How Does 3D Printing Work Exactly? The Technology Explained

3D printing continues to grow in popularity with 21% more people expected to buy the tech this year.

Over two million 3D printers were shipped globally in 2020. That number’s set to rise to 15.3 million by 2028.

Why the interest in 3D printing technology? What are the benefits of 3D printing? And should you invest in a 3D printer?

This article answers the question of how does 3D printing works?

Read on to learn the facts about 3D printing. Discover the different 3D printing software available. And how you can avail of a 3D printing service.

What is 3D Printing?

How do you turn a two-dimensional sketch and turn it into a 3D shape? The answer lies in the 3D printing process.

3D printing creates a three-dimensional object by adding material to an object layer by layer until it’s fully formed.

Like an inkjet printer, the nozzle ejects a liquid that hardens to produce the desired model. Unlike a laser cutting into a solid block, the process crafts the shape from the ground up.

Facts About 3D Printing

3D printing is part of the additive manufacturing process and its roots trace back to 1945.

It wasn’t until 1971 that the 3D printing technology theory started to take shape. As the tech matured, it become more affordable and reliable. In early 2010, 3D printing went mainstream and anyone can purchase a 3D printer today.

The process goes by several names including 3D layering and stereolithography. It’s used by manufacturers to create rapid prototypes. In fact, modern manufacturers state that the current process is x10 faster and x5 times less expensive than previous options.

How Does 3D Printing Work?

Think of a 3D printer in the same way as an inkjet printer. Just as the ink builds the picture or document line by line up the page, a 3D printer creates an object in layers.

This fused depositional modelling (FDM) process takes a 3D CAD drawing and separates it into 2D prints. Instead of ink, a 3D printer deposits molten plastic or powder then fuses them together using ultraviolet light or adhesive.

Printing all of these layers takes time and the result depends on the quality of plastic used.

3D Printing Software

Computer-Aided Design or CAD enables you to create three-dimensional drawings on a computer. The software’s used to build everything from architectural designs to special FX in a movie.

A 3D printer uses a CAD file to build a real-world object. Software examples include:

• Autodesk Fusion 360
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Ultimaker Cura
• TinkerCAD

3D printing issues can occur if the CAD model is poorly designed or the hardware is substandard. Be sure to purchase a brand that produces excellent results and download CAD drawings to test it with.

Benefits of 3D Printing

3D printing isn’t just for the hobby enthusiast.

Engineering firms and industrialists can build prototypes within hours. This comes at a fraction of the cost of re-tooling their machines. The process helps create new applications from medical to educational projects.

Companies can hire a third party to process their CAD drawings off-site which cut their costs even more. And with high-speed Internet access, there are no limits to sharing and printing designs.

More 3D Printing Technology Tutorials

This article answers how does 3D printing work and the facts about 3D printing.

The technology continues to mature and can now produce real-world applications. You can purchase your own 3D printer or send a CAD file to a 3D printing service. Either way, if you can think of it you can print it!

Read more about 3D printing technology on our blog.