Although 3D printing dates back to the early 1980s when Japanese inventor Hideo Kodama first began to develop the technology, it was only in 2008 when the first prosthetic leg was produced that the idea gained global attention. From 2010 onwards, after 3D printers were able to print 3D printers, the price began to drop and their usage became more widespread.
There are 3D print businesses across the UK but Mark Bryant, who owns The Laboratory of Things on Gloucester Road, believes that his may be the only high street shop where people can purchase and order items in person rather than online. Although the shop has had some interesting orders over the years, one of their most popular products are the 3D dog heads that they sell.
All the need is a video of the pet to measure the dimensions of the animal’s head, resulting in the printing of a life-size head. The 3D printers can also create ram skulls and bulls' heads which allow those who have such tastes to display them in their homes without any blood being shed.
