Organs

Over the past few years, scientists created a method for custom printing vital organs like kidneys and bladders. The technology has improved dramatically, and this year, scientists successfully printed a heart the size of a quarter that started beating a few minutes after being printed. "Instead of using ink in the inkjet cartridge, we use cells," Dr. Anthony Atala from Wake Forest explained to the CBC. "All the cells in your body are already pre-programmed. There's a genetic code within all your cells that drives them to do what they are supposed to do if you place them in the right environment."

Food

This doesn't sound delicious at first, but if you just compare the process as a really really advanced sheet cake in your head, it sort of works. CNN's Laurie Segall describes on device at the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan: "Users load up the printer's syringes with raw food -- anything with a liquid consistency, like soft chocolate, will work. The ingredient-filled syringes will then "print" icing on a cupcake. Or it'll print something more novel (i.e., terrifying) -- like domes of turkey on a cutting board.

Musical instruments

Using 3D printing technology, Seth Hunter, a student at MIT, built a fully operational flute by printing the individual parts and sticking them together. It took about 15 hours for the digital printer to manufacture the pieces, and it actually sounds great.

Clothes

A number of companies have been developing processes that use 3D printing techniques to manufacture textiles. The digital design essentially maps out how to weave the material together, much like a high-tech loom. "Instead of producing textiles by the meter, then cutting and sewing them into final products," explains designer Jiri Evenhuis. "This concept has the ability to make needle and thread obsolete."

Furniture

A number of different furniture designers have explored the different possibilities of using 3D printers to make chairs, tables or pretty much anything to fill a home. Dror Benshetrit, however, created a line of printed furniture that you can fold flat. Moving it's a breeze.

The coolest thing about 3D printing might be its sustainability. Because the materials needed are programmed down to the exact measures, there's practically no waste. And we thought Henry Ford had a good idea.

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.