Printing in Three Dimensions

When we hear the word 'printer', most of us think of a machine that puts words and pictures onto flat paper. A 3D printer is completely different. Instead of ink, it uses melted plastic or other materials to build solid objects, one thin layer at a time. The idea sounds simple, but the results are surprising. A designer draws an object on a computer, and the printer slowly turns that drawing into something you can hold in your hand. People have printed toys, tools, jewellery, and even parts for machines. The technology is especially important in medicine. Doctors can now print models of a patient's heart before a difficult operation, so they can practise first. Some scientists are even working on printing artificial skin and bone. 3D printing also changes the way factories work. Instead of keeping thousands of spare parts in a warehouse, a company can simply print a part when it is needed. This saves both space and money. Still, the machines are slow, and large objects can take many hours to finish. As the technology improves, however, experts believe 3D printers will become common in ordinary homes.