Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Written by: Mohammad Al Amin Mohd Jahaya, Journalist, AOPG.

Although 3D printing has recently emerged as a relatively new technology, its discovery and invention originated in 1981, when Dr Hideo Kodama pioneered the first rapid prototyping machines utilising a resin polymerisable by UV light. It was not until 1986 that the first patent for Stereolithography (SLA) was filed by Chuck Hull. In 1988, Carl Deckard followed suit, securing a licence for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), with Scott Crump’s patent filing for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), the following year.

In the subsequent year, 1990, and onwards, there was rapid and exponential growth in the early 3D printing industry. Numerous 3D printing companies were founded, and the exploration of new additive manufacturing technologies flourished. However, it was not until 2006 that the first SLS printer became commercially available.

Fast forward to today, the 3D printing industry is emerging as one of the fastest growing sectors, with its products finding applications in various fields ranging from medicine to engineering and architecture.

This dynamic evolution was vividly showcased at the 3DEXPERIENCE World, an esteemed annual gathering orchestrated by Dassault Systèmes, where visionaries, engineers, manufacturers, and industry trailblazers convene to celebrate creativity and foster groundbreaking advancements.

At this transformative event, the pulse of the 3D industry beats with fervour, driving engagement, connection, and learning. It serves as a testament to the boundless potential that lies ahead, propelling the industry toward unprecedented heights. It was within this vibrant atmosphere that we seized the opportunity to converse with Chin Loo Lama, Director of User Experience at SolidWorks, delving into her profound insights on the trajectory and evolution of the 3D landscape.

The Importance of Intuitive, Seamless UI

According to Chin Loo, one of the most notable key changes in the 3D industry is the improvement of the 3D tool interfaces. Back in the early days of 3D printing, most of the 3D tool interfaces were very cluttered and complicated to navigate through.

However, Chin Loo explained that this is no longer the case. Most 3D tool interfaces nowadays are user-friendly and easier to navigate. This not only streamlined the 3D printing workflow, lessened frustration and increased efficiency but also encouraged others to jump in and have a try at 3D printing themselves, whether as a career or a hobby.

She further reiterated by sharing an example of how previously before SolidWorks added search capabilities into their 3D tool, users had to spend minutes navigating through checkboxes to determine which options were necessary. The addition of search capabilities remediates that struggle, thus improving users’ experience and workflow.

The simplification of 3D tool interfaces also helped lower the bar of entry, facilitating smoother and effective onboarding experience for new and inexperienced 3D engineers, technicians, designers, or modellers. This, in turn, increases the number of professionals within the industry, fostering the growth of the 3D industry and enabling the exploration of additional market opportunities for 3D printing products.

As the conversation with Chin Loo unfolded, she elucidated the potential synergy between AI and 3D printing, despite the caveats that come with it, namely data privacy and transparency.

For that reason, according to Chin Loo, SolidWorks has launched a few AI-driven assistance tools in their cloud apps, which have aided in automating and expediting 3D designing and printing procedures.

Recognising the enormous potential shown by the AI-driven assistance tools, SolidWorks intends to further explore and harness their capabilities to significantly reduce the required steps, for example from 10 to 2, thus improving the 3D printing technology’s productivity and efficiency.

3D Printing Industry: Pushing the Boundaries with Innovations

The 3D printing industry has made significant strides over the last few years, according to Chin Loo. She explained that just a few years ago 3D printing technology was limited to fabricating small parts and moulds, utilised only in specific industries.

However, today’s 3D printing technology not only enables the production of functional parts and materials thanks to SLS but is also utilised by various industries, ranging from manufacturing and engineering to sportswear. According to Chin Loo, the significant advancements in 3D technology capabilities are also driving new innovations such as fab-lab-in-a-box, a production of collaboration between the Fab Foundation and the Center for Bits & Atoms at MIT. The fab-lab-in-a-box is a compact platform installed with Dassault Systèmes software and equipment necessary for the design and creation of digital fabrication.

Although the fab-lab-in-a-box developed by MIT is still in its early stages and its primary aim is to introduce and expand access to the 3D industry within learning communities such as technical schools, it possesses the potential to become the next startup business opportunity owing to its affordable cost and portability.

In addition to that, Chin Loo also shared that re:3D, a 3D printing and social enterprise, is currently developing a large-format 3D printer that is capable of fabricating fully functional large-scale parts such as soccer goals that can immediately be used.

These advancements and innovations demonstrate that the 3D printing industry is poised to become the next disruptive technology—a game-changer that will revolutionise industries, particularly the manufacturing industry. Will it be as disruptive and generate as much buzz as when generative AI first emerged? Only time will tell.

(0)(0)