3D Printing Exhibition

The other weekend I managed to get down to MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester) to view their 3D print exhibition. Having spotted countless people going down to see it via posts on social media, I just had to satisfy my curiosity and see what all the fuss was about.

I've always been interested in what 3D printing can be capable of from pens that print as you write, to full scale buildings. I wanted to get an insight into what's already been done, and what the future holds for the technology.

One of the exhibits which really impressed me was the area showcasing how the technology can be used to positively impact healthcare. The idea of having the capability to print organs for transplants, along with facial reconstructions and prosthetic limbs, is an incredible feat in modern medicine, and one I’m sure we will see more and more of in the future.

Another piece which stood out for me was a 3D printed mountain bike made by Empire cycles, based in Bolton. Albeit not as groundbreaking as the printing of working organs, the bike showed us something that was current, and something which most people could relate to. It highlighted the possibilities in printing with metal and how it can be used to speed up the process of parts in a car, or space shuttle for example.

It’s clear to see that 3D printing will play a big part in our future, and one day we will be using it in our day to day lives, from printing spanners and nails down to items of clothing.

The exhibition really highlighted the huge steps we can make with this technology, and how we are just at the beginning of this movement. The exhibition is open until 20th September and is worth getting down to see, and it’s free… bonus!