The Science of It: 3D Printing

JASON: NOW ON SUNRISE, 3D PRINTING HAS TAKEN OVER THE WORLD IN RECENT YEARS, AND NOW YOU CAN LEARN HOW IT WORKS. MEREDITH: WESH 2’S ALEX ALECCI IS AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER TO SHOW US HOW 3D PRINTING IS NOT ONLY FUN, BUT CAN ALSO HELP WITH ACCESSIBILITY AND EDUCATION. ALEX: HELLO EVERYONE! WELCOME to “THE SIENCE OF IT!” WHAT COOL ACTIVITIES WILL WE BE DOING THIS WEEK?! >> WE WILL BE MAKING THINGS WITH PLASTIC. I WILL CHALLENGE YOU to REPLICATE THIS. PLASTIC PLASTIC IS A SPECIAL KIND OF PLASTIC THAT WE WILL BE USE TO DO THIS. This is called a 3D DOODLER. It allows us draw with PLASTIC. DO YOU FEEL YOU’LL BE ABLE to COPY THIS AND MAKE THE AME THING WITH THAT UTENSIL? >> I WILL GIVE IT A SHOT BUT I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC. I CAN BARELY MAKE a CIRCLE OUT of THIS THING. [LAUGHTER] >> THAT IS OK, ALEX. This was THREE PRINTED, so it was made using the THING you are currently using. A 3D PRINTING WITH a COMPUTER MODEL to tell you where to put that PLASTIC is possible. THIS WAS ABLE to PRINT OUT AT CENTER. >> WHAT CAN YOU USE A 3D PRINTER FOR? YOU CAN MAKE COOL THINGS, BUT I’M SURE THERE IS A PURPOSE AS WELL. >> YOU CAN MAKE PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING WITH THE 3D PRINTER. The main benefit is NORMALLY. If you want to make something, in order to be cost-effective, you must make a lot of them. With 3D printing, you only need to make one. YOU CAN MAKE THINGS FOR A SMALLER MARKET FOR MORE SPECIALIZED CASES. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN CERTAIN MARKKETS, INCLUDING THE ACCESSIBILITY. What I have is a 3D PRINTED CHESSBOARD. You might not be aware that there are no raised pieces on a CHESSBOARD like you might expect. Rather, ON EACH OF THESE PICES, IT IS IN BRAILLE FOR SOMEBODY VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO TELL WHAT EACH PIECE ARE. AS I TILT THIS BOARD AROUND THE PIECES DO NOT FALL OFF. They are able to lock in to the different grooves on this board, so that if they reach out, you won’t knock them over or ruin the game. >> THEY ARE MIRRORED ON EACH SIDE SO THEY CAN FEEL WHERE EACH PIECE IS. >> EXACTLY. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU’RE GOING TO SELL MILLIONS OF, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE USING THEM. Other Accessibility Items, This is MY FAVORITE, a 3D PRINTED MAMAP. FEEL EVERY ONE OF THESE GROOVES OR EDGES. THOSE GROOVES & EDGES REPRESENT DISTINCT BUILDINGS & STREETS. IF YOU’RE MANEUVERING THROUGH A CITY AND YOU CANNOT SEE WELL OR READ A MAP, YOU CAN USE THIS TO FIND YOUR WAY AROUND. >> THAT IS SO CLEVER. >> THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS USED IN EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AS WELL. I’M SURE THAT YOU HAVE DISSECTED A Frog IN SCIENCE CLASS. SO HERE IS A MOCK 3D PRINTED FROG THAT WILL PERMIT YOU TO TEACH NATOMY TO STUDENTS. You want to give it a try? >> A LOT LESS SLIMY, AND IT IS REPEATABLE. >> THIS WOULD ALLOW TEACHERS TO USE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MODELS TO TEACH ANATOMY. DIFFERENT SUBSECTS ALSO. WHAT I HAVE RIGHT HERE IS A 3D PRINT MOUNT VESUVIUS IN ITALY. Rather than looking at a static picture, you can feel and see the TEXTURES and CONTOURS of the MOUNTAIN. This allows LEARNERS TO BE KINESTHETIC, AND GET HANDS – ON. IT ALLOWS PRESENTATION OF PRETTY COOL TUFF. WHY DON’T YOU PULL OUT THAT T-REX’S GOAL? >> WE CAN SAY THIS IS EDUCATIONAL AS WELL. >> IT IS ALSO JUST DOWNRIGHT COOL. You can use 3D printing to call all kinds of cool stuff. THIS WAS PRINTED AT THE SCIENCE CCENTER. MANY OF OUR EXHIBITS ARE MADE OUR OWN. This is one of the things we used to show the anatomy of a T-REX. >> IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO TRY THIS FOR THEMSELVES, THEY DON’T HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY A 3D PRINTER, THEY CAN CHECK IT OUT HERE. >> THAT IS RIGHT. WE HAVE A MAKERS SPACE, CALLED the HIVE, AND WE RAN WORKSHOPS ON SOME WEEKENDS TO LEARN HOW TO INDIVIDUALLY 3D PRINT YOUR OWN CUSTOMIZED TOKEN. OUR MAKERS SPACE OFFERS MANY ACTIVITIES. HERE, YOU LEARN HANDS-ON SKILLS FOR MAKING REAL THINGS. >> SO IF SOME BUT HE WANTED INFORMATION ON SCHEDULING, WHERE CAN THEY GO? >> OSC.ORG WILL HAVE INFORMATION ON PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS COMING UP. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING ALL THIS 3D PRINTING STUFF OFF, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US IN “THE SCIENCE OF IT.” MEREDITH: IF YES, YOU CAN SEE MORE COOL STUFF HAPPENI

3D printing: The Science of It

In this week’s The Science of It, learn more about 3D Printing

Updated: March 31, 2023, 4:00 AM EDT

This week’s The Science of It features 3D printing.

This week’s The Science of It features 3D printing.