Though there are many benefits of using 3D printing technology, there are some negative effects that consumers should be aware of. First, as 3D printing becomes more popular and widely used around the world, it could affect the international supply chain and trade relations between other countries. In the research article “Research on the Impact of 3D Printing on the International Supply Chain,” Zhen Chen, Business professor at Lingnan Normal University in China, explains that “3D printing is a rapidly developing technology” (par. 2) and it could affect the international exports/imports because the “customer is closer to the finished product” (par. 8). If the finished product is closer to the customer, there is less need for imported products
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In the informative article, “3D Printing Hazards,” Tim Ryan, professor and program coordinator of the Occupational Hygiene and Safety Program at Ohio University, and Daniel Hubbard, environmental and safety analysis, explain how 3D printing could be the cause of possible “adverse health effects” (par. 5) because of some of the chemicals released in the 3D printing process. In a controlled laboratory setting, there were traces of toxic chemicals “acetone, n-butane, 2-butanone, 1,4-dioxane, ethanol, isopropyl, alcohol (2-propanol) and toluene, (par. 16) which can have negative effects on the body if inhaled. This study is one of the first to be conducted relating 3D printing to air quality and it could be a deal breaker for some consumers, especially ones with small children or elderly adults. When the entire laboratory study was concluded, though these chemicals are toxic, they were “well below regulatory limits.” (par. 16) Though this is reassuring, some caution should still be used when using a 3D printer; for example, allow for proper ventilation, monitor all use of the printer, and allow the printed item to cool for a reasonable amount of time before taking it out of the printer. This would have a slight negative effect on the economy since some consumers may not have been originally aware of this issue; they may shy away from 3D …show more content…
In the research article, “3D Printing and Wood,” Rupert Wimmer, Professor at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, explains that 3D printing could be an alternative for “materials such as wood.” (par. 1) Customization is something that has always been important to people, but is especially important to the modern-day society; everyone always wants to have a one-of-a-kind product in order to standout of the crowd. When compared to 3D printing, the cost 3D printing “stays constant” (par. 3) while the cost of traditional manufacturing slowly rises as “complexity or customization rises.” (par. 4) For example, if a consumer wants to create a custom watch by using the traditional method of manufacturing, the cost is likely to be significantly higher than if they get a regular product. On the flip side, if you want to create that same custom watch using a 3D printer, the price will stay constant regardless of how much customized a product is. Automatically, as long as the quality and user interface of the product is not directly impacted because of 3D printing, customization would become more popular that the traditional method of manufacturing. This would be a groundbreaking achievement since customization is so popular and the economy would flourish in the customization area of the
In the informative article, “3D Printing Hazards,” Tim Ryan, professor and program coordinator of the Occupational Hygiene and Safety Program at Ohio University, and Daniel Hubbard, environmental and safety analysis, explain how 3D printing could be the cause of possible “adverse health effects” (par. 5) because of some of the chemicals released in the 3D printing process. In a controlled laboratory setting, there were traces of toxic chemicals “acetone, n-butane, 2-butanone, 1,4-dioxane, ethanol, isopropyl, alcohol (2-propanol) and toluene, (par. 16) which can have negative effects on the body if inhaled. This study is one of the first to be conducted relating 3D printing to air quality and it could be a deal breaker for some consumers, especially ones with small children or elderly adults. When the entire laboratory study was concluded, though these chemicals are toxic, they were “well below regulatory limits.” (par. 16) Though this is reassuring, some caution should still be used when using a 3D printer; for example, allow for proper ventilation, monitor all use of the printer, and allow the printed item to cool for a reasonable amount of time before taking it out of the printer. This would have a slight negative effect on the economy since some consumers may not have been originally aware of this issue; they may shy away from 3D …show more content…
In the research article, “3D Printing and Wood,” Rupert Wimmer, Professor at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, explains that 3D printing could be an alternative for “materials such as wood.” (par. 1) Customization is something that has always been important to people, but is especially important to the modern-day society; everyone always wants to have a one-of-a-kind product in order to standout of the crowd. When compared to 3D printing, the cost 3D printing “stays constant” (par. 3) while the cost of traditional manufacturing slowly rises as “complexity or customization rises.” (par. 4) For example, if a consumer wants to create a custom watch by using the traditional method of manufacturing, the cost is likely to be significantly higher than if they get a regular product. On the flip side, if you want to create that same custom watch using a 3D printer, the price will stay constant regardless of how much customized a product is. Automatically, as long as the quality and user interface of the product is not directly impacted because of 3D printing, customization would become more popular that the traditional method of manufacturing. This would be a groundbreaking achievement since customization is so popular and the economy would flourish in the customization area of the