3D printing is not only becoming more important in the world of education, but it has numerous applications in other areas as well.

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Food

• An Italian food leader is using a pasta dough cartridge system in a 3D printer to create edible pasta in eclectic shapes.
• The world’s first 3D candy printer, “Magic Candy Factory,” made its debut through a German company and features a variety of gummy candy shapes.
• Not technically itself a 3D printer (it does not include an additive process), 3D printed technology can create machines that produce 3D custom food shapes.
• PERFORMANCE (Personalized Food for the Nutrition of Elderly Consumers) is working on a creating easily-chewable meals for the elderly.
• The first pop-up 3D printing restaurant is planning on expanding worldwide.

Clothing

• The influence and innovation of 3D printing is expanding rapidly in the fashion industry.
• After debuting 3D printed neckties in 2014 at GeekPicnic in St. Petersburg, Russia, the founder of 3DTie.com used the technology to open his own store of customizable ties.
• An engineer left her job in November 2015 to launch Bra Theory, an initiative to create better-fitting bras.
• 3D printing is being used to create personalized soles and boot ergonomics for Army soldiers.

Entertainment

• With the help of 3D printing technology, The Controller Project focuses on designing and creating systems to enhance the gaming experience of people with disabilities.
• Xilloc produced the first 3D printed guitar.
• Ellaria Sand’s “Dorne Dagger,” from the Game of Thrones season 6 opener, was 3D printed and hand-painted.
• An Australian startup developed Stabylizr, a 3D printed GoPro camera stabilizer.

Sports

• Researchers in New South Wales in Australia are developing 3D printed surfboard fins to optimize performance.
• Adidas partnered with Parley for the Oceans to create a 3D printed sneaker using thread from recycled marine waste.
• The LA Dodgers added 3D printed logos to their batting helmets.

Vehicles & Buildings

• Additive manufacturing is used to rapidly and cheaply produce houses to live in.
• Cars can also be 3D printed.
• The AMIE (Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy) Demonstration Project features a solar-powered house and a natural-gas-powered car that symbiotically share energy with each other.

Wildlife Conservation

• The nonprofit Paso Pacifico has developed the idea of 3D printing fake sea turtle eggs with transmitters inside to track poachers.
• A co-inventor of the D-Shape 3D printer started a project to create complex artificial reefs to preserve coastal reef biodiversity and slow down erosion.
• As part of the Wildlife Conservation Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Challenge to stop poachers, some teams are 3D printing drones.

Weapons

• An interesting and possibly concerning trend alike, the Army and independent people have started using 3D printing to create and produce their own weapons.
• If you are interested in the motivations behind this trend, you might find this short vice documentary on 3D printed weapons interesting.