Dear Rolando

We are already using them as part of engineering design process in courses such as Advanced Manufacturing methods, Product design and Capstone design. In these classes students design certain products and make them to actually prove it. Also in some courses that we deal with manufacturing planning process the tooling required for that is done through 3D printing. The main advantage is proving the concept with less time than otherwise with conventional manufacturing methods.

Dear Rolando

We are already using them as part of engineering design process in courses such as Advanced Manufacturing methods, Product design and Capstone design. In these classes students design certain products and make them to actually prove it. Also in some courses that we deal with manufacturing planning process the tooling required for that is done through 3D printing. The main advantage is proving the concept with less time than otherwise with conventional manufacturing methods.

I think the main advantages will be for distance education. I would expect new approaches to online education in arts and design, e.g. with students having the chance of turning in their work far more easily, as well as in medical science (and other fields, where 3D thinking is a prerequisite). Think of a fully functioning skeleton being built from 3D printing parts (is this possible?).

Dear Michael

Already 3d printing is used in medical device making and prosthetic application. See this attached video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqsd2tm0HdQ

@ Nageswara, completely agree with you... 3D of human anatomy give us new way of understanding anatomy. It helps to understand the structures/ object in simple when compare to 2D.. It is possible due to those great work of engineers...

3D printing using plastic materials will be more and more cheaper day by day. This is going to be the most economical way of realizing the conceptual models. Within few years,3D printing will be a part of many engineering streams.

General Electric is already making turbine parts using metal., Many other companies have started making emergency spare parts using 3D printing.

http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/513716/additive-manufacturing/

Thanks for your valuable input, dear friends! I got another source with interesting yet succinct information on the topic, see the link below.

http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/3D_printers_in_education

Thank you sharing these interesting ideas. I think the possibilities are numerous, but most evidently, would help design innovation in terms of the iterative design-testing process where newer designs could be quickly tested and evaluated. It's probably not as simplistic as it sounds but in most cases, if you can sketch it, you can make it.

Dear friends, thank you very much for the important contributions!

In mathematics Education, It is expected to enable teacher to model many 3D geometrical concepts easily.

Open Book on "Low-cost 3D Printing for Science, Education and Sustainable Development"

Low-cost, three-dimensional (3D) desktop printing, although still in its infancy, is rapidly maturing, with seemingly unlimited potential. The hope is that this cutting-edge 3D technology will open new dimensions to science and education, and will make a marked impact in developing countries. This book gives a reasonable, first overview of current research on 3D printing. It aims to inspire curiosity and understanding in young scholars and new generations of scientists to motivate them to start building up their own 3D printing experiences and to explore the huge potential this technology provides –with the final goal of putting learning literally in their hands.

Spanish and italian translation of the book are also available.

It is new technology and we should benefit it for educational purposes. Especially, it can help in engineering. I agree with most of the respondents above.

Here is another example of small volume industrial production using 3D printing.

"3D Printing Goes Big-Time for Small Production Runs"

"In the same way, GE Aviation, Lafayette, Ind., now prints fuel nozzles for LEAP jet engines at its Cincinnati facility, with direct metal laser melting (DMLM) directly from CAD files. The parts maintain the same material properties and density as traditionally manufactured pieces, but with far more complex geometries. So, they’re 25% lighter and five times stronger than previous nozzles."

http://machinedesign.com/3d-printing/3d-printing-goes-big-time-small-production-runs

http://www.retailsolutionsonline.com/doc/home-depot-implements-d-printers-in-select-stores-0001

I think Engineering and Arts Faculties use the 3D Printing. For other faculties, time will come.

I believe that some fields of knowledge will benefit substantially from this new technology as mechanics, medicine, construction, architecture, etc. However, in other areas such as social sciences, its impact will be less.