3D列印會改變一切嗎？：英語精讀講義

We've all heard the buzz surrounding 3D printing.

我們都聽過圍繞3D列印的熱烈討論。

Some call it the third or 3D Industrial Revolution.

有人稱它為第三次工業革命，或稱3D工業革命。

But what exactly is 3D printing and how big of an impact will it have on our future? 文法

但3D列印究竟是什麼，又會對我們的未來造成多大的影響？

The concept is quite simple.

原理其實很簡單。

Much like your printer prints ink on a page, 表達脈絡

就像一般印表機把墨水印在紙上一樣，

3D printers spit out material, 片語動詞

3D印表機會噴出材料，

whether it be plastic, metal, or even concrete, 文法

不論是塑膠、金屬，甚至是混凝土，

to form a three-dimensional object.

來形成一個立體物件。

But instead of printing one layer as ink from a normal printer does, 文法

不過，一般印表機只會印上一層墨水，3D列印則不同，

multiple layers are stacked upon each other to create complex 3D structures. 片語搭配

它會把許多層材料堆疊起來，打造複雜的3D結構。

Think of it like making sliced bread, 表達脈絡

你可以把它想成製作切片麵包，

but in reverse.

只不過步驟完全相反。

After putting one layer down,

鋪好一層後，

another is built on top of that,

再在上面疊一層，

and so on, until the whole loaf of bread is put together. 片語動詞

就這樣持續下去，直到整條麵包組合完成。

Lost or broke something that you can no longer buy? 文法

弄丟或弄壞了某樣已經買不到的東西嗎？

Simple.

很簡單。

Create or download the design online and 3D print it out. 片語動詞

在網路上自行設計或下載設計圖，再用3D印表機把它印出來。

Have a specific or personal holiday present idea and can't find it?

想到一個特別或個人化的節日禮物點子，卻找不到成品嗎？

Print it.

把它印出來。

In fact,

事實上，

GE's Tumblr 3dprintmygift.tumblr.com is doing exactly this for the holiday season.

GE的Tumblr頁面3dprintmygift.tumblr.com在這個佳節期間做的正是這件事。

We'll put a link in the description.

我們會把連結放在影片說明欄。

And if you require moving parts in your design,

如果你的設計需要可活動的零件，

the printer simply leaves gaps in the right spots

印表機只要在適當位置留下空隙，

or uses a special gel that can be dissolved or rinsed off afterwards. 片語動詞

或使用一種之後能溶解或沖洗掉的特殊凝膠即可。

Speaking of design, 表達脈絡

說到設計，

3D printing paves the way for incredibly customized objects made on demand to fit your requirements. 講解

3D列印為依需求製作高度客製且符合你要求的物件開啟了大門。

Not only does this mean furniture, shoes, and appliances built to fit your lifestyle, 文法

這不只表示家具、鞋子和家電都能配合你的生活方式量身打造，

but things like prosthetic limbs can have completely customized user designs

就連義肢等物品，也能完全依照使用者需求客製設計，

as opposed to generic mass-produced products. 片語搭配

而不必再使用規格統一的大量生產製品。

Need something small and intricate?

需要小巧又精細的東西嗎？

Typical 3D printers create layers approximately 100 micrometers thick,

一般3D印表機印出的每層材料厚度約為100微米，

but some high-end machines can print as small as 16 micrometers. 文法

但有些高階機器的列印層厚可低至16微米。

To put this in perspective, 表達脈絡

為了讓你更容易理解這個尺度，

a typical bacteria cell has a width of between 1 to 10 micrometers. 文法

一般細菌細胞的寬度大約是1到10微米。

This has opened the door to using molecules for ink 慣用語

這開啟了以分子作為「墨水」的大門，

and has led to successful 3D printed pharmaceutical drugs such as ibuprofen.

並讓人們成功3D列印出布洛芬等藥物。

The tiny molecules are organized perfectly to create the desired drug effect.

這些微小分子會被精準排列，以產生所需的藥效。

Hungry?

餓了嗎？

In the future,

未來，

you might be able to ask Siri to 3D print a meal perfected for your palate. 講解

你或許可以請Siri用3D列印做出一頓完全合你口味的餐點。

But perhaps the most significant application is creating 3D structures out of living cells or bio-ink. 講解

不過，最重要的應用或許是用活細胞或「生物墨水」打造3D結構。

Instead of using plastic or metal,

不再使用塑膠或金屬，

imagine 3D printing tissue to replace damaged skin or to reproduce entire organs from scratch. 講解

想像一下，用3D列印製造組織來取代受損皮膚，甚至從頭重建完整器官。

Instead of needing an organ donor,

到時候，你不再需要器官捐贈者，

you just print one based off of your genetics. 用詞

只要根據自己的基因列印一個器官就好。

Amazingly,

令人驚訝的是，

this technology is already being developed.

這項技術已經在研發中。

For burns or scrapes,

對於燒傷或擦傷，

a scanner is used on a patient's wound and a personalized skin map is created. 文法

可以用掃描器掃描患者的傷口，並建立個人化的皮膚圖譜。

After this,

接著，

the printer lays down cells one layer at a time until the area is covered. 講解

印表機會逐層鋪上細胞，直到覆蓋整個區域。

Organs are much more complex due to their large size,

器官要複雜得多，因為它們體積龐大，

vascular networks, and interactions with the body. 用詞

還涉及血管網絡，以及與身體之間的相互作用。

A scanner takes X-ray images of, say, 表達脈絡

掃描器會拍攝X光影像，比如說，

a patient's kidney as cross-sections with incredibly intricate detail. 用詞

患者的腎臟會以極精細的橫截面影像呈現出來。

And just like any other object,

就像列印其他任何物件一樣，

these organs are reproduced layer by layer,

這些器官也會被一層一層重建，

specifically designed for each individual.

並針對每個人量身設計。

Though these are years away from being functional, 片語搭配

雖然還要好幾年才能真正發揮功能，

it will certainly have a huge impact on the medical community. 片語搭配

但這無疑會對醫學界產生巨大影響。

So,

所以，

while it may be a while before you end up with a 3D printer in your home, 講解

雖然你可能還要等一段時間，家裡才會有一台3D印表機，

you can be sure that by the time it happens, 文法

但可以確定的是，等到那一天到來時，

the world will be a different place.

世界將會變得截然不同。

But if you can't wait that long, 語氣意圖

不過，如果你等不了那麼久，

GE is giving 3D printing its own holiday this December 3rd.

GE將在今年12月3日為3D列印設立專屬節日。

It's D3 for 3D. 文化背景

這天叫做D3，代表3D。

To celebrate they're 3D printers printing and giving away customized gifts for their fans all day.

為了慶祝，GE的3D印表機會全天列印，並把客製化禮物送給粉絲。

All you have to do is visit 3dprintmygift.tumblr.com to choose one of the prototypes 文法

你只要前往3dprintmygift.tumblr.com，從原型中挑選一款，

and tweet for a chance to get one printed and shipped to your home in time for the holidays. 文法

再發一則推文，就有機會讓它被印出並寄到你家，及時趕上佳節。

Go check it out and subscribe for more weekly science videos.

快去看看，也別忘了訂閱，以便每週收看更多科學影片。