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3D PRINTING

3D printing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model.

3D Printing Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:

Puts manufacturing in the hands of the public
Can create almost anything with 3D printing
Good for rapid prototyping

Disadvantages:

Slow process as compared to manufacturing (at least 100X slower)
Prototypes do not have the strength of original product

Process

How to 3D print

3D Printing Process

Creating a usable 3D design- Converting the design into a 3D representable file (.STL)
Slicing the 3D representable file into layers
Converting the layers into instructions for the 3D printer (gcode)
The 3D printer creates the 3D object

Common Types of 3D Printer

FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication): where a filament is heated/fused and deposited a layer at a time
SLA (Stereolithography): uses a photochemical process which places a chemical/resin and uses a light source to harden each layer
SLS (Selective Layer Sintering): a technique that uses a laser as a power source to sinter/fuse powdered material at points to create a solid structure