Can you 3D print silicone? Indeed, you can. So you can build your own computer keyboard entirely via 3D printing and circuit board printing.
20191030/DuckDuckGo 3d print sillicone domes
20191030/https://all3dp.com/2/silicone-3d-printer-all-you-need-to-know/
How about glass? Indeed, that is 3D printable too. It’s possible, though the tech may be rather expensive and beyond the reach of the typical hobbyist due to the high temperatures involved. What do you expect for glass? It’s going to be a similar challenge as 3D printing metal is.
20191030/DuckDuckGo 3d print glass
20191030/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/you-can-now-3d-print-glass-180962951/
20191030/https://3dprint.com/187824/glass-3d-printing-evolution/
Can you 3D print fiberglass? Yes, looks like you can run it straight through standard FDM plastic 3D printers.
20191030/DuckDuckGo 3d print fiberglass
20191030/https://markforged.com/materials/fiberglass/
Also interesting is that Onyx can be 3D printed, which is a form of silica.
20191030/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyx
20191030/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcedony
Inventory of 3D printable materials as of 2019:
- Plastic
- Metal
- Gypsum, i.e. plaster
- Paper mache, and “cotton mache” by extension
- Fiberglass
- Silica, i.e. onyx
- Ceramic
- Sand, concrete
- Glass
- Synthetic rubber
- Silicone
Nothing left to buy… okay, integrated circuits, electronics, it’s all too high tech. Even woven thread materials like clothing are still tough to 3D print.
BUT, do not forget, you can construct motors out of printed circuit boards. In theory you could also 3D print resistors of your desired resistance value with ease, which would greatly help you slim down your collection of resistors of various values.
But yeah, overall, my reaction? WOW. I am impressed by how far tbe 3D printing technology has come in the past few years. Although it is what you might call a “sleeper” innovation in terms of the consumer mass market, this is definitely tremendously useful and valuable innovation for the specialized niche market that wants it, namely designers, small run custom manufacturers, and high-tech hobbyists, specifically those involved in electronics. It’s all about 3D printing finding its niche, and in the meantime, it has found its niche very well.
What material is bone made out of? Chemically, it’s somewhat similar to gypsum plaster and drywall, calcium phosphate and other minerals, but bones are complex composite structures and fully living organs. So you can’t just “3D print” a replacement bone and call it a bone in its own right, you’d need the living parts too.
20191030/DuckDuckGo what chemical is bone
20191030/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone