The Reading Warehouse

3D printing was once only known through science fiction, such as Star Trek, the popular 1960s TV series. But inventors and engineers on Earth began experimenting in real life with 3D printing to find faster ways to develop and build prototypes, using computers, ultraviolet lasers, and printable materials. Now, there are many innovative uses for 3D printing. Yet 3D printing has drawbacks. Chemicals used in 3D printing can be toxic, and legal experts are not sure how to protect 3D printing inventions so that others do not steal ideas. Learn how 3D printing works and how we can keep up with the safety, health, and legal challenges that lie ahead.

Melissa Koch is a writer and inventor of digital learning environments for children, educators, and adults. She specializes in materials that encourage women and youth from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Her STEM curricula activities have received recognition from the National Science Foundation, Whitehouse Science Fair, PBS, and others. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, with her husband, son, and Labrador retriever. She dreams of creating a 3D printer that can print both wood and metal to fix her favorite antique furniture and bicycle.