Professional Skills for ICT: 3D Printing Technology Report

This report explores the application of 3D printing technology for a small organization in Victoria, focusing on its potential to expand business in Australia. The report defines 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, and its use of materials like plastic and metal to create 3D models layer by layer. It discusses five applications of 3D printing, including additive manufacturing, rapid manufacturing, agile tooling, rapid prototyping, and mass communication, recommending additive manufacturing, mass communication, and rapid prototyping for the case study. The report highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each application, such as cost-effectiveness, energy savings, and simplicity of training for additive manufacturing, as well as the high speed and ability to find flaws in rapid prototyping. It concludes by recommending specific 3D printing applications based on the organization's needs and goals, emphasizing the technology's ethical, social, and legal implications.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Information and Communication Technology: 3D Printing
Name of Student-
Name of University-
Author’s Note-

1PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Executive Summary
The goal of this report is to suggest a 3D printing technology for a small sized
organization in Victoria. On behalf of Head of the organization, the best printing application is
suggested in this report that will make the procedure of the organization faster. The organization
mainly produces printer and computer system for the business organization in Victoria and wants
to expand its business in Australia. This can best happen with the use of 3D printing technology
in the organization. The details of 3D printing technology are elaborated in this report along with
some recommendations for the organization that is to be followed.

2PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Table of Contents
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................2
2. Definition of 3D Technology...........................................................................................3
2.1 Five Different Application of 3D Printing.................................................................3
3. Three 3D Printing Technology Application for the Organization...................................4
3.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Proposed Applications..................................6
4. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................10
5. Recommendations..........................................................................................................10
6. Reference List................................................................................................................10

3PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
1. Introduction
3D printing is a growing fast along with the technology of additive manufacturing. This
3D printing uses the powder material like metal as well as plastic for constructing the object that
is based on the digital file of the model.
Digital model that is used in 3D printing provides optical scanning that makes the model
visible in 360° angle all around the scanning target with the help of visible light (Mendis,
Lemley & Rimmer, 2016). The surface construction software of 3D technology calculates,
creates, as well as modifies a surface image of the model in 3D, and transmit the data to 3D
printer. The solid model in 3D printing is formed layer by layer.
The case study that this report deals with is basically a medium sized company situated in
Victoria. This organization deals with retail as well as corporate clients (Ambrosi & Pumera,
2016). The organization wants to expand its business to Australia and wants to make their
models cheaply with the help of 3D printing technology. This report deals with 3D printing
technology needed for this company.
This report mainly describes the technology of 3D printing that is used in most of the
companies nowadays. This report elaborates the definition of 3D printing technology that is used
in the industries to build a 3 dimensional model. This report all describes five different types of
applications that use 3D printing and the most three appropriate application that is required for
the case study. There are many advantages as well as disadvantages of 3D printing that are
elaborated in this report. This paper describes the use of 3D printing technology in different
types of industries and finally recommends about 3D printing technology for the case study that
is given.

4PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
2. Definition of 3D Technology
The technology of 3D printing is used by the designing companies all over the world. 3D
printing allows the designers to visualize all the objects in 3 dimensional effect (Kothman &
Faber, 2016). 3D technology is therefore defined as a process of prototyping by which real
objects are being created from 3D model. The raw material in 3D printing are added layer by
layer to build up the final model. The technology of 3D printing is also known as additive
manufacturing or as desktop fabrication.
Mostly, in 3D printers the file format that is used is STL (STereoLitography). This STL
is used for storing the files of 3D object for the need of 3D printer (Dankar et al., 2018). The files
of STL are standard of open file and are used mainly in CAM (Computer Aided
Manufacturing).and are also used as rapid prototyping. The file format used in STL is a good file
for printing the parts of the model because in STL the surface geometry of all the parts are
described. The technology of 3D printing is very cost effective and all the organization can
afford the concept of 3D printing technology. The 3D printers is capable of creating any object
starting from a toy to a motorcycle. There are several prototypes that are used for the need of
testing with 3D printing technology. The complexity of skilled workers are gradually reducing
with the invention of this 3D printing technology.
2.1 Five Different Application of 3D Printing
There are different types of applications that are involved with this technology (Lee et al.,
2014). The popular application that used with this technology are listed below.

5PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
1. Addictive Manufacturing: The addictive manufacturing is basically a networked model
that is used for manufacturing. This helps user to print the object in three dimension.
2. Rapid Manufacturing: The rapid manufacturing is new to the technology of 3D printing
(Zhang et al., 2015). All the processes that are involved with this technology are
unproven. This type of manufacturing is urgent is mostly famous in the manufacturing
organizations.
3. Agile Tooling: In this design tooling, the prototyping is done faster. Injection modeling is
a common type of moulding that is done in Agile Tooling.
4. Rapid Prototyping: All the industries that use 3D printers use this type of prototyping.
All commercial organizations mainly uses the rapid prototyping.
5. Mass Communication: With this application, easy customization is possible with the
help of web based customization software.
3. Three 3D Printing Technology Application for the Organization
There are various applications that are used to build a three dimensional model. These
applications are used by users all over the world in different types of industries. As the small
sized organization wants to expand its business in Australia cutting the cost of building the
model with help of three dimensional printing technology, three applications are stated for this
organization (West et al., 2018). The list of three proposed applications that the organization in
Victoria can use are stated as follows.
1. Additive Manufacturing: The additive manufacturing is an important application in
the sector of 3D printing. In traditional method for manufacturing, a particular material is used
for making the design of the model (Ventola, 2014). This is basically done by removing some
parts by carrying out different methods. But, in additive manufacturing application, the models

6PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
are made by adding up many thin layers that are combined together to build the product. The
process of additive manufacturing involves using of CAD software that helps to relay the
messages in a printer. This additive manufacturing is especially used to print the model of the
object with the desired shape. The advancement of the technology is increasing day by day and
the advancement in addictive manufacturing has also reached its peak (Youssef et al., 2015). One
of the mast important advantage of this application is the speed and for this the additive
manufacturing is has become the most popular manufacturing among the users. The materials in
an additive manufacturing are added layer by layer to make the model. The material that can be
used to make the model can be plastic, concrete or metal. This application is used for making
different equipment such as machine, systems, computers, 3D modelling, layering materials, and
many more. As the organization in Victoria makes printers and computer, this additive
manufacturing is an appropriate application of 3D printing. As the organization wants to build
the model with less cost, the additive manufacturing can help the company to do so.
3. Mass Communication: The second application that the organization can implement is
for 3D printing is the mass communication (Ferraz et al., 2016). The organization in Victoria
wants to expand its branches in Australia. So, to do that with less cost another appropriate
application that the organization can use is the mass communication. This application is very
popular and is most vital concept that provides the clients with different types of products
fulfilling the requirement of the client. As the mass communication includes no extra cost of
building the model, it is very much advantageous for the organization to implement.
2. Rapid Prototyping: The second application that the company of Victoria can
implement is the process of rapid prototyping (Moon et al., 2014). The rapid prototyping consists
of different techniques that are used to fabricate the scale model or physical part of the model by

7PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
CAD data. This rapid prototyping is used to construct the prototype of models and parts of the
object. The volumetric data that is used to build the model in rapid prototyping is interpolated
from one dimension range to another.
3.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Proposed Applications
All the applications that are used for the technology of three dimensional printing has
many advantages as well as disadvantages (Chia & Wu, 2015). All the proposed applications
consists of ethical laws, social laws as well as legal laws. The advantages and the disadvantages
of the applications that are proposed for the organization are discussed below.
1. Additive Manufacturing: The advantages and the disadvantages of Additive
manufacturing is stated below.
Advantages:
i) Cost Effective- The most advantage that the additive manufacturing offers to the
organization is cost effectiveness. There are many organization available that cannot carry out
the cost of traditional manufacturing in the company (Radenkovic, Solouk & Seifalian, 2016).
So, this application can helps the organization to lessen the cost of manufacturing. This
application is used by most of the organization who implements 3D printing.
ii) Saves Energy Cost- The energy cost in the organization can be saved with
implementation of additive manufacturing.

8PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
iii) Provides Simple Training- The next advantage that the additive manufacturing is that
this application needs simple and easy training and thus, the training can be provided to the users
easily.
iv) Less Complexities- Tis application particularly has less complexities. The methods
involved with this method is not complex and can be carried out by all employees (Ge, Ghadiri
& Hapgood, 2015). The processes involved is very easy and all user can handle it. There is no
complexity in the process.
v) Reduces Waste Production- The last but not the least advantage that additive
manufacturing provides is that it reduces the production of waste. Reduction in waste production
helps the organization to save energy as well as expenses that gradually increases the profit of
the organization.
Disadvantages:
i) High Cost of Production- The disadvantage that additive manufacturing involves is
higher production cost (Park et al., 2015). Most of the organization avoid using the additive
manufacturing because of the high production cost. The cost of production is high in additive
manufacturing.
ii) Slow Building Rate- The second disadvantage that this application provide is to that
this application has very slower rate of building.
iii) Requires Post Processing- The third disadvantage that additive manufacturing
provides is that the process requires post processing. The accuracy of the dimension has very low
quality.

9PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
iv) Production Process is Discontinuous- The application of 3D technology in printing
mostly provides discontinuous process for production. Only some part is printed at a particular
time.
With all the advantages and the disadvantages, the additive manufacturing is the ethical
manufacturing satisfying the legal as well as social laws of manufacturing (Chan et al., 2017).
So, this application can be used by all the users without any problem.
2. Rapid Prototyping: The benefits and the issues that are faced by an organization for
implementing the rapid typing are stated as follows.
Advantages:
i) Provides Final Look- The most advantageous factor of rapid prototyping is that the
final product that is produced looks good and perfect (Cesaretti et al., 2014). The user using this
application can see the final view of the product before it has been made. The future product is
available to the user in the prototype only.
ii) High Speed- The second benefit that rapid prototyping application provides high speed
of execution. This system helps the user to complete the execution fast, thus, helping the user to
complete the designing fast.
iii) Search for Flaws- One of most significant benefit that is provided by application of
rapid prototyping is searching for the flaws or defects that are in the designing part of the product
(Lee et al., 2016). All development stages while developing the product are searched by this
application.

10PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
iv) Cost Effective- This is the best advantage that rapid prototyping provides. This
application is very much cost effective. All organization from small sized organization to large
sized organization can implement this application.
Disadvantages:
i) System Replication Failure- The disadvantage that the rapid prototyping provides is
that this application is not applicable for system replication (McMenamin et al., 2014). This
application is failure for system replication. This application cannot be replicated and constructs
a prototype that is mere.
ii) Cheap Working Models- The working model that is used in this application is a cheap
model compared to some other model.
iii) Not Appropriate for Big Products- Another disadvantage that the rapid prototyping
application offers is that this application is not accurate for making of large products.
3. Mass Communication: The advantages and the disadvantages that mass
communication provides with 3D printing technology are stated below.
Advantage:
i) Cost Effective- The advantage of mass communication is that this application is very
much cost effective (Xing, Zheng & Duan, 2015). It can produce models at very lower rate that
gives the organization to mitigate their issues related to cost.
ii) Provides Competitive Advantage- The mass communication application gives
competitive advantage to organization that uses this application.

11PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
iii) Good Customer Experience- This application of 3D printing provides all its customer
a good experience while handling the application and making the product.
Disadvantages:
i) Requires Mass Deduction- This application of mass communication gives a
disadvantage that this system lacks mass deduction. Mass deduction is made in this application.
ii) Feasibility Lack- The disadvantage that mass communication provides is that this
application lacks feasibility.
The ethical, social, as well as legal laws are followed by mass communication and the
application is trusted to be used by all the users and the organization.
4. Conclusion
The 3 dimensional technology of printing is basically a procedure in which any type of
materials are joined, solidified, or layered in computer system for properly creating as well as
making a three dimensional object. The process of 3D is being executed to bring all the material
and make up a single object. This 3D printing technology is a high end technology of
manufacturing that is used excessively in manufacturing sector. Most of the organizations now a
days use the technology of 3D printing for establishing their business.
From this report, it can be concluded that the small sized organization that is situated in
Victoria can implement the technology of 3D printing in the organization for making the
working process more fast and making the process cost efficient. The three dimensional
technology makes the work more fast and with less cost. As the organization deals with making
of printers and computer system, the decision of implementing the 3D printing technology is

12PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
right for the organization. As it wants to expand its business to Australia, implementing the 3D
printing will enable the organization to work faster. The best effective application of 3D printing
technology is the additive manufacturing application that helps to makes the system faster. This
report elaborates five such applications of 3D printing that is useful in different sector of
organizations. Out of the five application, three most appropriate applications are suggested for
the company in Victoria for enhancing its business. All the advantages along with their
disadvantages are stated in this report that shows the benefits of using those applications in the
organization.
5. Recommendations
As the organization wants to expand its business to Australia, it has to make all its
processes do be done fast. The traditional method of manufacturing takes lots of time and lots of
money for manufacturing. So, to mitigate this issue 3D printing technology is to be implemented
in the organization. There may be some issues before implementing the 3D printing technology
in the company. To mitigate them, some of the recommendations that are to be provided for the
organization are as follows.
1. The organization is recommended to use security measures before implementing the
3D printing technology in the system.
2. The company should maintain all its equipment and machine from time to time so that
the user do not face any problem.
3. The last recommendation that is recommended for the company is to use the
application of Additive Manufacturing for making the system fast and building the model with
proper finishing.

13PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

14PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
6. Reference List
Ambrosi, A., & Pumera, M. (2016). 3D-printing technologies for electrochemical
applications. Chemical Society Reviews, 45(10), 2740-2755.
Cesaretti, G., Dini, E., De Kestelier, X., Colla, V., & Pambaguian, L. (2014). Building
components for an outpost on the Lunar soil by means of a novel 3D printing
technology. Acta Astronautica, 93, 430-450.
Chan, H. K., Griffin, J. G. H., Lim, J. J., Zeng, F., & Chiu, A. S. F. (2017). Impact of 3D Printing
Technology on Supply Chain in China.
Chia, H. N., & Wu, B. M. (2015). Recent advances in 3D printing of biomaterials. Journal of
biological engineering, 9(1), 4.
Dankar, I., Haddarah, A., Omar, F. E., Sepulcre, F., & Pujolà, M. (2018). 3D printing
technology: The new era for food customization and elaboration. Trends in Food Science
& Technology.
Ferraz, M., Henning, H., Van Dorenmalen, K., Vos, P., Stout, T., Melchels, F., ... & Gadella, B.
(2016). Use of transwell cell culture and 3D-printing technology to develop an in vitro
oviduct model to study bovine fertilization. In Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. Conference
Abstract: 10th World Biomaterials Congress. doi: 10.3389/conf. FBIOE (Vol. 928).
Ge, R., Ghadiri, M., & Hapgood, K. (2015). Production of agglomerates via 3D printing
technology for granule breakage tests. In Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical
Engineering Congress 2015: APCChE 2015, incorporating CHEMECA 2015 (p. 634).
Engineers Australia.

15PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Kothman, I., & Faber, N. (2016). How 3D printing technology changes the rules of the game:
Insights from the construction sector. Journal of Manufacturing Technology
Management, 27(7), 932-943.
Lee, J. Y., Tan, W. S., An, J., Chua, C. K., Tang, C. Y., Fane, A. G., & Chong, T. H. (2016). The
potential to enhance membrane module design with 3D printing technology. Journal of
Membrane Science, 499, 480-490.
Lee, V. K., Kim, D. Y., Ngo, H., Lee, Y., Seo, L., Yoo, S. S., ... & Dai, G. (2014). Creating
perfused functional vascular channels using 3D bio-printing
technology. Biomaterials, 35(28), 8092-8102.
McMenamin, P. G., Quayle, M. R., McHenry, C. R., & Adams, J. W. (2014). The production of
anatomical teaching resources using three‐dimensional (3D) printing
technology. Anatomical sciences education, 7(6), 479-486.
Mendis, D., Lemley, M., & Rimmer, M. (2018). 3D Printing and Beyond: The Intellectual
Property and Legal Implications Surrounding 3D Printing and Emerging Technology.
Moon, S. K., Tan, Y. E., Hwang, J., & Yoon, Y. J. (2014). Application of 3D printing technology
for designing light-weight unmanned aerial vehicle wing structures. International
Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology, 1(3), 223-228.
Park, J. Y., Shim, J. H., Choi, S. A., Jang, J., Kim, M., Lee, S. H., & Cho, D. W. (2015). 3D
printing technology to control BMP-2 and VEGF delivery spatially and temporally to
promote large-volume bone regeneration. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 3(27), 5415-
5425.

16PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Radenkovic, D., Solouk, A., & Seifalian, A. (2016). Personalized development of human organs
using 3D printing technology. Medical hypotheses, 87, 30-33.
Ventola, C. L. (2014). Medical applications for 3D printing: current and projected
uses. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 39(10), 704.
West, L., Ables, F., Sharma, J. B., & Sileshi, R. (2018). Integrating 3D Printing Technology into
Arts, Science, and Engineering Subjects.
Xing, J. F., Zheng, M. L., & Duan, X. M. (2015). Two-photon polymerization microfabrication
of hydrogels: an advanced 3D printing technology for tissue engineering and drug
delivery. Chemical Society Reviews, 44(15), 5031-5039.
Youssef, R. F., Spradling, K., Yoon, R., Dolan, B., Chamberlin, J., Okhunov, Z., ... & Landman,
J. (2015). Applications of three‐dimensional printing technology in urological
practice. BJU international, 116(5), 697-702.
Zhang, B., Linnér, P., Karnfelt, C., Tarn, P. L., Södervall, U., & Zirath, H. (2015, December).
Attempt of the metallic 3D printing technology for millimeter-wave antenna
implementations. In Microwave Conference (APMC), 2015 Asia-Pacific (Vol. 2, pp. 1-3).
IEEE.