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Show NEWS JUNE 17, 2013 A3 PHOTO COURTESY OF WWWRFERLORG With the pros and cons of 3D printing, the rise in the technology has raised a lot of questions. Contention in the third dimension The 3D printing revolution has led to controversy as well as research in conservation, medicine, and manufacturing By Natalie Sullivan Assistant News Editor @nhillsullivan with additional reporting By Alex Sousa Managing Editor @TwoFistedSousa 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing has been at the forefront of consumer technology for the past year or so. New models such as those costing a mere few hundred dollars allow the user to create a 3D object in any shape, building it layer upon layer. With the recent boom of 3D printing, as the technology has become available on a wider scale than ever before, many are looking at its potential for education, medicine, conservation and manufacturing. "We try to do everything on the printer that we can," said David Manning, a professor of the UVU design and technology department that uses 3D printing as a way to recruit high school students. "We think that's the future." Although the technology has existed for 30 years, many companies, such as Invent-A-Part, located in Springville, are working to bring 3D printing to the typical home like any household appliance. Basic 3D printing bots work by connecting to CAD data stored on a computer. Then, one moving part located at the top of the frame lays and melts plastic cord according to its set directions. This process using a 10" by 10" makes 3D printing faster, more accessible and less expensive than it's older more primitive counterparts. 3D printing will change if not disrupt the landscape of manufacturing and most certainly our lives our businesses and the lives of our children. DAVID MANNING Professor of Engineering Graphics & Design UU "3D printing will change if not disrupt the landscape of manufacturing and most certainly our lives our businesses and the lives of our children," said Manning Lisa Harouni, co-founder and CEO of Digital Forming, works on the software side of 3D print- Kyrgyz Ambassador communicates constitutio ipiportance Ambassador Muktar Djumaliev lectures on political reforms in Kyrgyzstan and its importance for Central Asian countries By Natalie Sullivan Assistant News Editor @nhillsullivan On June 3, 2013, Muktar Djumaliev, ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States and Canada, visited Utah Valley University to deliver a lecture to students focused on the challenges and opportunities faced by political reforms in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan, once under Soviet leadership, adopted a new constitution on May 5, 1993. Since then, several dramatic changes and amendments have been made to the constitution. Ambassador Djumaliev's lecture presented a history of these reforms since Spring 2005, which encompassed a dramatic tug of war between parliamentary and presidential power with each reform to the constitution In 2005, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's presidential power was significantly scaled back after the he was forced to sign the constitution. Later in December of 2006, under threat of dissolution, President The development of most of Central Asian countries depend on the success of the Kyrgyz project. AMBASSADOR DJUMALIEV UU Bakiyev forced parliamentarians to adopt the new edition of the constitution, which returned back to him his lost power. Prior to the 2010 constitution, Ambassador Djumaliev also relayed a quote by Venice Commission Experts that, "In fact, the presidential authorities were almost unlimited in that there is a small separation of powers..." According to Ambassador Djumaliev, this forced adoption in the constitution resulted in the Kyrgyz community recognizing that "Bakiyev deluded everyone." Questions by the audience related the U.S. Constitution to the struggles and reforms of the Kyr- gyz constitution, including whether or not Kyrgyzstan currently has a document protecting the basic rights of citizens. "In the issues of the rights of citizens, all necessary conditions for better protecting the interest of the nation and state, human rights and freedoms were created," Ambassador Djumaliev replied. Yet the Ambassador was also clear that no Kyrgyz document exists in the same way as the American Bill of Rights. However since the enactment of the 2010 constitution, Kyrgyzstan is declared a parliamentary system with progress in forming a balance of powers. "Representatives of all segments took part in working out the draft of the constitution," said Ambassador Djumaliev. Djamaliev related his belief of wide opportunities for significant reform in the Kyrgyz judicial system, including the existence of new procedures for selecting and appointing judges. He then urged the global importance of reforms in the Kyrgyz Republic. "The development ways of most of Central Asian countries depend on the success of the Kyrgyz project," said Djumaliev. He then concluded that the current constitution is aimed on following and protecting the interests of Kyrgystan and that to learn to live by the constitution is a vital need we all need to learn and experience. ing, the design tools needed to run the new generation of 3D printing processes. "It is actually a reality today to download from the web, product data to a desktop machine that will fabricate it for you on the spot," Harouni said in an interview with CHINA from Al my first thought was: 'we should do that.'" A major aspect of the minor is that it was designed to be "open," leaving students with the option to tailor the classes they take to their own interests. Any student with an international outlook and an interest in one of the fastest growing economies in the world is encouraged to enroll in the Chinese Commerce minor. "We should help students obtain the skills that they need. They're going to learn about China, know the language, build presentations, think critically—all these are skills that the Humanities and Social Sciences department provides you with," said White. "After complet- Ted Talks. Controversy has developed over the issue of consumers using 3D printers, mostly to do with the potential to circumnavigate gun laws. Already there are plans to put legislation in place to ban making guns on 3D printers. But that hasn't deterred market specialists from pursuing the new technology, believing that the benefits are too great to ignore. On March 4, a surgery was performed where 75 percent of the patient's skull was replaced with orthopedic implants created by a 3D printer. Developed by Oxford Performance Materials and approved by the FDA, the technology has been seen as a revolution by many. "We see no part of the orthopedic industry being untouched by this," said Scott Delice, president of Oxford Performance Materials. It's not just the medical field that is looking at the benefits of 3D printing though. The technology's eco-friendly potential is also being explored by organizations that are experimenting with the ability to recycle and repurpose materials. With the great possibilities of this technology, it is important to also realize its current limitations. Industry specialists have and they're already looking towards the future, which they say will be in accessible 3D printers that work in other materials, such as metal. "[With new 3D printing,] we can actually create structures that are more intricate than any other manufacturing technology—or, in fact, are impossible to build in any other way," said Harouni. Even in the face of controversy —with people questioning the effects of 3D printing on the manufacturing job market—many people are excited with the unprecedented accessibility of the new technology and hope to see it grow. The technology is opening doors to a new market, the likes of which have never been seen before. And in this time of worldwide transition, many are seeing this as the perfect opportunity to make the most of it. 66 ing this program, if these students are interested, they can then apply for an MBA program with the skills these programs are looking for." The focus of the new minor is that students need to know about China before they proceed to conduct business there. Students are going to have a basic knowledge in business but more specifically, they are going to know how commerce relates in China. White hopes to see this program develop over the next few years by hopefully adding internships, a study abroad program with a focus on Chinese commerce, and there is also a possibility of a full major in Chinese commerce. However, these possibilities are contingent upon funding and student interest. Having read that, my first thought was- we should do that. We should help students obtain the skills they need. FREDERICK WHITE College of Humanities and Social Sciences UU The new minor at UVU will strengthen President Holland's chinese initiative. PHOTO COURTESY OF STOCKXCHNG.COM |