3D priniting

You’ve probably heard the term 3D printing before, but what exactly is it? Well it’s as simple as the name suggest: a print in three dimensions. Everyone is familiar with printing two dimensional documents, and 3D printing is a somewhat similar process. So how does it work?

Well, first of all, before anything can be printed, there needs to be a digital form of it. Like when you’re printing a document or picture, you need to first open the file on your computer or mobile device and then select the command to print. That’s the same way that 3D printing works. First, a digital model of the object is created in 3D on a computer. Once ready to print, the computer slices the model up into 2D layers for printing. A command is sent to the printer and the printing begins.

When printing a 2D file, the printer deposits a layer of ink onto the desired paper or other material. 3D printers also deposit a material, but the 3D printing uses additive manufacturing for the printing process, which means that the printer deposits layer upon layer of material until the final object is created. The final object is the physical counterpart of the digital model.

There is a wide variety of materials that can be used for 3D printing which range from resins to plastics to metals. The material that is used depends on your needs also and on the type of printer that you’re using. Some materials may be long lasting, while others may be sturdier; you would decide which material would be suitable for the object you have in mind.

The early stages of 3D printing would consist of printers valuing over $200,000 but as the technology advances, the rates go down. You can now get a 3D printer for under $2000, which still isn’t cheap but is less than 1% of earlier printers! With a decline in price with time, 3D printers could be as common as laser printers in the future.