Dr. Boyd Goldie, an orthopedic surgeon in London, uses 3D printing to make invaluable visualization aids for surgeries, saving time and money in the process. The technology offers numerous benefits, including better surgical preparation, significant reduction of surgical costs and more opportunities for better patient education.

Dani Clode takes the meaning of prosthesis quite literally: rather than fixing or replacing, the Latin word's original meaning is to add something. With “The Third Thumb,” Clode has designed an attachable 3D printed thumb controlled by the feet–and challenges our perception of prosthetics.

Thanks to 3D print technology, MATT Architecture can now create detailed architectural models at a fraction of the usual cost and in a matter of hours, not days. Integrating 3D printers into their business workflow has improved communication with clients, and provided the company with more flexibility and freedom than ever before.

For architect Henrik Bejmar 3D printing is the perfect solution. At the Sweco engineering consultancy firm in Stockholm he uses Ultimaker 2 Extended printers with an Olsson block, swapping nozzles to create fast prints or detailed prints as the scale model requires.

10xBeta is an international team of designers and engineers who together have initiated, accelerated, and commercialized a diverse range of venture-backed and self-funded products. As a fast-moving hardware product design firm, 10xBeta builds products within a broad spectrum of categories – from consumer infant products to medical devices and lifestyle technology.

Akazawa’s futuristic factory is fueled by 3D printing. Team members across countries coordinate designs in real time over cloud-based CAD and prototype in-house using desktop stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, saving upwards of 85 percent in time and costs for some components. Ultimately, this digital design process inspired the company to rewrite and revamp its product development strategy.

Using 3D printing technology, OpLab can quickly and easily create physical models of dental arches, reducing time, labor, and expenses in the process. The new approach means the team can achieve greater model accuracy, resulting in less error and a better service for their clients.

By embracing a digital workflow and desktop stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, the company has managed to simplify and speed up the process of creating temporary mockups, mitigate risks before the procedure, and truly bring a smile to their patients’ faces.

By using 3D printed tools, jigs, and fixtures, Volkswagen Autoeuropa reduces cycle time operation, labor, and the need for reworking, while improving tool ergonomics. Furthermore, they achieve this at a tenth of the usual cost. The company estimates that they are on track to save €250,000 by the end of 2017.

Using 3D printing technology, Julian Hakes can now make as many as five iterations per prototype, creating designs that weren’t possible before. Model scaling is easy, and it’s far simpler to communicate ideas with colleagues and business partners.

3D printing has enabled Tucci Hot Rods to produce customized car components that are used to modify and build custom vehicles for their clients - all to exceptionally high design standards and in much less time than was previously possible.

With 3D printing, ABB Robotics can minimize risk in the development process by proving the viability of a design before investing in an expensive tool. This shrinks the development process from months to a matter of days.

The custom jewelry design and development process begins with listening. Once Davidson & Co. has worked to understand a client’s needs, the next step is design. The studio uses 3D printing technology to prototype pieces for clients to test, making sure that the concept and fit are perfect before moving on to source the gemstone and materials from their global suppliers.

In the jewelry industry, customer demand and new technology go hand in hand. As customers move away from mass-produced products and toward custom designs, jewelers are adopting new technology that marries the efficiency of rapid prototyping with the beauty of wearable art. Lexx Grey, product developer at luxury jeweler John Brevard, explains how she sees the future of the jewelry industry.