My father bought us one of the first Macintosh computers when I was five or six years old. That moment sparked a lifelong passion for technology. I browsed the internet at the library before we had access at home, and later I was online every day. I learned that technological progress happens in steps – small wonders lead to giant leaps.
Today, I’m part of a research group working on lattice structures in metal 3D printing – intelligent, lightweight and strong internal frameworks that can’t be made with traditional methods. Looking back, it’s clear we’ve taken a step toward that Star Trek future.
3D printing is not just a new way to manufacture – it's a new way to think about materials and design. We can now create shapes that were once impossible to machine or cast. Structures can be hollow, shock-absorbing, porous or even reactive. We can place different materials in different layers: a strong core inside, and heat-conductive or wear-resistant surfaces outside.
None of this would have been possible without major leaps in computing power, energy availability, and materials science. AI algorithms developed decades ago are only now practical – thanks to powerful computers and abundant electricity. Likewise, 3D design has become accessible because we finally have the tools to make it real.
But one major barrier remains: designing is still hard. Even though printers are now in schools and libraries, few people can create printable models. I believe the next big shift will come from AI and scanning technologies. When we can simply tell a computer what we want – or show it with a camera – the machine will do the rest. That’s when 3D printing becomes truly everyday.
My eyes are on the horizon. Flying vehicles – the greatest sci-fi dream of my childhood – are not here yet. And the reason is energy. We still need one more leap: in energy storage. I believe it will come from materials research: new battery chemistries, solid hydrogen storage, and better fuel cells. Perhaps 3D printing will be one of the enablers of these breakthroughs – offering novel structures, components and manufacturing methods that bring energy innovations to life. Perhaps we are part of that story. When it happens, the sky will no longer be the limit.
Author: Antti Järvenpää, D.Sc. (Tech.), Assistant Professor, University of Oulu Kerttu Saalasti Institute, Future Manufacturing Technologies (FMT) Research Group
Photo: Minna Kilpeläinen
In Kerttu Saalasti Institute's blog we write about the topics of the Institute's research groups, micro entrepreneurship education and the Institute's general topics. The authors are researchers, experts and members of networks.
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