The Magic of Three Dimensional Printing

By

Allison Yuan

December 9, 2017
Abstract

Three-dimensional printing or additive manufacturing is an engineering technique

that produces graspable three-dimensional objects using advanced computer software.

The primary advantage of this additive fabrication is its ability to create almost any

complex shape or geometric feature. In the past, 3D printing has been known for abetting

civil engineering, creating small objects or pieces to construct a bigger structure.

However, 3D printing’s increasing expansive uses can now have many roles in the

design of chemical engineering processes as a means of fabricating parts or perhaps

entire unit operations. Furthermore, 3D printing has the potential to control carbon

dioxide emissions, connecting to the discipline of environmental engineering as well. In

this respect, 3D printing could be a mechanism by which to achieve improvements on

existing technologies and more rapidly deploy novel devices.

Introduction

3D printing is a methodology using three-dimensional CAD data sets for

producing 3D physical models. It is also referred to as rapid prototyping, or computer

automated or layered manufacturing depending on the kind of production method used.

The principle of rapid prototyping is to use 3D computer models for the reconstruction of

a 3D physical model by the addition of material layers. With additive fabrication, the

machine reads in data from a CAD drawing and lays down successive layers of liquid,

powder, or the sheet material, and in this way builds up the model from a series of cross

sections. (Reinger et al, 2010). These layers, which correspond to the virtual cross
section from the CAD model joined together, create the final shape. (Reinger et al,

2010). 3D printing is particularly useful for prototyping and for the manufacture of

geometrically complex components. Potential advantages of this process include

quicker construction, lower labor costs, and less waste produced. 3D printing has

become an enabling technology in many fields, including applications in traditional

chemical, civil, and environmental engineering process. Some possible topics include

an overview of 3D printing technology, cutting-edge research and industrial applications.

In particular, examples of cutting-edge research in 3D printing technology include

advanced materials and process improvement. Industrial applications may include

printing equipment parts, 3D printed drugs and CO2 capture technology. (DeSimone,

2016). It allows architectural freedom which so far was limited by the artisanal and very

expensive techniques can create pieces with more complex forms that emerge from our

imagination and accurately as concave or convex forms currently require prefabricated

formwork. 3D printing technologies are being adapted for use by the construction

industry to create buildings and other structures. In the aspect of civil engineering,

engineers utilize 3D printers to easily print a fallen or broken piece in a structure with

simple known dimensions and a AutoCAD software. Furthermore, 3D printing has

become a distinct competitive advantage for companies, and ultimately, a tool that

significantly benefits engineers. Architectural designers and civil engineers think in

spatial terms, and with 3D printers able to print precise models of projects, helps bridge

the gap between architects and the engineers charged with bringing the design to reality.
With a physical model, the engineers can better visualize the concept in concrete terms

and can easily imagine themselves in the 3D space (Concrete Civil, 2017).

Meanwhile, chemistry is all about the morphing of materials into another form.

This aspect is precisely one of the key challenges of the development of 3D printing:

how to create new materials to use with the additive manufacturing process? (Concrete

Civil, 2017). 3D printers have the ability to develop internals for process plant

equipment, pertaining to both the chemical and environmental engineering fields.

Broader impact of additive manufacturing in continuous flow production would be

facilitated as well by increasing the thermal and chemical compatibility of 3D printing

build materials (Parra-Cabrera et al., 2017). 3D printers are able to offer significant

advantages in the design of novel and advanced gas–liquid contacting devices.

Three-dimensional printing allows for unique features that are difficult or impossible to

achieve with traditional fabrication techniques and also minimizes the cost of

manufacture and expedites timelines for realizing carbon dioxide capture in the field.

There is a vast potential utility for 3D printing to enhance chemical engineering

processes and components, especially for separations related to energy generation and

greenhouse gas emission control. With increasing greenhouse gas emission, primarily

carbon dioxide, by adopting 3D printing as a solution to this dire problem, society could

dramatically reduce the level of pollutants in the atmosphere. In particular, 3D printing

can have many roles in the design of chemical engineering processes as a means of

fabricating parts or perhaps entire unit operations. Current research is being done to

enable 3D printing as a means of producing novel and advanced components and entire
devices for gas treating. Gas treating (i.e. the removal of one or more contaminants from

a gaseous mixture) plays a crucial role in many existing and emerging energy-related

processes including natural gas sweetening, flue gas desulfurization and pre- and post

combustion carbon dioxide capture (Poppell et al., 2013). These processes are typically

carried out in absorption columns containing trays or packing that provide interfaces for

gas–liquid contacting. New devices such as membrane contactors are also emerging as

alternative mechanisms for achieving separation of gases with potential cost and

energy-saving benefits derived from having smaller footprints, being of lighter weight

and having much larger interfacial areas. Yet in all cases, the design, cost and ability to

optimize gas–liquid contactors may be limited by conventional manufacturing

techniques. (Poppell et al., 2013).

Discussion

Over the years, 3D printing has struggled to deliver on its promise to transform

manufacturing. Prints take forever, parts are mechanically weak, and material choices

are far too limited. (DeSimone, 2016). Therefore, numerous companies and universities

are dedicating more research into this area to produce faster, more efficient three

dimensional printers that possess both precise geometric and functional characteristics.

In doing so, it enables innovation in both form and function with better precision such as

utilizing this technique to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, 3D printing can

even go beyond tangible actions and evolve to biochemical and biomedical processes
and contribute in the effort to even print livers, kidneys, and lungs that allow surgeons

and patients to bypass long donor lines, saving millions of lives around the world.

Summary and Conclusion

Three dimensional printing is evolving and inspiring more cutting-edge

technology and discoveries in fields such as chemical, environmental, and civil

engineering. In civil engineering, 3D printing offers engineers and architects with a 3D

model and visualization to more efficiently construct the desired bridge, road, building,

and more. As greenhouse gases are becoming more prevalent in Earth’s atmosphere

and the side effects manifesting in people, researchers are desperately striving to find

methods to cut back these damages. They then turn to 3D printing, as it is becoming

more cheap and more accessible, as a means to use chemical processes to solve this

environmental issue. Although, engineers have not yet made this possible, immense

research and time are being dedicated to this task to transform this idea and concept into

a reality.
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W. Poppell, Samuel & Bara, Jason & I. Hawkins, Christopher & T. Neuberger,

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Parra-Cabrera, C et al. (2017). 3D printing in chemical engineering and

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DeSimone, Joseph. (2016, November 15). 3D Printing. Complete Work. [Online].

https://www.aiche.org/conferences/aiche-annual-meeting/2016/events/3d-printing. (2017

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