Touch, Heal, Build: The Power of Additive Manufacturing

Allan will take us on a journey into the world of 3D printing, showing how it has evolved from a futuristic idea to a powerful tool used in everyday life. Once mainly used for creating prototypes, 3D printing is now used by companies, doctors, educators, and hobbyists to create everything from machines to medical devices. Allan will explain how this technology is opening new possibilities in design and production, changing industries around the world.

‘Touch & See’ is a collaboration between Lancaster University, Lancaster City Museums, and the Galloways Society for the Blind. Museums and galleries usually rely on sight to engage visitors, which can be a challenge for those with sight loss. Through ‘Touch & See’, Chris has worked with people who are sight impaired to create affordable, tactile objects that allow users to ‘feel’ paintings and images. Using 3D printing, these objects, called lithophanes, are transforming how art is experienced. This talk will explain how the project was developed and plans for the future.

Healthcare relies on materials like bandages, implants, and prosthetics, as well as devices such as monitors and wearables. 3D printing offers exciting possibilities for creating these products, both for long-term and short-term use. In this talk, John will explore how 3D printing works, as well as more advanced technologies like 4D printing, which creates materials that respond to changes, and bioprinting, which can produce structures with living cells. These innovations are helping shape the future of healthcare.