3-D printing has been in existence for quite some time, but until recently, these machines have been behemoths that occupy a large amount of space and cost a ridiculous amount of money. However, that might all be in the past.
Meet the world’s smallest 3-D printer, a device that has been designed and forged by engineers from the Vienna Institute of Technology. It is advertised as being “no bigger than a carton of milk” and weighs approximately 3.3 pounds.
The 3-D printer works by utilizing a unique synthetic resin that is shaped and solidified by lasers, and it is purportedly capable of creating very intricate objects with precise designs.
Not only is lightweight, but it is relatively inexpensive, which could mean that 3-D printers might find a place in people’s households and could be as mundane as any other domestic appliance in the near future.
The applications of personally owning a 3-D printer can be left to your imagination, but some uses could include forging a lost shirt button to molding a small statue. Although there is still no definite decision on whether the university is going to mass-produce the device, there might be several issues that need to be ironed out first, such as the potential illegal reproduction of certain items.
Source: PopSci