One technological innovation that is
slowly but steadily being embraced is 3D printing. When you think of
3D printing, you might imagine a large, expensive machine that prints
fun plastic toys, but the use 3D printing has exploded in recent
years. According to some surveys, two-thirds of the manufacturing
industry is using 3D printing, some for rapid prototyping, others for
production or for custom parts. The global market for 3D printing is
projected to be at $16.2 billion in 2018, and research has predicted
that it will quadruple over the next decade. Desktop 3D printers are
becoming more affordable, and the range of application is expansive:
dentists are printing Invisalign braces for patients, General
Electric is printing complex metal parts for motors, and even
commercial airline Airbus has been using 3D printing to save millions
in parts production and fuel costs by shaving off the weight of an
aircraft. Airbus even has plans to completely 3D print an airplane
someday. A Chinese company has even managed to use a giant 3D printer
to print 10 single-level houses in one day. Someday, you may be able
to buy something on Amazon and then 3D print it right at home,
enjoying near-instant delivery! (and don't worry, 3D printing speeds
are improving quickly as the technology advances.) It's looking like
3D printing isn't just a passing fad—what we're seeing right now
may just be the beginning.
As seven alien races struggle to co-exist in an uneasy alliance, the Inter-Stellar Union sends Union Guard agents on missions to preserve the crucial balance. These specialized operatives must do what regional security cannot, dealing with smugglers, pirates, terrorists, and even greater challenges in order to bring stability to a universe that needs it desperately. Without the Union Guard, the races will not be prepared to face a looming alien threat they can only hope to defeat together.
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