RAIDY Brings Desktop 3D Printing to Lebanon
While many people still consider 3D printing to be a futuristic wonder, the technology is now closer than ever with the first 3D desktop printers landing in Lebanon.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, allows you to print objects by adding up one layer of material on top of the other until the desired shape is complete. The technique is not entirely new to Lebanon as it’s been around in specialised shops since 2013. But with new the desktop 3D printers distributed in Lebanon and the GCC region by Raidy printing press, you can print any object you want from the comfort of your home or office.
“3D printing is simply the ability to print any object or part of an object without the interference of a third party,” Raidy Managing Director told Arabad. “The advantage of this technology is that you can fully customise it according to your needs and still end up with zero waste as opposed to traditional manufacturing.”
You don’t have to be proficient with design software such as AUTOCAD to be able to benefit from this technology, you can simply download STL files from the internet the same way you would download a document and have it printed in seconds.
Many industries can benefit from the revolutionary aspect of 3D printing today. In addition to its initial prototyping function, the technique can be of tremendous use to product designers and architects as it enables them to bring their designs to life and scale them according to their need. “The commonly used material today is PLA but you can also print in clay, wood, flex, brass, silver and even chocolate!” Raidy noted.
Doumit Raidy
3D printing also promises to revolutionise the working scheme of medical doctors by giving them the opportunity to print life-size organs and prostheses. “Doctors can print a broken bone or damaged organ directly from the MRI file to visualise the problem clearly before undertaking surgical procedures, dentists can do the same for teeth and plastic surgeons can scan a patient’s face and print it with the desired modifications prior to the surgery,” Raidy explained.
The fashion industry is equally profiting from 3D printing technologies with fashion designers incorporating 3D-printed items into their collections and jewelry designers creating sharply detailed molds for their fine creations. “Adidas were the first to create a 3D-printed shoe midsole for instance, the idea is to be able to customise each shoe to the foot shape and needs of the athlete,” Raidy told Arabad.
In addition to that, many academic institutions in Europe and the US are equipped with desktop 3D printers. Installed in libraries and labs, the printers are primarily used in biology, design, architecture and medical courses.