The Introduction to 3D Printing
Discuss about the Report on the 3D Printing Technology for Surveys.
Following the directive that has been issued by the CEO of the manufacturing company that is situated at Melbourne in Victoria, it has become necessary for writing this report. The manufacturing organization has various branches. The organization has existed in the market for a period of approximately 10 years. Currently, it deals with the production of computers and printers for several enterprises in Victoria. The organization has planned to expand its business to other places in Australia as well as to the Oceania region. The use of 3D printing has been proposed as the best way that the organization can expand with a lot of ease. The information about 3D technology was gathered using interview and questionnaire methods, although there are many other methods such as case studies and surveys. Interview and questionnaire were preferred since they involve interacting with the customers and other 3D users, therefore, increasing the accuracy of the data collected. 3D printing is one of the emerging trends in modern manufacturing companies Chang et al. (2015). This technology has been adopted widely because of satisfaction of the needs of the consumers. The report has analyzed several applications that use 3D printing such as imaging data and bioprinting technologies that are used in the field of medicine. Also, the application of 3D software modelling in manufacturing industries has been discussed in detail. In addition, the report has covered the ways on which the 3D printing can be used to expand the activities of the manufacturing organization.
There are many types of applications that uses 3D Printing Technology ranging from manufacturing to medical industries. Some of the applications have been discussed below:
Microfluids is associated with the process of controlling of fluids. Studies have revealed that microfluids can transform the entire process that is involved when carrying out an investigation especially in the field of biology Ho et al.(2015). Microfluidic device is used to compile several activities that are carried out in a laboratory. These instruments are called lab-on-chip (LoC). The following are some of the functions of these instruments: simplification of the difficult procedures, lowering of the specimen’s quantity and examining of several specimens that have been compiled together Ho et al.(2015). Metabolomics is one of the applications that utilizes microfluidics systems. There are many methods that are used to build a microlithic instrument such as embossing. High man power is required while using these methods. The introduction to 3D printing has enhanced the entire process of creating a microfluidics instruments. There are many advantages of using 3D printing that includes increased production rate and enhancement of the the overall organization of the devices (Ho et al., 2015).
Types of Applications using 3D Printing Technologies
This application is used in the field of medicine in many areas such as X-ray. Basically, imaging data is concerned with the process of developing graphics to represent objects rather than using texts and symbols Gorgolewski et al.( 2016). This application is very essential especially in the field of medicine where various parts of the body such as the heart and the kidney are represented using pictures and images. Besides, it is also used to examine the parts of the patient’s body, therefore, enabling physicians to describe the appropriate treatment of a certain problem Marro, Bandukwala & Mak, (2016). Many health care professionals have been using this application for some years, although it has been using flat 2D images. 2D images were not very clear, making it difficult for the physicians to examine correctly the parts of human body. However, the introduction to 3D printing enhanced the resolution of the images thus making it easy for physicians to examine carefully the parts of the body with a lot of ease and comfort Christensen & Rybicki (2017). There are three steps that are in involved in the production of 3D images that includes obtaining of the image, transmitting of the image and 3D printing.
Bioprinting is used in the production of images in relation to the tissues and organs. Human organs such as lungs, heart and liver are prone to failure because of many reasons including illness and old age Chia & Wu(2015). These problems are experienced frequently in many hospitals today. Determining of the correct organ that can fit the recipient has been one of the major challenges to the health care specialist such as the surgeons. The application of 3D printing has assisted greatly in determining the right organ that can be used to replace patient’s organ Huang et al (2017). There are many different types of the 3D printing systems such as laser-based systems. However, inkjet-based systems are used mostly in the field of medicine. The rate of adopting bioprinting in hospitals has been increasing at a faster rate as evidenced from different researches. For instance, 3D printers have been used to develop an artificial ear and health professionals from US have been using Computer Tomography (CT) images to exhibit the internal parts of a human body. Many organizations and companies have developed organs that are used in research using 3D printing Huang et al.(2017).
The process of producing goods and products were done by artisans in some years ago alongside the entire processes of designing the shape of these products. For instance, the desired shape of products was created by removing some parts of the materials such as wood and stones in the process commonly referred to as “carving” Huang, Leu, Mazumder & Donmez(2015). Although the modern manufacturing companies are somehow related to the ancient companies, but the procedures that are used to produce goods have been transformed greatly because of the major trends in the market such as satisfying the needs of the consumers Gao et al (2015). Modern manufacturing companies are concerned with the process of compiling several materials together to come up with a desired product that can be more marketable. The entire process has been simplified because of the development of the modern technology. The invention of 3D printing has contributed immensely to the rapid development of this technology. Also, it utilizes some of the computer soft wares such as the CAD that are used for designing purposes. The CAD software is used to compile different objects together to come up with the desired shape. There are many raw materials that are used to create objects in this field of manufacturing ranging from metals to biochemicals Gao et al (2015).
Microfluidics for Biological Applications
Anatomy is the study of the parts of human body, hence this application is used to design these parts of the human body. It is used in hospitals by surgeons for carrying out surgical operations. Previously, the doctors and surgeons have been using CT scan that uses 2D. For instance, it enables neurosurgeons to view some complex components in human body and how they have been arranged Ventola (2014). These complexity makes it difficult for the surgeons to realize how different structures like vessels are separated from one another. Preparing of surgical operations is a very sensitive task that surgeons are faced with since human life is very important. For instance, any small error can result in many complications. The adoption of 3D models has assisted health care specialists to prepare surgical operations properly without resulting in error. For instance, Kobe University Hospital has been using these models in the process of transferring of liver from one person to another. This hospital is found in Japan. These models have made it possible for representation of bones of the human beings Ventola (2014). The 3D models are less expensive as compared to other models, therefore, making it the most preferred model to be used in preparation of the surgical operations.
