The Practice team have been interested in the concept of 3D printing for quite some time. Several weeks ago, news broke that this extraordinary technology had been utilized to create a duck’s prosthetic foot; it was this revelation that prompted us to wonder- just what does the future hold for such a radical practice?

In case you missed it, reports told the story of a duck named Buttercup who was finally able to walk for the first time after receiving a custom-designed silicone prosthetic foot. Buttercup was sadly born with a birth defect that left him unable to walk, but thanks to 3D printing technology, a replica of his working foot was taken, and a mold created to form a new one. It’s not the first time that 3D printing has been used for biological purposes- as far back as 2011, scientists discovered how to print artificial blood vessels using a technique called multiphoton polymerization- a method that could potentially accelerate the time it takes for patients to receive organ transplants, for instance.

Already, 3D printing is starting to impact on consumer technology too, due to a new manufacturing technique that will enable the creation of stretchable gadgets. Researchers at North Carolina State University have managed to create liquid metal structures on a 3D printer using an alloy of two metals- gallium and indium, that when printed can be stretched. Upon printing, the metal forms a thin layer of oxide which has the perfect malleable consistency for creating a variety of shapes. This would allow for the creation of wearable electronics as one of its most lucrative uses- and already, gadget makers have been quick to discover that the technology could potentially be used to make connections between metal components across a wide range of devices. Samsung, LG, and Nokia, amongst others, have started experimenting with flexible displays for phones and TVs- the soft structure also means easy embedding in materials such as rubber too.

Predictably, there are downsides. Already, 3D printers are available to buy, with users able to make their own plastic objects based on original designs or replicated ideas using software such as TinkerCAD or Google Sketchup. The Cube 3D printer, for example, is available for around $1500, with additional cartridges or spools of plastic thread also ready to purchase. But if consumers are able to print items such as toys and various household items for example, what will this mean for retailers? Luckily, 3D printer manufacturing companies are already in talks with businesses about the potential of selling access to their designs, although we imagine legalities will start to become hazy if and when the phenomenon booms. Furthermore, the dangers of widespread 3D printing have already been witnessed- in 2012 a group named Defense Distributed succeeded in designing a working blueprint and download instructions to produce a plastic gun using a 3D printer, subsequently prompting the US State Department to demand its removal from the Internet. Consequences such as these are highly unsettling, and we believe that the groundwork for new distribution laws will have to be set very soon, long before 3D printing becomes more common practice.

Which innovative uses of 3D printing have struck you so far? And do you think this technology could have potentially worrying consequences when it becomes readily available to the general public? We’d love to hear your views, so please tweet to us @PracticeDigital and share your thoughts on our Facebook page.