3 Dimensional printers have been around since 1984, but since the start of 21st century, they have become faster, more accurate, as well as more affordable and accessible. Beyond the performance, these 3D printers are now more variable in their application. The whole idea of printing with an extra dimension would allow a myriad of fields (including engineering, industrial design, medical and dental industry…) to more efficiently prototype and manufacture their products and ideas (1). In turn, the horizons of materials to print these ideas expand. In addition to printing in flexible plastics, metals and rubber, we’ve moved into using materials like chocolate and human cells to benefit business and victims of failing organs.

Chocolate seems like a more silly thing to be printing in 3D dimensions. It has long been a material that many have wanted to print in (2), and the University of Exeter in England found a way to make it possible. Dr. Liang Hao, staff member at Exeter who started Choc Edge Ltd, says that this technology will allow, “users…to design and make their own products. In the long term it could be developed to help consumers custom-design many products from different materials” (3). The candy industry will be able to utilize this technology to improve production. The added aspects of customization and personalizing to the chocolate world will create new opportunities for consumers and businesses. This means a whole new species of products and gifts!

http://students.egfi-k12.org/sweetest-printer/

Follow this link to see a great example of the Printers capability.

After Dr. Hao finishes rightfully hailing the idea of printing chocolate, he must face some minor challenges that are more than just cooling and heating the chocolate properly. Consumers of chocolate, including myself, like tasty chocolate. Absolutely the shape the chocolate takes affects how it appeals to a person, but sight is only part of the eating experience. Anywhere the word “eat” comes in, so does the FDA. Maintaining the environment in which the chocolate is printed and the tools used may pose another challenge as producers attempt to meet FDA requirements. Lastly, Patents will become an issue. This particular, “patent is not really about chocolate, but about the idea that chocolate is just another material that can be melted and later solidified into new shapes,” which is difficult to defend and will result in a sort of monopoly in the world of 3D printing (4).

Companies like Organovo are working with human cells as their medium. “Dying patients could someday receive a 3D-printed organ made from their own cells rather than wait on long lists for the short supply of organ transplants” (5). Speedily obtaining a fitting organ alone is crucial in the setting of a medical emergency. This printing technology would certainly help in that. The fact that the cells of the patient are used to produce the organ GUARANTEES the fit and function of the part–assuming the cells bond properly together as they should. Using this technology, “for human uses won’t happen anytime soon,” said Tony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. Researchers are still refining processes, such as creating the necessary blood supply to sustain the organ and working on such a small biological scale. When the organs can finally be maintained, these will benefit an innumerable amount of medical patients.

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing

(2) Dr. Richard Devon, Sep. 25th, 2013

(3) http://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/newsandevents/news/title_145191_en.html

(4) http://qz.com/77751/3d-printing-chocolate-is-a-cool-idea-and-someone-is-trying-to-patent-it/

(5) http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/24/3d-printing-aims-to-deliver-organs-on-demand/