This article was taken from the December 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
3D-printing technologies are fast changing how industries from aerospace to architecture build physical products. the process -- a form of additive manufacturing -- turns a computer-aided design file into solid objects made from steel, titanium, plastics, even chocolate.
it does this by "printing" such materials according to the digital instruc- tions, layer upon layer, typically a fraction of a millimetre at a time. the layers might be created using a laser or electron beam to fuse together fine powder; or the source material may be deposited as liquefied plastics that hen harden. the result: designers can conceive and then build structures that would be impossible with traditional methods. in time, the 3D-printing revolution is likely to disrupt the manufacture of everything from musical instruments to medical devices. Here is an early look at some 3D-printed objects already being manufactured for race-car drivers, amputees -- and violinists.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
