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Tyler Koslow’s Top 5 3D Printing Applications for 2015

As 2015 is coming to a close, 3D printing technology keeps roaring on throughout the world, revealing new innovative applications by the day. Yet so much has happened over this past year, it would be a crime not to revisit the most exciting and controversial 3D Printing Industry stories before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. Having written for 3DPI for a little less than six months, I’ve quickly watched myself grow from an enthusiastic 3D printing simpleton to an expert of some sorts (yet self-admittedly still a novice in many respects), all of which was made possible by my intensive and exhilarating work with the 3DPI team. Here are the stories that really caught my attention this year, and in turn have helped me to extrude a great passion towards this ever-growing technology.

5 – Representing the Refugees

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Far from the most advanced 3D printing story this year, the ‘Moving People’ street art project held value in a much deeper way. Conducted by the Amsterdam-based Power of Art House collective, the team had 3D scanned and 3D printed small sculptures that represented refugees from various countries. The small sculptures were placed all throughout the city of Amsterdam, symbolizing a platform for these oftentimes rejected refugees. The art collective’s goal was to have these hand-painted figurines spread around both the city and social media, giving a much needed voice to those who have been forced to relocate for the sake of their families and themselves. And to me, this 3D printed art installation is even more important following the refugee crisis that has currently manifested in Syria.

4- The Force Awakens an Open Source, 3D Printed BB-8 Droid

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In celebration of what may very well end up as the biggest movie of all-time, this list would have felt a bit lackluster without the inclusion of something Star Wars-related. 3D printing made a big splash at the Star Wars Celebration convention when a team of engineers manufactured a full-scale, functioning B-88 Droid. Created in the Colorado-based Loveland CreatorSpace, the 3D printed B-88 was a huge hit at the Star Wars convention, and featured an open source design influenced by the Sphero toy robot. The team had 3D printed every part needed to create a full-scale and speedy robot, and has helped lead to the creation of the B-88 Builders Club and also to awaken the force within us right in time for Star Wars season.

3- 3D Printing Stem Cells

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One of the biggest breakthroughs for bioprinting in 2015, a team from the Scottish-based Heriot-Watt University’s School of Physical Sciences and Engineering had constructed a 3D printer that is able to print with delicate stem cell cultures. Though the idea of printing stem cell structures existed prior to Dr. Will Shu and his team’s projects, they were the first to manufacture a bioprinter that could properly handle this fragile matter. Using their unique bioprinter, the Heriot-Watt has successfully printed these stem cells to properly represent human organs, which has allowed for accurate pharmaceutical drug testing while reducing the need to harm to lab animals with experimentation.

2- 3D Printing in Mainstream Footwear

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Fashion was one industry that benefited from 3D printing greatly in 2015, particularly in the area of footwear design. Two major footwear companies, Adidas and New Balance, have both announced that they will utilize 3D printed midsoles within future sneaker lines, bringing 3D printing tech as close to the mainstream consumer as ever before. Adidas, who was assisted by Materialise, has just started developing the Futurecraft, which is their custom-fitted (by 3D scan) midsole. New Balance, who has worked in tandem with 3D Systems and Nervous System, have also created their own organically designed midsole to be released in their new running shoe line in April 2016. To me, what makes this a pivotal story is the fact it shows that major fashion companies are ready and willing to adapt to 3D printing tech, and in turn will help to introduce many more people to its other potential applications.

1- MIT 3D Prints Bacteria to Create Organically Reactive Material

One part of 3D printing that has seen an innovative boost over the year is the available printing material, which has grown in both quality and quantity in 2015. What might be the most interesting material made for 3D printing this year is MIT’s bacterial-based material, which organically reacts to the wearer’s body heat and sweat by opening up. This organic material research project, coined with the name bioLogic, is 3D printing bacterial cells called natto, a microorganism found in dry rice stalks discovered by the Japanese. Not only is the MIT Media Lab’s material completely organic and environmentally friendly, but the reactive element of the material could help make for more efficient athletic gear, or just a bolder and more lively fashion statement.