefully, a 3D printer. You also might be thinking that this is a pyramid scheme, and then I would agree with you, and tell you to get the free printer and then delete the app.
Anyways! Now that the monetary investment of 3D printing is out of the way, you can begin the life of 3D printing: a life where you can go onto websites like “Thingiverse” and download any printable file that you want, upload it to your printer, and wait it out. The entire concept of 3D printing is so utterly fascinating as it forces you to be creative, understand basic technology, makes you learn how to use different websites, and so much more. I wish that when I was younger, I was given a 3D printer so I could have grown up with the hobby and be amazing at it today in 2023. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and I only really got into personal 3D printing now as a 17-year-old with one more year left at home before I go to college. I say personal because I had access to 3D printers in middle school robotics class but never got to print anything that wasn’t specifically for the class, whereas now I can print anything I want. This article should be a wake-up call to you: start 3D printing, now. If the idea of printing out almost any object at your house in a matter of hours does not excite you then I do not know what would. Need a present for a younger sibling, family friend, or significant other? Go online, find a file, upload it, and press start.
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Temu was introduced to Kaio Wilson because of Shane Reynolds