JUMPING INTO THE WORLD OF 3D PRINTING
MOST PEOPLE have at least heard of 3D printing by now. Not everyone, however, fully understands what it is, how it works, what can be created, its limitations, or even how 3D printing is driving technological advancement throughout the world and changing our everyday lives. 3D printing has exploded in popularity over recent years, and with the technology becoming more affordable, it’s now more accessible than ever. 3D printing is an ever-growing platform for many hobbyists, enthusiasts, and professionals alike, and is a technology that offers a feature set like no other.
We are talking about a technology that is being used in a vast variety of fields, from product prototyping and construction to medicine, including customized prosthetics, orthotics, and more. It’s a process that is truly changing people’s lives for the better and, in most cases, is driving to reduce the by-products and waste created in manufacturing.
We want to guide you through the fundamentals of 3D printing, and how to get started, should you be in the market for a 3D printer. Maybe you just want to tinker, replace a broken part that can no longer be purchased off the shelf, prototype an idea, or simply play around and print cool things. No matter what your use case, delving into 3D printing can be a little daunting—trust us, we’ve been there. So, let’s get started with the basics….
WHAT IS 3D PRINTING?
To start off, let’s cover what 3D printing actually is. In simple terms, it’s a process whereby a solid object is created by what’s known as additive manufacturing, utilizing a digital file as a blueprint. A typical manufacturing process—milling, for example—is a subtractive manufacturing operation, where material is removed to create the desired object. This is a process that creates a lot of waste material; in some cases, it’s possible to recycle or even sell these by-products of manufacturing.
3D printing is the exact opposite, where material is added to create an object. And here’s the cool part: 3D printing can create more complex shapes, and in the process, reduce the amount of waste generated, because it only uses what it needs for the object itself and any support structure.
WHO IS 3D PRINTING FOR?
Everybody. As we said in the intro, the technology is becoming more and more accessible and affordable for mainstream users. This is not a technology reserved for mass-market product manufacture, specialist roles or applications, or even
