3D printers are an extraordinary digital revolution. These little jewels of innovation can be used to create products in record time. Professionals and private individuals alike have been won over by the enthusiasm generated by this cutting-edge printing technology.

3D printing: a technological revolution

The 3D printer was designed to produce a real object, making the concrete virtual. This printer is used to manufacture various functional parts.
It’s true that 3D printing has invaded a number of sectors, including aeronautics, video games, the army, the car industry and medicine. It also features prominently in well-known American TV series and animated films. It works in a similar way to a conventional 2D printer. To explain how it works, it’s worth pointing out that a qualified and experienced operator draws an object on a screen, using a computer-aided design machine. This 3D file is then sent to a special printer, which cuts the object into various slices. It then solidifies the material layer by layer to produce the final product.

3D printing: an excellent communication medium

3D printing, or three-dimensional printing, opens up a wide range of possibilities. Printers benefit from an excellent tool for bold corporate advertising.
Some major groups, such as Michelin and Nike, have understood this and have incorporated 3D printing into their advertising campaigns.
Nike recently collaborated with Prodways to design 3D printed shoes. Prodways Group has created a material, TPU, thermoplastic polyurethane, which can be used with a 3D printer. As a result, a partnership has been signed with Nike to launch 3D-printed sports shoes. The Nike Rapid Prototyping division has chosen this Prodways technology to enhance the development of the items produced by this team, with a view to mass production at a later date. When advertising marketing rhymes with 3D printing, it is also possible to highlight the future Michelin tyre model, which uses this technology.

Animated films are also taking advantage of the 3D printing trend. So-called “stop motion” creations usually use figurines and decorative elements designed by hand. This work can now be facilitated by 3D printing. The distribution of these works is a real media coup.

The 3D printer: a professional tool for businesses

For effective communication promoting the merits of 3D printers, there are a few compelling examples of high-performance professional use to be highlighted.
Printers are using this impressive machine to create innovative objects. Recently, Formlabs, for example, revealed its latest production, a 3D printer called Fuse 1. This 3D printer uses the modern technique of selective laser sintering. Pre-orders have been taken for delivery in 2018.
In video games, a brand new 3D printed snake game was unveiled, the PropHelix, which can move in 3D through a holographic universe.
3D printing has also been used to create a concrete bridge, thanks to the collaboration between the Technical University of Eindhoven and the company BAM Infra, for a device that reinforces concrete using imposing metal rods, similar to reinforced concrete.

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