Need a copy of your guitar, a new name tag for your company brand, or simply your own miniature human form? Just print it – that’s the idea Sumanth Behara wants to pass on in the city. Bringing in the concept of 3D printing through his new venture ‘Whoop’, Sumanth showcases the new tech marvel that can turn homes, schools and offices into design labs and mini factories.
3D printing is a fascinating technology that creates solid, three dimensional objects using digital files. Consider this: Connecting a printer to a computer and then using that printer to create not mere sketches or printouts but solid, tangible objects!
Sumanth’s idea behind starting the venture was to introduce this latest technology to the young generation and entrepreneurs and unleash a wave of creativity. “The possibilities are endless. The 3D objects can be used for rapid prototyping and a marketing tool for better brand recall of startups, corporate gifting, miniature projects for engineering students, architectural design display purpose or jewellery and interior design objects,” says Sumanth, who started the enterprise with Brahma 3 Anvil 3D printer starting with a small investment of Rs 2 lakh.
The process is simple – the material used for 3D printing comes in two types of plastic, PLA and ABS. Once the 3D image is fed in the computer of the printer, the process of creating the object begins layer by layer using computerised instructions. The solid products thus produced can be in almost any predefined shape.
Sumanth decided to take up the venture after doing a detailed market research for six months. “This technology is widely used in the US and European countries. 3D printers are commonly found in homes and many use it as a hobby. The market is still nascent in India but it has wide potential,” he says. In fact, researchers say that 3D printing is predicted to transform our lives in the coming decades as dramatically as the Internet did before it.
NASA recently emailed a ratchet wrench into space. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had to previously wait for several weeks or even months if they needed some replacements. But when a ratcheting socket wrench was required this time, a 3D printer aboard the ISS made it available to the space team within a few hours!
While in the US 3D printing technology is far more evolved, Indian companies are creating 3D printers for as low as Rs 20,000 for basic models. The affordability of the product makes it an exciting proposition, says Sumanth. “The major effort lies in the detailing of the designs which in turn bring out the finished products,” he adds. The maximum dimensions that his 3D printer can produce are 240 mm (width) by 240 mm (length) by 200 mm (height). To begin with, Sumanth plans to launch his own range of 3D products like customised phone cases and funky accessories to draw the attention of the youth and also tap into the city’s growing hub of startups.
