Major Milestone in Technology History †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Major Milestone in Technology History. Answer: 3D Printing Technology: Major Milestone in Technology History In previous few decades, the technology has developed rapidly due to a number of major progress milestones. Technological advancements resulted in making peoples lives easier and help them achieve major milestones. Introduction of a major milestone technology changes the way things work and result in making peoples lives easier. This essay will discuss the 3D Printing technology as a major milestone in technology history. The 3D Printing technology is also known as Additive manufacturing which uses 3D printers to create new objects. The technology has the ability to change the world and making a number of traditional technologies obsolete (1). 3D Printing technology assists in enhancing the creation of complex objects or structures which were not feasible in the past. Although the 3D printers are still in developing stage and there is still time for them to become a household product, but, the technology has shown the potential to change the world completely. Most of the major corpor ations in different sectors are investing in 3D Printing technology for using it to improve their operations and generating a competitive advantage (2). This essay will analyse different key factors that assisted in the development of the 3D Printing technology. This essay will discuss the history of the technology and evaluate the motivation for the technology. Further, this essay will analyse the influence of 3D Printing technology on society and evaluate its future timeline. In the 3D Printing process, new objects and structures are formed by adding alter at a time. Generally, objects are created by subtracting materials; therefore, they are also called subtractive manufacturing. However, in 3D Printers, new objects can be created by adding layers of plastic. The technology was first developed in the 1980s, and it was called Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology. Charles Hull first filed the patent for the technology in 1986 who was the first person to invent 3D printer (3). Most of these printers were unable to create complex products at the time however they laid the foundation for modern-day 3D Printing technology. Along with Hull, many other experts also tried to make 3D printers which progress the 3D Printing technology. Other technologies which assisted in improve 3D Printing technology is digital cameras and sensors. In order to create an object in 3D printers, a 3D file of the object is required to be created using Computer Aided Design (CAD) softwar e (4). High definition cameras and sensors assist in creating an exact 3D picture of an object which can be created in a 3D printer. The traces of first development of 3D Printing technology go back to 1980s when it was called Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology. Charles Hull developed the first 3D printer in 1986, and he called the technology Stereolithography (5). Hull filed a patent for stereolithography fabrication system which added layers by curing photopolymers with ultraviolet light lasers. In 1998, a special application of plastic extrusion was created by S. Scott Crump for Stratasys Company which marketed its first Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) machine in 1992. From 1999 to 2010, different innovations assisted in improving additive manufacturing technology and making it more advanced. During this decade, first ever 3D printed organ was developed which was a human bladder. After that, medical field scientists started using 3D Printing technology for improving healthcare system by creating human organs such as prosthetic leg, miniature kidney, and blood vessels. The technology became mainstreamed in 2011 when the cost of 3D printers started plummeting and their accuracy improved (6). Now, 3D printers became more user-friendly machines, and it became easier for people to use them through free software programs. The key motivation for the development of the 3D Printing technology was the demand of rapid prototyping. The level of accuracy achieved by a 3D printer outperformed the human capabilities. The technology made the process of creating highly complex products easier for individuals. Scientists understand the potential of the technology and how it can be substantially useful in fields such as technology, healthcare, manufacturing and others (7). The technology is able to achieve high accuracy while creating a product which cannot be achieved by any other modes of manufacturing. Scientists use the technology to create human organs which was a miracle at the time. The organs were created in 3D printers using human tissues which cannot otherwise be developed. It opened new possibilities in the medical field for organisations to save peoples lives. In the manufacturing industry, companies were interested in 3D printers because they assist in reducing their labour costs (8). Use of 3D printe rs also avoids wastage of raw materials which improves the overall manufacturing process. In the technology field, the technology was assisting companies in creating small microprocessors and chips with a high level of accuracy that cannot be achieved otherwise. The popularity of 3D Printing technology has a substantial impact on different industries, and it has changed different aspects of society. With the advancement of the technology, the prices of 3D printers have dropped making them more affordable for individuals to use. The technology has made home construction cheaper for individuals, and they use the technology to create small products for the home. The ability of 3D printers to create better body parts from prosthetic limbs to bone implants make peoples lives easier (9). 3D printers can make accurate organs much more quickly which can save thousands of lives. Additionally, the technology assists in making affordable prosthetics than compared to conventional one which helps them become popular. By using this technology, it has become easier to manufacture products in space which can improve space exploration. The technology can change the manufacturing industry because it can reduce labour costs, production time and wastage of mate rial. Furthermore, the technology is beneficial for the environment because it reduces wastage of material and assists in improving environmental protection (10). For example, companies are using this technology to create coral reefs for protecting and improving marine life (11). The technology has made the production of complex microprocessor and chips easier for companies which assist in creating highly advanced products. In previous few years, the 3D Printing technology has become more popular among the general public which creates new opportunities for the technology. However, only a few people use 3D printers to create objects, and there is still space for further advancement of the technology. The technology is more likely to become more affordable after its popularity in developing markets (12). On the material side, in next few years, vendors are going to put more emphasis on material development and people will be able to use new materials to create new 3D printed objects. Metal printing is likely to become more affordable, and it will change the manufacturing industry. Organisations such as General Electric, Boing, Ford, and Nike are using 3D printers to create small components of their products at high accuracy which cannot be achieved otherwise (13). Highly accurate parts reduce the risk of machinery malfunctions and errors, and it improves products safety. In the future, these corporations will be able to create whole products by using 3D printers. The technology will influence the education sector makes it easier for students to understand and gain knowledge by practically analysing and create prototypes (14). In conclusion, 3D Printing technology is becoming popular with the advancement of technology. The technology first developed in the 1980s when Charles Hull created first ever 3D printer in 1986. With the advancement in this field, organisations are using 3D Printing technology in medical, manufacturing, food and many other sectors. In technology become popular after 2011 when the prices of 3D printers started reducing which makes them more accessible to the general public. The key motivation for the development of 3D Printing technology is its ability to create complex objects with a high level of accuracy which cannot otherwise be achieved by any other medium of manufacturing. The 3D printers have changed society by making prosthetics affordable, creating human organs, complex microprocessors, and reducing material wastage. In the future, the 3D printing will become more accessible to the general public, and they will be able to use different materials for creating new objects and s tructures. It will influence manufacturing industry by reducing wastage of material and overall operating costs. The technology has the potential to change different industries and improve the lives of people. References Berman, B. (2012) 3-D printing: The new industrial revolution.Business horizons,55(2), pp.155-162. 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