3D printing, something that means "there is no present"

In recent years, the capabilities of 3D printers have expanded dramatically. In a 2012 report titled "The Third Industrial Revolution" in *The Economist*, the most impressive 3D-printed object was simply a hammer. However, over the next few years, 3D printing made remarkable strides in areas such as racing cars, housing, and drones—showcasing its potential to replace traditional manufacturing methods. At a recent 3D printing summit hosted by Stratasys, the world's leading 3D printing company in Shanghai, industry experts emphasized that merely replacing existing products in factories isn’t enough. The real future of 3D printing lies in creating things that don’t exist yet—whether it’s new products or entirely new rules of production. One example of this innovative thinking comes from Wen Li, an associate professor at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. While many researchers focused on large-scale 3D printing projects, Wen Li chose to focus on the small details. His team printed a “artificial shark skin” on a flexible material, mimicking the microscopic structure of real shark skin. This structure, resembling a tiled roof, significantly reduces water resistance. The tiny scales are only 120 microns in size and are embedded in soft tissue, making the replication process extremely complex. Traditional manufacturing tools can't handle such precision, but 3D printers can manage both soft and hard materials with ease. Today, mainstream 3D printing technology can produce at least eight different materials—soft, hard, colored, or transparent—and can even replicate detailed textures. Wen Li’s shark skin model reduced water resistance by up to 34%, opening the door for applications like high-speed submarines or self-cleaning surfaces. In a video demonstration, he showed how a drop of water could easily clean a dusty surface covered with this material, proving its practical value. The summit also highlighted other surprising achievements. For instance, while many believe 3D printing can't create a phone, one participant successfully built a simple transmitter—an electronic device capable of sending a message. Although not as complex as a full mobile phone, this project demonstrated the growing potential of 3D printing in producing functional, active devices. Active devices, unlike traditional tools like hammers or molds, can operate without human intervention. Robots are the most advanced example of this. According to reports, Google recently tried using 3D printing to implant a hydraulic system into a mechanical leg in a way that mimics natural muscle movement. This approach could significantly improve robotic performance compared to traditional motor-based systems. Wen Li is also working on a new type of robot inspired by octopuses rather than sharks. His design features a flexible, silicone-like arm that can gently pick up delicate objects like CDs, tomatoes, and even live crabs. This kind of bionic robot is much more affordable—costing just 1/100 of a traditional robot—while offering greater adaptability and safety. Beyond technical advancements, 3D printing is reshaping the entire manufacturing landscape. According to Howard Lipson, a professor at Cornell University and author of the first book on the 3D printing revolution, the technology disrupts fundamental principles of traditional manufacturing. It eliminates the cost of complexity, allowing for the same price whether you’re producing one item or 100 different ones. It also removes the need for assembly and specialized training, simplifying the production process. Omar Clegg, General Manager of Stratasys Asia Pacific, added that the biggest challenge for 3D printing is not developing new materials or machines, but helping companies embrace the new production model culturally. He shared a case involving Haier, where engineers used a 3D printer to quickly replace a broken fan blade instead of waiting three months for official parts. This example shows how 3D printing can solve real-world problems efficiently. “This idea came to them in just three seconds,” Omar said, “but that was the most challenging three seconds.” (Editor)

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