Over the last decade, 3D printing has consistently progressed its way from fringe curiosity to ubiquitous resource in multiple facets of modern life. Where once you might find one Comic Con vendor out of two hundred selling a handful of colorful, articulated dragon fidgets, now you can find a modest-sized printer in many homes and the applications and uses are only increasing with time. So, let’s talk about why that is as well as some exciting new developments in the community from across the military-industrial complex to right here in Bellevue, NE.

First off, 3D printing enables us to do something that I’m constantly encouraging folks to do by any means – make the world as they see fit. If this century has shown us anything, it’s that decentralized means and resources have made streaming, product development, and start-ups not only possible but probable. If you’re curious or driven to explore a new outlet or manifest an idea into reality, do it! Who’s to tell you no? And what are they going to do – beat you up?

I’m reminded of a classmate in engineering grad school. He was an international student from Mumbai. Now, at the time, I was just dipping my toes into the world of competitive sand sculpture. Omaha had a decent-sized annual event, and I saw a flyer at school to sign up as an artist to be paired with a corporate team. I was matched up with a group of underwriters from Mutual of Omaha, and in my very first year, we took 2nd place out of about 20 teams! Beginner’s luck, I suppose – I think I was just ignorant enough to not be burdened by an “I don’t think this is going to work” mentality. But when I excitedly showed my concept drawings to my Indian classmate, his first question was “Don’t you have to be certified as an artist in order to participate in such a capacity?” It was such a strange concept to me, and the emboldening idea that I was – and am – free to explore such pursuits without limit has really stuck with me. All of this to say – get out there and try.

Now, it’s been my observation that 3D printing and AI generative content have kind of been developing in tandem. And what an interesting combination to compare and contrast. They are both relatively open source and can both help you achieve some creation that would otherwise be beyond your typical capabilities. But 3D printing has always seemed a little more…constructive. Rather than replacing one’s creativity like AI seems to do, 3D printing is augmenting your ideas and capabilities.

The community is also incredibly supportive and famously open, with shared designs or modest fees for 3D models to be printed by others. I think, too, that the physical, tangible medium makes it inherently more practical – useful – than an AI-generated image of your dog as a cartoon unicorn, for example. I do think it’s worth noting that even as printers have become more common and therefore dropped in price, it’s still not practical for everyone to own one. I don’t. And while I can think of a half dozen close friends who do, that’s not the case for everyone. Luckily, free community printers at create spaces and even the public library have become more common than not.

The use of 3D printing is also unbelievably varied. The outputs can be as silly as the all-too-common clickity fidget toys for kids to something as useful as a custom replacement for a broken knob on your stove. Countless prototype components can be developed and refined without the need for an expensive manufacturing partnership. A friend with a couple of good printers has even been cranking out mini figures and terrain modules for our latest D&D campaign. A single, continuous print can make static displays or dynamic, independent links in a chainmail-style cloth. Printed and constructible kits of parts are also becoming more common. If someone can make – or find – a 3D model on the computer, the possibilities are endless.

Speaking of kits of parts, the military has finally found some scalable use for 3D printing as well. In a recent Business Insider article, author Chris Panella outlines how the US Army is now training its soldiers to assemble their own customizable drones as an additional resource on the modern battlefield. The war in Ukraine has made smaller quadcopters a go-to platform. And it’s not some expensive Department of War contractors’ drones the soldiers are assembling. In many cases, these kits include 3D-printed components. Beyond the microchips required to control the drone, we’re talking about significant savings over larger, conventionally built and supplied UAVs.

But it’s not just our warfighters who are looking for a dependable supply chain. The mass of home printers and all that required filament, supplies, and potential repair have created a new market in the 3D printing service arena. 3D Print Stop is a local Bellevue business that provides printing and modeling services, supplies and equipment, and setup and repair services. Owner Jordan Points exemplifies the positive and supportive spirit that really makes the 3D printing community special. His business was born out of the cross-section of his passions – being a useful resource for the 3D printing community and a helpful and contributing member of society. And with over 200 Google reviews for a perfect 5.0 rating, he’s got to be doing something right. When I met up with Jordan at his store, he shared a number of insights. The 3D Print Stop has been in business for almost a year, and the practicality and trust of having a mom-and-pop local business that can walk you through modeling, printing, and repair just makes sense. Not all modern things can be addressed online, and an exploding home printing market really demands this kind of support. Points is even planning on offering a variety of classes.

“You can find all of this on the internet,” Points admits. “But people really like being able to come in and see the filament in person. They’ll even bring in a different print so they can match the exact right color.”

My overall take on 3D printing is this: What started out as a gimmicky niche has quickly become a proven and practical resource for education, the medical sector, military applications, and a host of recreational uses. 3D printing is a fun and dynamic way to bring your ideas to life. You’re no longer limited by your ability to carve a NASCAR-themed chess set by hand or develop a prototype to upend the entire beard-trimming industry. With 3D printing, the world is yours for the making.

Matt Hebert is an engineer and self-published author. His dopamine-fueled creative pursuits have spanned from chicken keeping, sand sculpture, acting, and public speaking, but writing is nearest and dearest to his heart. He lives in Bellevue with his wife and two daughters. You can find him on Instagram at @jerkofalltradeshebert or email him at matt.hebert.books@gmail.com

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