Eco friendly

3d Printers 

Effect on the environment

An interesting discussion about the lack of eco friendly 3d printers with an advocate against banning the devices made a splash on twitter.  The commentators were suggesting that the mass production of resins would create an ecological catastrophe due to the difficulty of disposing these products.

This argument has limited merit in that there is a need to consider the requirement of recyclable materials being used in this as well as in other manufacturing processes.   The ideal manufacturing process should be able to deconstruct as well as construct any compounds or materials used, and this is certainly an area worthy of further research.   The ideal 3d printer would actually be able to re-composite and recycle products that were created.    Whoever invents a suitable compound with this level of design flexibility will not only create a very popular product, they will also have moved a step forward in making the world a truly better place.

As the situation currently stands, many of these advanced desktop and shop model prototyping machines use resins that cure into a permanent new compound or rely on a materials mix to do things like create micro fiber molds.   Many of these items have limited recycling ability at this time, so perhaps a look at the trade-offs in widespread adoption of this technology should be evaluated.

recycle graphic by gottahavboost

What are the full implications of the coming ubiquity of the 3d printer?

Materials that are suitable for 3d printing applications will be in high demand, be produced in large quantities and these products will have to be disposed of or recycled at some point.   Given the non-standard nature of these products, recycling may present issues.   Ok, good point.  However the discussion goes quite a bit further than that.

Lets take a look at some of the other societal level implications of the technology.

3d printing requires a prototyping machine, materials, power and of great importance, designs.  The machine will literally be able to produce almost any item which has components that can fit within its bay, subject to the limitations of the materials themselves.   This is also extremely important, because if we stop to think about what that really means we come to some startling conclusions that get right to the root of the consumptive culture.   If we look at what the manufacturing cycle and consumable goods industry that is creating the eco catastrophes and resource shortages we are facing really look like, we get a more complete view of the problem.

Disposable Goods

Most goods that are produced are massively over produced, with the idea of a limited shelf life, lack of replacement parts and a fast replacement cycle being a huge part of that equation.   

The 3d printer allows parts to be custom manufactured and replaced.  This creates an ability to maintain equipment that has been lost in the last several years.

3d printer ecology article continued

Over supply and 3d printer impact