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The 3D printing revolution brings with it a harmful side effect: the special inks that it uses are derived (for the most part) from environmentally-unfriendly processes involving fossil fuels and toxic byproducts. But now scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have succeeded in using cellulose – the most abundant organic compound on the planet – in a 3D printer. They were also able to create electrically-conductive materials by adding carbon nanotubes.
To be specific, the researchers used nanocellulose obtained from wood pulp. This is the stuff that forms the scaffolding that makes trees able to stand tall. It's available in massive quantities, plus it's biodegradable, incredibly strong, renewable, and reusing it keeps the carbon dioxide it contains from entering the atmosphere.
There you have it. For most uses, you can produce what you need without the elaborate, controlling infrastructure set up by people who don't have your best interests in mind (TM).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 21 2015, @03:11AM
What properties does the 3D printed cellulose have (excluding the ability to print conductive material at the same time)? If it's like wood, wouldn't it be easier to start with a tree and make the item from normal wood using carpentry/cabinetmaking/woodcarving tools?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 21 2015, @05:13AM
In the same way it would be easier for me to do everything with paper and pencil instead of on a computer.
I don't have a full woodshop or the space to have one if I could afford it.
I don't have the time, skill, or desire to try to learn to carve beautiful intricate woodworks.
I do have the ability to 3d model, or borrow someone else's ability and use their model to print things on a 3d printer in a limited space with limited noise.
(Score: 4, Informative) by davester666 on Sunday June 21 2015, @06:50AM
It's not wood. Think more along the lines of paper mache.