3D Printing: Technology, Applications, Ethics Analysis - ICT100

This report provides a comprehensive overview of 3D printing technology, including its working principles, advantages, disadvantages, and ethical considerations. It discusses how 3D printing is used in various businesses for prototyping, low-volume manufacturing, and creating complex models. The report also addresses ethical issues such as the rising cost of medical treatments using 3D printing, the lack of safety regulations, and the potential for job displacement due to automation. The analysis concludes that while 3D printing offers significant benefits like customization and reduced production time, its limitations and ethical implications need to be carefully considered. The use of 3D printing should be expanded to small companies and individuals and the variety of materials should be increased.

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Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Description of the technology...............................................................................................................2
How does it work?.............................................................................................................................2
Why is it required?............................................................................................................................3
What are its weaknesses and strengths?...........................................................................................3
Advantages of 3D printing.............................................................................................................3
Disadvantages of 3D printing.........................................................................................................4
How it is being used by businesses?..................................................................................................4
Ethical issues.........................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
3D printing is a kind of process which is used for creating third-dimensional objects by
using computer devices. The development of 3D printing system can be achieved with
the help of additive procedures in which an object is developed by laying down
successive layers of the metal until the design is developed (Bose, Vahabzadeh, and
Bandyopadhyay, 2013). The objective of this report is to elaborate on the concept of 3D
printing and describe their working principle along with ethical issues. It is observed
that the use of 3D printing is increasing very fast and the numbers of companies are
using this concept for developing 3D objects. Such kind of innovation allows consumers
for producing more complex shapes by utilizing less material as compared with the
traditional processes. There are several sections will be involved in this paper, for
example, description of the technology, advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing
and ethical issues linked with this technique.
Description of the technology
How does it work?
3D printing is an advanced innovation in the field of mechanical engineering where
consumers can easily design and implement 3D objects on large platforms. It has the
ability for providing the third-dimensional approach to the industries where companies
can produce numbers of 3D objects in an effective manner. It is identified that the
working of 3D printing technology is very simple in which every 3D printer builds parts
based on the same fundamental principle (Campbell, and Ivanova, 2013). In which a
digital model is turned into the physical 3D object by including material in the object
which is called as an additive manufacturing process.
In the case of 3D printing, the users do not require any additional tools and part is
developed onto the produced platform which leads to a unique set of advantages as
compared to the traditional methods (Chia, and Wu, 2015). The working of 3D printing
is started from the computer system where consumers run computer software for
designing the 3D objects as per the requirement. Computer-Aided Design is a very
common software which is used for designing and implementing 3D objects on
computer systems. In which a 3D framework is developed from the ground up with the

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3D computer software with a 3D scanner machine. However, by using such kind of
machine consumers and developers can easily create a digital model of an object.
Therefore, using 3D modelling software and tools developers can easily design a model
for analysing the objects and it can be done with the help of CAD computer software
(Compton, and Lewis, 2014).
Why is it required?
It is identified that in the last few years the utilization of 3D printing technology is
increased more quickly because of their ability to perform 3D models in very less time.
In this modern era, a 3D printing technology is required from the perspective of
businesses because it provides a platform to the developers for producing a 3D model of
an object (Espalin, et al., 2014). Most effectively, such kind of technology also reduced
the cost of equipment and development of objects as compared to the traditional
methods. It is a computer-based technology which does not require more efforts due to
which companies can create numbers of objects in very less time.
A recent study identified that 3D printing technology changed the way of manufacturing
where engineers and developers can design more complex objects and models in an
appropriate manner (Ladd, et al., 2013). The fundamental idea of 3D printing
technology can be used in various business sectors, for example, innovation in health
care, in the fashion and designing sector, and many more. However, it has the potential
to provide an effective process for performing 3D models and manufacturing of objects.
The innovation in the 3D printing technology provides major two things which include
provide 3D object in very less time and reduce human efforts while implementing a
model of an object (Muth, et al., 2014). After reviewing all these key aspects it is
suggested that 3D printing is very important and required in the current generation as
it can be used for designing numbers of objects in less time.
What are its weaknesses and strengths?
Advantages of 3D printing
It is identified that customization is the major advantage of 3D printing technology
which has the capability for printing any kind of object and model in an effective way. It
also enables companies and developers to produce numbers of products in very less
time which help organizations for improving their productivity and constant