The organization should consider the following three applications of 3D printing: imaging data, bioprinting and 3D Printing-Centric Therapies Applications. Currently, the rate at which 3D printing has been adopted in hospitals has increased rapidly. Therefore, manufacturing organization can expand its business by using 3D applications such as imaging data to design 3D
models that can be used in hospitals. Apart from designing the parts of the human body, imaging data can be also used in developing other desirable products that are more marketable, thus enabling the organization to expand Gorgolewski et al (2016).
Reduction of environmental wastes. Many researches have revealed that some hospitals across the world are involved in pollution of the environment by dumping papers that are used in hospitals on the earth’s surface; hence resulting in environmental degradation. This can be avoided by using imaging data application for storing information and data in hospitals.
Recovery of data. Data and information that are stored on papers can be destructed by some unknown phenomenon such as floods. Imaging data can be stored in cloud storage, therefore making it easy for the data to be recovered once the existing data has been compromised Ventola ( 2014).
Imaging Data Applications
Proper management of time. Doctors and physicians can spend much time on looking for some information and data that have been stored on a piece on paper. On the contrary, data that has been stored using imaging data can be accessed easily, therefore minimizing the time that could have been wasted by the health care professionals Ventola (2014).
Imaging data applications has contributed vastly to the issue of insecurity. 3D printers have been used in robbery with violence because of printing prohibited tools such as guns Ventola (2014).
The risk of using image data application in the operations of the manufacturing company is that it can lead to the issue of insecurity where illegal tools such as guns can be developed Ventola (2014). The risk can be avoided by close monitoring of all the operations of the company especially in the department that will be dealing with 3D printing.
Reduction of the incidences of organ mismatch. Chances of determining the right donor for the process of transferring an organ from one person to another are very minimal. Mismatch of the organ of the donor can result in a lot of conflicts in the body of the recipient leading to the developments of complications. The 3D Bioprinting Application is very accurate and therefore, chances of the recipient immune system to reject the organ of the donor are very minimal.
Bioprinting technology can help in solving the problem of lack of tissues and organs in hospitals. The researches are undergoing to enable bioprinting to print the human tissues and organs that can fit the requirements of the recipient’s immune system Murphy & Atala (2014).
The core disadvantage of bioprinting application is that the costs that are incurred to install the system in the hospitals are very high thus making it difficult for many hospitals to afford the costs Murphy & Atala (2014).
Maintaining the cells is one of the biggest risks that can be encountered while using bioprinting application von (2017). Manufacturing company can make sure that all the cells have been supplied with necessary essentials such as water to keep them alive.
Reduces the issues of development of complications to the patients during and after surgery operation. The 3D models have made is possible for neurosurgeons to prepare appropriately surgical operations that need to be carried out on a certain part of the patient’s body. Therefore, increasing the chances of the operations to be successful as compared to the previous years where only CT scans was used in surgical operations.
Bioprinting
Minimize the costs that are incurred during medication since the operations are carried out at the faster rate as compared to the past because 3D models are used to determine the way on which the surgery must take place .
Medication quality issues in hospitals. The quality of treatment is one of the major challenges that have been encountered with many hospitals that have adopted 3D model’s technology. This is because of the presence of sub-standard 3D models in hospitals.
Imparting false hope to the health care professionals and patients. The introduction to 3D models has given medical specialists like surgeon’s false hopes of printing human organs and tissues. Although there are several researches that are currently undergoing, but the practicality of this technology seems impossible Ventola (2014).
The risks involved in using this technology is concerning the standards of the devices that are used hence lowering the quality of 3D models Ventola (2014). This risk can be prevented by ensuring that the devices and soft wares that are used in the organization are of high standards.
Conclusion
To conclude, this report has discussed in detail about 3D printing technology. Also, it has discussed some of the applications that use 3D printing such as bioprinting, imaging data, microfluidics for biological applications, centric therapies and 3D modelling software. In addition, the report has also covered ways on which 3D printing will enable manufacturing organization to expand its business in other parts of Australia and Oceania region. For instance, the report has proposed three applications that can be applied in manufacturing organization that includes bioprinting, centric therapies and imaging data applications. These applications will enable the organization to produce goods and products that can satisfy the needs of their customers because 3D printing is all about designing. For example, imaging data can be used to design 3D models that can be used in hospitals by surgeons during operations. The findings of this report will help the management of the manufacturing company to understand properly some of the concepts underlying 3D printing technology. Therefore, this report has achieved its intended purpose.
Manufacturing organization should consider three applications that have been proposed in the report. These three applications include bioprinting, centric therapies and imaging data applications. However, the management should select a team of about 10 members that will be monitoring closely all the activities that are carried out in 3D printing department. This is because of the insecurity risks that are associated with imaging data application. Also, the team that will be selected can help the organization in ensuring that the software and devices that are used in the company are up-to-date. This will enable the company to produce highly desirable products that are more marketable. Besides, the team should also ensure that the equipment of the organization is well maintained ranging from the cells to the computers.
References
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