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3D Printing: An Analysis ofa Growing Technology
An Honors Thesis (HONRS 499)
By
~~mbe~s & Erica Wurst
Thesis Advisor
Dr. Catherine Chen
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
April 2014
Expected Date of Graduation
May 2014
Abstract:
We have created a website highlighting 3D printing and the effects of the growing technology,
The website provides the user a history and description of the technology. We addressed the
effects on different industries as well and the financial, legal, and environmental effects. A cost
analysis of one of the printers at Ball State was also performed to show the university's role in
this emerging technology.
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Ashley Chambers
Author's Statement
During my summer internship, I flew back and forth between Indianapolis and Boston.
During these flights, I would read business magazines such as Fortune and Bloomberg
Business Week. I was blown away by how many articles in these magazines were about, or
referenced, 3D printing. I had an immediate interest in the technology and could see how many
opportunities the technology could create in the future. I mentioned this to my thesis partner,
Erica Wurst. I shared the articles I had read with her, and we both saw the possibilities of
creating our thesis around this emerging technology. We are both very interested in technology
and have had many technology based projects in the past, so this seemed like a perfect fit for our
thesis.
We determined that the best way to present this thesis was through a website. We felt that
with an emerging technology such as this one, it was important to use technology and a modem
outlet, to present the information. The website format allows us to link pages and create a more
engaging atmosphere. It allows for images and graphics to be used to visualize the content and
better understand the information that is being communicated. We both agreed that we enjoy
working on projects that use a variety of our skills and creativity. We felt that the website would
be a great alternative to the typical research paper. I had some previous experience creating
websites, which allowed us to get started.
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I spent the majority of my time working on the Industry Impact pages of the website. I
researched and analyzed the impact 3D printing will have on four different industries: retail,
manufacturing, transportation, and medical. This was a great fit for me since I was so intrigued
with the future of 3D printing technology and the impact it will have on our society. I researched
the process changes these industries face, and how 3D printing is going to affect them, both now
and in the future. I created an introduction page to the Industry Impact section, where site visitors
can look at the industries I researched and choose the industries they would like to read more
about. I research each industry extensively and found some really interesting ways that 3D
printing is already being used in some of these industries. This only made my pages more
dynamic, since I was able to offer the current uses and possibilities in each section.
I also researched and created the Legal page of the site. We decided to take a look at the
effects of 3D printing in areas that did not fall under a specific industry. Erica looked at the
effects regarding sustainability, and I chose to look at how our current intellectual laws and
guidelines would line up with the possibilities 3D printing presents. I took a look at current
copyright, patent, and trademark laws. I was able to look at the current laws and examine how
they might be insufficient for 3D printing. I used research to pinpoint some possible problems
3D printing and the companies that choose to use it might face.
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I also created the introduction page to the Effects section of the site. Erica and I both
worked on some of the more general information pages such as the Home page and the About
the Authors page. We spent a great deal of time creating a site that uses multiple types of media
and will be interesting for site visitors. We both worked to format the site in a way that would
make it easy to navigate and would keep our visitors reading and learning about the future of 3D
printing.
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3d-printing I Citations
http://3dprintingthesis.wix.com/3 d-printing
Create a
Erica Wurst & Ashley Chambers
SENIOR HONORS THESIS
site!
3D
An Analysis
Home
About
3D Printing at Ball State
Industry Impact
Effects
Financial
Resources
1 of 1
1. Katel, Peter. "3D Printing." CQ Researcher 7 Dec. 2012: 1037-60. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
2. Heath, Nick. "Here Are 600 Ways That 3D Printing Is Changing the World." ZDNet. N.p., 9 Oct. ~
3. Hall, Kathleen. "How 3D Printing Impacts Manufacturing." ComputerWeekly.com. N.p., n.d. We
4. Technological, Michigan. "3D printing: the greener' choice." Science and Children Dec. 201 10
2014.
5. King, Mason. "Indy-based 3D printer lands incentives for expansion."lndianapolis Business Ne
June 2013. Web. 8 Jan. 2014.
6. Crawford, Stephanie. "How D Printing Works." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks, n.d. Web. 24
7. "PolyJet Technology." Professional 3D Printing. Stratasys Ltd., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014.
8. "Our Sustainability Commitment." 3D Systems Inc., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
9. Kurman, Melba. "Is Eco-Friendly 3D Printing a Myth? (Op-Ed)." LiveScience. TechMedia Networl
10. Van Staveren, Renee. "The Impact of 3D Printing on City Sustainability." Sustainable Cities Co
19 June 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.
11. Goulding, Charles, Andressa Bonafe. and Gar'y Savell. "The R&D Tax Credits and the U,S. 3D
R&D Tax Savers, Oct. 2013. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.
12. "Global Demand for 3D Printing to Rise over 20% Annually through 201 "3ders.org. 3Ders, 1
13, Thompson, Cadie. "Surge in 3-D-printing Stocks Largey Hype, Analysts Say."CNBC.com. CNB(
14. Mearian, Lucas. "The First 3D Printed Organ a Liver -- Is Expected in 2014."Computerworld.
15. Mukherjee, Sy, "The Five Most Promising Uses Of 3D Printing In Medicine." ThinkProgress RS~
2014.
16. Hudson, Hayley. "Doctors Replace
Percent Of Man's Skull With Implant From 3D Printer,"
TheHuffingtonPostcom,21 Mar. 2013. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.
17. Lewis, nya. "7 Cool Uses of 3D Printing in Medicine." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 04 F
18. Leckart, Steven. "How 3-D Printing Body Parts Will Revolutionize Medicine." Popular Science.
19. "The Future of 3D Printing Services and Manufacturing." Computer Sciences Corporation. N.r
20, Chan, Amanda L. "Doctors Save Life Of Kaiba Gionfriddo, Ohio Boy, By 3-D 'Printing' Him An f
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 May 2013. Web.
Mar. 2014.
21. Kuruvilla, Carol. "Doctors Replace 75 Percent of Patient's Skull with 3-D-printed Polvmer Impl
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