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prototyping. A recent study argued that the starting cost of 3D printing is very less as
compared with the labour cost due to which companies can adopt such kinds of
technologies in their business (Schubert, Van Langeveld, and Donoso, 2014). There are
few other advantages of this technology which are described below:
 More reliable
 Very easy to use
 Affordability
 Large data storage capability
 Employment opportunities
 Health care
 More flexible
Disadvantages of 3D printing
The major drawback of this technology is that it directly impacts on the manufacturing
jobs due to which numbers of employees can lose their jobs because it does not require
more employees rather than traditional methods (Ventola, 2014). Another disadvantage
of 3D printing is that the size of an object produced with 3D printing is very limited due
to which companies cannot make large size of projects.
A recent study evaluated the key weakness of the 3D printing process is counterfeiting
which increasing the violation of copyrights. Numbers of copyright holders will have a
hard time securing their rights and many companies can suffer from the similarity
related issues as compared to the other businesses. It is argued that by using 3 printers
in the companies can produce various kinds of hazardous for example plastic knives,
guns and other objects. Moreover, it can provide a platform to the terrorists and
criminals for designing and implementing weapon without being detected.
How it is being used by businesses?
It is identified that 3D printing is an effective computer technology which is used by
business industries for improving their productivity and performance. Making
prototyping is one of the common applications of this technology where companies can
easily design and implement more complex model related to their businesses (Wang, et
al., 2017). In which business industries do not require numbers of workers for
performing 3D system and it also helps them for producing a model of an object for

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sharing with the customers. Moreover, such kind of technology also provides low
volume manufacturing properties to the business sectors that support companies for
producing and manufacturing numbers of projects in less time.
From the previous paper, it is described that 3D printing is now used in the mechanical
sectors where engineers can easily produce mechanical parts for the large project.
Around 40% of companies in the world are using such kind of computer technology for
improving the overall productivity of their business. In the last few years, the
biomedical industry also adopted 3D printing technology in order to produce various
kinds of models and objects for the patients. However, 3D printing technology enables
companies and business sectors for designing a large number of products and objects.
Making copyrights by using 3D printers is a very common process used in businesses
where developers use computer software for developing the models and copyrights of
their products.
Ethical issues
There are numbers of ethical issues linked with the 3D printing technology which will
be discussed in this section. From the previous investigation, it is identified that in this
generation 3D printers are used in the medical sectors which increase the cost of
treatment. Due to which normal people are not able to take benefits of such kinds of
treatments which increase ethical concerns in the consumers.
The second ethical issue linked with this technology is that there is no effective process
which determines the treatment processes produced by 3D printings are safe and
secure. The other ethical concern is that it cannot be used for human enhancement and
it cannot be utilized for developing the capacities of human. Moreover, 3D printing is an
automatic technology which does not require any workers for producing numbers of
the object which also increase the rate of unemployment in the businesses. Due to
increment in unemployment, many workers and employees may lose their jobs.
Conclusion
From the above analysis, it is concluded that 3D printing is an advanced technology
which can be used for developing more complex objects in very less time. This research
report critically reviewed the working principle of 3D printing and identified their

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advantages and disadvantages. It is identified that the key advantage of 3D printing is
customization by which developers can produce numbers of projects at a time but the
limited size is a major drawback which can create a problem for large business
industries. Therefore, it is recommended that the use of 3D printing technology should
not be limited to the large companies and it should be used by small companies and
individuals. The variety of materials which are used for manufacturing 3D protocol and
models should be increased.

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References
Bose, S., Vahabzadeh, S. and Bandyopadhyay, A., (2013) Bone tissue engineering using
3D printing. Materials Today, 16(12), pp.496-504.
Campbell, T.A. and Ivanova, O.S., (2013) 3D printing of multifunctional
nanocomposites. Nano Today, 8(2), pp.119-120.
Chia, H.N. and Wu, B.M., (2015) Recent advances in 3D printing of biomaterials. Journal
of biological engineering, 9(1), p.4.
Compton, B.G. and Lewis, J.A., (2014) 3D‐printing of lightweight cellular
composites. Advanced materials, 26(34), pp.5930-5935.
Espalin, D., Muse, D.W., MacDonald, E. and Wicker, R.B., (2014) 3D Printing
multifunctionality: structures with electronics. The International Journal of Advanced
Manufacturing Technology, 72(5-8), pp.963-978.
Ladd, C., So, J.H., Muth, J. and Dickey, M.D., (2013) 3D printing of free-standing liquid
metal microstructures. Advanced Materials, 25(36), pp.5081-5085.
Muth, J.T., Vogt, D.M., Truby, R.L., Mengüç, Y., Kolesky, D.B., Wood, R.J. and Lewis, J.A.,
(2014) Embedded 3D printing of strain sensors within highly stretchable
elastomers. Advanced Materials, 26(36), pp.6307-6312.
Schubert, C., Van Langeveld, M.C. and Donoso, L.A., (2014) Innovations in 3D printing: a
3D overview from optics to organs. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 98(2), pp.159-161.
Ventola, C.L., (2014) Medical applications for 3D printing: current and projected
uses. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 39(10), p.704.
Wang, X., Jiang, M., Zhou, Z., Gou, J. and Hui, D., (2017) 3D printing of polymer matrix
composites: A review and perspective. Composites Part B: Engineering, 110(6), pp.442-
458.