3D printing a process where materials, often plastic or metal, are molded by a computer into, you guessed it, a 3D object. But when you look at some of the things 3D printers can make, it might as well be magic. And 3D printing itself hasn’t existed very long! It’s been around since the 80’s, available to consumers since the 90’s, and in just a few decades people have come up with some amazing stuff.
Here are 15 folks who came up with creative uses for a 3D-printer. Some of their designs are practical, others are more artistic, but they’re all impressive. They’re modern-day wizards. (via Bored Panda.)
1. 3D paintings so the blind can “see” classical art.
Photo Credit: Unseen Art
2. A replacement shell for an injured tortoise.
Photo Credit: Animal Avengers
3. A new way to set a broken leg–that you can take into the shower!
Photo Credit: Reddit
4. A violin.
Photo Credit: 3dvarius
5. A see-through prosthetic leg.
Photo Credit: William Root
6. A chess set.
Photo Credit: Reddit
7. A fun luggage tag.
Photo Credit: Reddit
8. A walker for a legless dog.
Photo Credit: Reddit
9. An Iron Man suit. (Not operational, thankfully.)
Photo Credit: Reddit
10. A T-Rex shower head.
Photo Credit: Reddit
11. “My friend made a copy of his own face for Halloween.”
Photo Credit: Reddit
12. A reconstructed beak for a toucan.
Photo Credit: Reddit
13. A 1:1 scale, fully operational BB-8, for an engineering thesis.
Photo Credit: Reddit
14. Covers that turn old plastic bottles into flower vases.
Photo Credit: Design Libero
15. The only doorstop you’ll ever need.
Photo Credit: Imgur
h/t: Bored Panda