Andrew Schopp
Biz/Tech Reporter
Replacing a broken part for your dishwasher or blender by downloading the components schematics and printing it on your 3-D printer may soon be more than just a pipe dream.
“There will be a day at some point when every manufacturer in the world will have a list of product parts that are needed for their machines. Whether it’s a washer and dryer or a refrigerator, at some point there will be a repository of these parts in a model form on the web,” said Brian Quan, president of X object Inc., a company that distributes 3-D printers for personal use.
“Companies will prepare part models online as part of their customer service so that people can download the part on demand and print it using a variety of materials,” said Quan.
Depending on the project, these might include various types of engineering plastics and synthetic rubbers.
“You will download a part for your washer and dryer, at four in the morning, print it out on your printer and you would have your part. You take delivery out of the picture. So somebody in east Africa could get that part just as quickly as someone in Michigan,” said Quan.
Humber has its own 3-D printer which students in the industrial design program use to take their models from two-dimensions to three in order to test their designs and theories. The knowledge of manufacturing techniques taught in the program at this stage are necessary for 3-D printers to be properly utilized, said Tony Fiore, Humber College industrial design technician.
“You have to understand the tolerances and all the stuff that goes into the manufacturing process,” Fiore said. “You basically have to recreate something on the computer that replicates a manufacturing technique, so if you don’t have that knowledge, having a 3-D printer at home doesn’t make sense at this point.”
3-D printing technology may be heading in the direction where these printers become commonplace in households, as companies such as Hewlett Packard and 3D Printers Canada are beginning to distribute the printers for personal use.
“This may happen. However, it will take several more years,” said Eugene Levin, a project engineer at Proto3000 Inc., a Vaughan based company that distributes 3-D printers.
“In my opinion, maybe in 10 years or so.”