3D printing.

Samantha Cruz

3D Printing

October 12, 2014

Click, Print, Gun: a story about Cody R. Wilson who was a law student in the University of Texas created this idea of printing out 3D guns. His team so far hasn’t sold any 3D guns yet but he has been selling 3D printers. If he eventually starts selling these 3D guns, we can have a big issue about gun control and safely of others. I do not agree with this idea of the whole printing out a gun because if anybody can have access to it, then many teenage kids can use this to create guns. There are many problems printing out the gun since it can only shoot out so many rounds, but eventually they’re going to have better equipment to maintain the gun.

Although 3D printing can have its disadvantages like printing out guns, it has advantages too. In 2010, Haiti had a 7.0 catastrophic magnitude earthquake leaving three million people affected it. Many people lost their homes, business, and even families cause of this earthquake. In the article, “How 3D Printers Are Boosting Off-The-Grid, Underdeveloped Communities”, it stated that 3D printing is being used in underdeveloped countries such as Haiti. In Haiti they’re using these 3D printers to print simple things like oxygen splitters for oxygen tanks which are beneficial for hospitals. They were also using 3D printing to encourage small manufacturing of agricultural tools. This is when 3D printing can be beneficial like helping Haiti out with things they need to get moving on rebuilding after the earthquake. Not only to help them physically, but also help improve businesses and even schools out there in Haiti.

3D printing can also be used for many other useful essential needs. Joshua Pearce, from the article, creator of the first mobile and solar-powered 3D printer, says that it’s better if people just invest in the 3D printer and just make stuff and sell it on their own. On his website he shares a list of things you can print out from using the 3D printer such as; breast pumps, medical devices, water valves, wheels, nozzles, and toys. This is when I think 3D printing will be useful in the future; people will be able to make their own things, especially knowing what they are made out of making sure that it’s good to have around the house for kids.

The article also stated how having these 3D printers can be a problem, like having the right equipment to keep it running such as batteries or internet. Dots and James were saying how in underdeveloped countries such as Haiti will run into problems since the internet connection isn’t as strong as the one we have here in the United States. Even though this can be an issue, they’re working on getting 3D generators and batteries to eventually use Pearce’s mobile solar-powered 3D print. Eventually, our world will be completely revolved around technology. One day, there won’t be any businesses because people will have some high tech technology to provide them with every essential need they need to survive.