In this blog post, let’s explore the principles and manufacturing process of 3D printers that create objects just like Doraemon’s pocket, as well as bioprinting technology currently being used in the medical field.
How do 3D printers create three-dimensional objects?
“Doraemon” is a popular Japanese anime series that has also been broadcast multiple times in South Korea, where it gained immense popularity. Doraemon, a robotic cat from the future, helps the main character, Nobita, by pulling new gadgets out of the pocket on his belly. From the “Bamboo Helicopter,” which allows you to fly simply by attaching it to your head, to the “Anywhere Door,” which transports you to any destination just by opening it, these constantly new and ingenious gadgets bring joy to many. However, I believe all of this is possible precisely because of Doraemon’s “pocket,” from which he pulls these items. The desire to conjure up whatever you want, just like a magic wand, regardless of time or place, is something anyone familiar with Doraemon has probably thought about at least once. While it may have sounded like a story from the distant future during our childhood, today we have 3D printers that possess capabilities similar to Doraemon’s pocket. So, let’s explore exactly how 3D printers work to create the objects we want, just like a magic wand.
The concept of printing something by inputting digital data is similar to that of the 2D printers we commonly use. However, 3D printers add movement along the Z-axis to the existing X- and Y-axis movements, allowing them to create three-dimensional objects based on 3D blueprints. This printing method can be broadly categorized into two types. First, the method of building up material layer by layer is called the additive manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing involves stacking materials such as powder, plastic, liquid, or thread in thin layers to create a three-dimensional shape. However, the actual layer thickness varies depending on the printer, material, and printing method used. Next, the method that starts with a large block of material and creates a three-dimensional shape by carving it away, much like sculpting, is called the subtractive method. While the subtractive method is advantageous for precision machining, it consumes a large amount of material, and because it involves carving from the outside in, it has limitations when producing shapes with hollow interiors, such as cups.
What process does the desired object go through to be completed?
Since each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, you should select the method that best suits your needs and then produce the desired object through the three stages of modeling, printing, and finishing. Modeling is the stage of creating 3D drawings using 3D CAD (computer-aided design) or 3D modeling software, while printing is the stage of producing an object based on the 3D drawing using either the additive or subtractive methods described earlier. Finally, finishing is the stage of performing supplementary work on the printed object—such as applying color or polishing the surface—to ultimately complete the desired item. In actual 3D printing, the process involves converting the modeled digital design into a format that the printer can read, setting the materials and print conditions, and then printing the object.
How are 3D printers used in the medical field?
Once this mechanism is in place, the next step is to select the materials to be used in the 3D printer.
A wide variety of materials—including ABS and PLA (types of plastic), aluminum, metals, ceramics, paper, and even biomaterials—are being used or researched for 3D printing. In particular, with the application of 3D printing technology in the medical field today, it is being used to produce implants, surgical aids, and prosthetics tailored to a patient’s anatomical structure. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 3D printing is used to produce medical devices with complex shapes or tailored to a patient’s anatomical characteristics. While research is currently underway to create biological tissues, such as artificial organs, these fields are still in the early stages of development. Since 3D printing technology allows for the design of both external shapes and internal structures using 3D drawings, it holds great potential for the production of medical products and tissues with complex structures.
In the printing process for bio-artificial organs—an area of active research—cells and biomaterials are used instead of the ink found in standard printers. Researchers are exploring methods to create tissues using patients’ own cells or highly biocompatible materials, and this technology is attracting significant attention due to its potential to produce tissues or organs tailored to individual patients. In the past, research has focused on using bioprinting to create tissues such as artificial ears, and studies have continued to address challenges such as connecting blood vessels to tissues. However, developing complex organs to a level where they can be transplanted into actual patients remains a difficult challenge.
So far, the development of bioprinting has focused on tissues with relatively simple structures, such as ears, noses, skin, and cartilage. However, as the technology advances, research is continuing to increase the feasibility of reproducing complex organs, such as the liver and kidneys. The stable production and placement of complex microstructures created by 3D printers, along with cells that perform various biological functions, can be considered a key challenge for bioprinting. Currently, 3D printing is already being utilized in various fields, such as medical devices, implants, and prosthetics, and technologies for producing biological tissues—including bioprinting—remain areas requiring ongoing research. Since not only bioprinting but also general 3D printing is closely intertwined with our daily lives, it is likely that one day, designing and creating necessary items at home will become much more commonplace than it is today. The era of creating whatever we want—just as we imagined while watching Doraemon’s magic pocket as children—is gradually becoming a reality.
