3D Printing: Holding the World in Your Hands
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the process of creating an object one layer at a time. Just as a 3D printer adds materials layer by layer to build an object, 3D printed models can add the layers of understanding needed to build a strong case.
There is a nearly endless array of uses for 3D printing services data analysis and data visualization. It can be used for everything from producing scale models of components, parts, or assemblies to the creation of tangible courtroom visuals, which can turn an abstract concept into a physical object that can be seen, felt, and readily understood by legal stakeholders.
3D printing perfectly complements data collection tools such as computed tomography (CT), CT scanning, and 3D laser scanning. It can be used to accurately document and permanently preserve evidence, transforming data about components, structures, and accident scenes into strong and compelling evidence that can help bring the facts of a case to life, showing rather than just telling what happened and why.
The Power of Tactile Response
Engaging an audience on three fronts: ( logical, emotional, and physical) can help you deliver a narrative in a persuasive and memorable way. 3D printing creates tangible litigation tools that legal stakeholders touch and interact with, so they can better understand how parts are constructed, how they are oriented within a system or space, and how they work together. This in turn can build understanding, provide a richer contextual awareness, and leave a lasting impression.
Transcending Scale
3D printing allows us to transcend the barriers of scale in an engaging way. Huge objects, like an oil drilling platform, can be recreated to fit in a juror’s hand. Similarly, tiny objects can be scaled up for clearer viewing. For example, the parts of a tiny medical device that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye can be enlarged so that they can be easily observed.
Legal Applications
Used in conjunction with trial graphics, 3D prints are very effective for teaching highly technical concepts. This makes them ideal for use in a wide array many different legal practice areas, including but not limited to product liability, intellectual property and patent infringement, and accident investigation.
When combined with ESi’s other advanced data visualization tools, 3D prints can be used to clearly and convincingly show relevant facts and details, and how they connect to the matter at hand. That in turn, can help make or break a case.