Top 10 Largest Items You Didn't Know Were 3D Printed

Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing has significantly democratized the custom fabrication of small and large objects. 3D printing is probably most useful for the rapid fabrication of small custom mechanical parts. However, the technology is also capable of making very large structures and objects. Below is a short list of some of the largest items you may not have realized were made by 3D printing. Designed by a team from Tsinghua University, a pedestrian bridge over a small canal in Shanghai was recently completed via additive manufacturing. The bridge drew inspiration from the oldest bridge in China: the Zhaozhou Bridge, which was constructed between 589 and 618 AD. Rather than being made of limestone like the Zhaozhou Bridge, the new Shanghai bridge contains 3D-printed concrete. It also features embedded smart sensors to detect physical stress, foot traffic and stability.