The age of 3D printing began back in the 1990s where the technique, which involves joining or solidifying material such as liquid molecules or powder grains, layer by layer, using computer-control, was primarily used to build models or prototypes.

Now it’s used in a variety of ways.

In medicine, bone and muscle repair have been possible with 3D printing with the production of orthopaedic implants. Limb replacement and kidney transplants are also on the cards as the field of medical 3D printing advances.

It’s all very futuristic.

Printable homes might also seem like something out of a sci-fi movie, but they’re gaining traction as an affordable and speedy alternative to brick and mortar construction.

Mashable looked into a two-storey building built using the method. With the exception of windows and doors, which were added later, the whole thing was computer-controlled.

It’s pretty impressive:

There’s also this building, hailed as the largest 3D-printed structure in the world, located in Dubai:

The building above was created using only three workers, an engineer, and one printer.

Dubai aims to have one-quarter of all buildings built with 3D printing by 2030.

I guess, the future is now.

[source:mashable]