This page was part of an MTU course MSE4777 OA and MSE4777 OB/MSE5777/EE4777/EE5777: Open-source 3-D printingPlease leave comments using the talk page. The course runs in the Fall semester. It is not open edit.Read more...
Broad and/or obvious patent claims for 3-D printing technology may hamper the open-source 3-D printing community's ability to innovate. Previous work on an algorithm protected 3-D printing materials. This page is part of a MTU Open Source 3-D Printing class project to investigate 3-D printing concepts using TRIZ and is presented here as a defensive publication of prior art to help identify obvious 'inventions' for 3-D printing.
Examiners: The ideas on this page dated Dec 3, 2015 and Nov 29, 2016 were developed by university students with less than a semester of formal 3-D printing experience (or by an instructor in class) and thus should be considered unpatentable because of obviousness to any person skilled in the art of additive manufacturing.
Appropedians: This page is open edit. Please fee free to add ideas and sign them below with ~~~~ or to use any of the ideas to built better open-source 3-D printers.
# use 3D hologram image instead of 3D printed object when relevant Akhenry (talk) 07:36, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  1. use manual printing instead of auto/computer controlled Akhenry (talk) 07:36, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  2. replace stepper motor with hand crank to eliminate electronics Akhenry (talk) 07:36, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  3. use webcam to monitor print instead of babysitting it Akhenry (talk) 07:38, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  4. automate the webcam to make smart decisions based on what it sees Akhenry (talk) 07:39, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  5. replace metal bearings with plastic sliders Akhenry (talk) 07:50, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  6. calibrate printer with webcams and automated process Akhenry (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  7. replace limit switch with IR sensors Akhenry (talk) 07:52, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  8. replace limit switches with the webcams that are already automating the other processes Akhenry (talk) 07:52, 1 December 2015 (PST)
  9. Use infrared images to detect print faults before wasting more filament Akhenry (talk) 07:01, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  10. instantly print using multiple projectors to develop resin from many angles at once Akhenry (talk) 07:21, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  11. create more accurate 3D models (for better prints) using non-visible (object penetrating, like X-ray) wavelengths to scan objects Akhenry (talk) 07:23, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  12. scan and print an object at the same time by scanning each slice and printing that slice with a projector. Prints will only take as long as the scan Akhenry (talk) 07:25, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  13. use household waste to create filament or resin Akhenry (talk) 07:32, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  14. improve resolution using electron scanning Akhenry (talk) 07:35, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  15. improve resolution using electron beams to develop resin Akhenry (talk) 07:35, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  16. similar to the 3D printing pens, sell kits that use powder or resin that hardens with a (safe wavelength) laser. Kids could just draw layers with the laser Akhenry (talk) 07:39, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  17. Use a type of resin that hardens with different colors with different wavelengths Akhenry (talk) 07:44, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  18. use resin that hardens with different densities/hardness with different wavelengths Akhenry (talk) 07:44, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  19. Use many lasers with different wavelengths to print with these resins Akhenry (talk) 07:44, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  20. use projectors with different wavelengths to print layer by layer with these interesting resins Akhenry (talk) 07:44, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  21. make printing safer by using lower melting temp filament - even lower than 100C then harden the print with a vapor or light bath Akhenry (talk) 07:48, 3 December 2015 (PST)
  22. replace modelling technology with simpler touchscreen GUIs Akhenry (talk) 07:48, 3 December 2015 (PST)



  1. 3D Print Parts for PrinterJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  2. Print in smaller piecesJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  3. use wood instead of metalJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  4. buy used partsJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  5. Print magnetic piecesJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  6. use basic on board computer instead of external computerJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  7. use phone instead of on board computerJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  8. 2 print heads instead of 1Jakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  9. recycled filament instead of bought plasticJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  10. more fansJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  11. more rodsJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  12. look for failureJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  13. separate headsJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  14. lower the weight by making new materialsJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  15. cool the plastic quickerJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  16. less infill on the parts that make the printerJakerob (talk) 07:51, 1 December 2016 (PST)
  1. Hologram printer makes copies out of light Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  2. Incorporate both scanner and printer into one device (like a paper photocopier)Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  3. printer that has the "eyedropper" tool where you can copy any material given a sample of it Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  4. IR scanner: can "print" heat onto another surface Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  5. Can copy molecular structure of other items (material replicator) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  6. Copy 2d objects and turn into 3d light scans Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  7. Copy 2D objects and turn into 3D objects Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  8. Scale objects Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  9. Printer to make other printers (fully) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  10. Clone people Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  11. Clone Animals (endless meat?) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  12. Infinite coffee maker (copy existing coffee) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  13. Art forgeries (copy certain paintings or artists style) (I think that people have done this and it's really cool)Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  14. As seen on TV printer Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  15. Print money (illegal) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  16. Copy time? Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
    1. Replay of a moment? Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  17. Copy experiences? Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
    1. Print memories? Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  18. Copy any chef (print food from cooking shows, or your grandmother's cookies) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  19. Archive creator Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  20. Copy power? Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  21. Black box copy (copy behavior of existing circuit) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  22. biometrics copier (can fake identity of a person, probably also illegal) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  23. Hairdresser copier (copy any hairstyle) Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  24. Physical "backup" machine to make copies of whole people, solar systems, galaxies Sswade (talk) 07:06, 4 December 2018 (PST)

Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)

  1. create 3D printed models of a landscape instead of having to travel their to perform a task Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  2. utilize 3D scanner to convert objects into a image Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  3. convert the 3D printer into a 3D scanner Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  4. utilize 3D printed parts to repair space telescopes and satellites Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  5. adapt a 3D printer to print infrared images from a photo Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  6. convert all 3D printed objects into a hologram and store in a database for everyone to use Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  7. utilize a hologram to view the progress of a print from a remote location Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  8. replicate medical devices and 3D print them to save money Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  9. have "community" 3D printers and training so anyone can have access to print an expensive item for less Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  10. make 3D scanners available to anyone to print the object Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  11. convert a 3D printer into a laser printer to produce images Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  12. convert 3D printer into a hologram device to obtain experience from other regions Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  13. convert 3D printer into hologram device to allow for "video calling" Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
  14. pair 3D hologram with VR goggles to develop "real" experiences Cmgietek (talk) 07:27, 4 December 2018 (PST)
FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Page data
Authors Andrea Henry, Cassandra Gietek, Jacob Robinson
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 4 pages link here
Impact 123 page views
Created December 1, 2015 by Andrea Henry
Modified February 6, 2023 by Felipe Schenone
Cite as Andrea Henry, Cassandra Gietek, Jacob Robinson (2015–2023). "Obvious 3D printer technology based on 26. Copying". Appropedia. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
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