3D printing services

歌曲 3D printing services
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专辑 VOA慢速英语:科技报道

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[00:00.10] From VOA Learning English,
[00:02.13] this is the Technology Report.
[00:04.91] Imagine having an idea,
[00:07.40] drawing it on paper,
[00:08.90] bringing it to a store
[00:10.50] and seeing it turned into a physical object.
[00:14.08] This is now possible with the help of 3D printers.
[00:18.66] Such machines were once used just
[00:22.05] by universities and big companies,
[00:24.84] but now, stores with 3D printing services
[00:28.59] are appearing around the United States.
[00:31.78] Bryan Jaycox and his wife opened
[00:35.66] The Build Shop LLC in Los Angeles two years ago.
[00:40.24] The store is filled with tools like a laser cutter,
[00:44.67] an industrial sewing machine and 3D printers.
[00:48.75] The Jaycoxs offer 3D printing classes and services
[00:53.68] for anyone who is interested.
[00:55.92] "I think 3D printing is going to be huge.
[00:58.11] It's going to make a huge impact on society as a whole."
[01:01.11] One of the students in a recent class was KiChong Tran.
[01:05.34] He plans to open a 3D print business in Cambodia.
[01:09.97] 3D printing services are becoming available
[01:13.40] for American consumers.
[01:15.59] The UPS Store is a nationwide retailer
[01:19.07] that provides shipping, copying and other services.
[01:23.50] The UPS Store recently put 3D printers
[01:27.20] in three of its independently-owned stores.
[01:30.53] Burke Jones owns one of the stores in San Diego.
[01:34.57] "The demand has been amazing.
[01:37.11] It's been much more than I would have imagined."
[01:40.15] The UPS Store plans to add 3D printers in three more stores.
[01:46.37] For $11, Jonathan Netter used a 3D printer to produce
[01:52.04] two small plastic parts as part of a knuckle for a hand.
[01:56.48] He works for a medical device company,
[01:59.46] the company is testing finger prosthetics.
[02:04.06] He says the same-day or next-day printing services
[02:07.70] will speed up testing of parts
[02:10.09] and get the devices to patients faster.
[02:13.38] An office supply company, Staples is selling 3D printers
[02:18.20] on its website for as low as about $1,300.
[02:23.87] A cartridge of color plastic costs $50.
[02:27.90] As with any technology
[02:30.00] -- experts expect the printing speed and price to improve.
[02:34.53] Bryan Jaycox requires $15 an hour to print an object,
[02:40.45] he also charges a fee depending on the size of the object
[02:44.83] and up to $50 an hour for design and labor services.
[02:49.56] At The UPS Store, the cost of the object
[02:53.55] depends on the amount of materials used.
[02:56.43] The store charges up to $95 an hour
[03:00.41] to design the object with computer software
[03:03.80] that creates a digital file to guide the printer.
[03:07.79] Mr Jaycox predicts that within five years,
[03:11.47] 3D printing technology could become more consumer friendly.
[03:16.51] But KiChong Tran says even current technology
[03:20.84] can make a difference in a developing country like Cambodia.
[03:24.72] "With 3D printing you can give them tools,
[03:27.61] you put it in their hands
[03:28.86] so they are responsible more for their own development
[03:31.85] and they learn skills beyond just learning English
[03:35.33] and becoming a tour guide or something like that
[03:37.87] or working at a bank you can actually create things
[03:40.51] that give value to the world."
[03:42.65] He says it's not just Cambodia
[03:45.09] but anywhere where there is a 3D printer,
[03:47.93] it can turn a good idea -- into reality.
[03:51.36] And that's the Technology Report from VOA Learning English.