Discover the World of 3D Printing: Top 9 Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. NASA's 3D Printed Rocket Injector

Houston, we have a solution! Or rather, a revolution in rocket engines: NASA's 3D printed rocket engine injector, tested to roaring success in August 2013, jettisoned 20,000 pounds of thrust onto the launchpad with a mere two-piece component, boldly going where no injector had gone before by slashing the previous 115-part count, making space travel easier, faster, and cost-effective for our cosmic capitalist ambitions.
Source => forbes.com

2. Local Motors' 3D-Printed Car Strati

In a world where "print is dead" took on a whole new meaning, one fearless car manufacturer dared to defy expectations and bring life to the printing press: In 2014, Local Motors introduced the world's first 3D-printed car, the Strati, printing its entire chassis with carbon fiber-reinforced ABS plastic, requiring around 44 hours to complete. Though not street-legal yet, they are working on it and even plan to offer Strati kits for purchase or open-source downloads for those feeling extra crafty.
Source => cnet.com

Did you know Roman mail carriers could gallop a whopping 800 km in just 24 hours with their trusty steeds and relay of horses, all while dodging robbers and political enemies? Discover the fascinating world of the ancient Cursus publicus and the resourceful tabellarii! 🏇✉️

=> Fun Facts about Technology

3. Apis Cor's On-Site 3D Printed House

When fiction becomes reality and concrete ideas take shape – literally: In 2017, Russian company Apis Cor used a mobile 3D printer to construct the first ever on-site printed house in only 24 hours, featuring self-bearing walls, partitions, and an unconventional rotor-shaped design, all for a budget-friendly price of 10,134 USD.
Source => designboom.com

4. Adidas & Carbon's Custom 3D-Printed Shoes

When the shoe fits, it might just be 3D printed: Adidas and Carbon have joined forces to develop Futurecraft 4D, a revolutionary athletic shoe that employs 3D printing technology to craft tailor-made, high-performance kicks for every unique customer. Leveraging Carbon's Digital Light Synthesis and EPU 41 3D printing material, this innovative partnership brings to life unprecedented midsole designs and paves the way for optimal, software-simulated athletic footwear production.
Source => carbon3d.com

5. University of Bristol's Soundwave Tractor Beam

Put on your jazz hands because tractor beams are no longer exclusive to sci-fi extravaganzas: Asier Marzo and his team at the University of Bristol have developed a 3D-printable device that uses sound waves to manipulate small objects, similar to a tractor beam, and can be built with components like an Arduino Nano and a motor controller board. However, this tech can only grapple with minuscule items, a few millimeters in size, so don't expect a Star Trek-style spectacle just yet!
Source => blog.arduino.cc

6. San Diego University's Microscopic 3D Printed Swimmers

In an epic remake of "Finding Nemo," where the stars are microscopic and directed by magnets: researchers at San Diego University of California have invented 3D printed microfish that swim through liquids and move with precision, thanks to platinum nanoparticles in their tails for propulsion and magnetic iron oxide in their heads for steering. These tiny swimmers can even carry functional nanoparticles to perform tasks like sensing harmful toxins and potential uses in drug delivery. Get ready for the future of "Gilliver's Travels" on a microscale!
Source => zmescience.com

7. Clone Factory's 3D Printed Human Face Dolls

Feeling a little too "real" and want to take it down a notch? Why not purchase a mini-me made at the Clone Factory in Japan: For a cool $1,300, you can get a 3D printed human face, attached to a doll body, capturing unforgettable moments like your wedding day. Using digital SLR cameras to map your head and then printing it with ink-hardened plaster, Japanese women are now immortalizing their hair, makeup, and dresses – leaving the rest of us torn between applauding their creativity and hiding under the covers.
Source => huffpost.com

8. Iris van Herpen's Pioneering 3D Printed Fashion

Rumor has it that the world's first 3D-printed dress was accidentally created by a confused and tech-savvy grandmother trying to knit an avant-garde Christmas sweater: In reality, it's the innovative work of Iris van Herpen, a trailblazer in using 3D printing technology in fashion since 2009. Although her designs utilize this futuristic technique, van Herpen considers craftsmanship the foundation of her work and views technology as a mere tool to enhance it, constantly experimenting with new materials, techniques, and sustainability pathways.
Source => vogue.com

9. Breakfast Creativity with PancakeBot 2.0

Flip me like one of your French crepes, Jack: The PancakeBot 2.0 is a 3D printer that lets users whip up custom-designed pancakes with updated firmware and a taller bottle cap to minimize clogging, making it an ideal teaching tool for food science, design, and some good ol' breakfast creativity in the classroom.
Source => pancakebot.com