What is 3D Printing?
Objectives and Overview
3D Printing is an innovative and quickly growing technology that is changing the landscape of our modern life. If you are interested in design or the intersection of art and technology, then 3D printing is for you! In order to get started with 3D printing, you do need a bit of background knowledge before working hands-on with the printers and that is what this session will provide. In this lesson, you will be learning what 3D printing is and a bit about how the printers work.
Lesson Objectives
- Gain a general understanding of what 3D printing is and how it can be used.
- Become familiar with different types of 3D printers.
- Identify the parts of a 3D printer and its function.
- Describe basic 3D printer maintenance and the proper way to use a 3D printer.
What is 3D Printing?
3D printing is an innovative and quickly growing technology that is changing the landscape of our modern life. If you are interested in design or the intersection of art and technology, then 3D printing is for you! In order to get started with 3D printing, you do need a bit of background knowledge before working hands-on with the printers and that is what this session will provide. In this lesson, you will be learning what 3D printing is and a bit about how the printers work.
3D Printing Demo
One way to think about 3D printing is that you’re controlling a machine that adds layers over time to create a 3D object. This is something that is best suited to a visual. Check out this video for an explanation and demonstration:
This second video shows a timelapse of the 3D printing process. You’re able to see the layer-by-layer, additive manufacturing process in action:
Parts of a 3D Printer
It all starts with the filament. The filament is the raw plastic (usually on some type of spool) that is pulled into the printer to be heated up and then converted into the model.
The filament is pulled into the machine by the extruder. Inside the extruder is a wheel with teeth that grips the filament and pulls it through. There are a few different styles of extruders, but most involve some sort of motor and gear and a toothed wheel.
The extruder then pushes the filament into the hot end of the printer. This is the part that actually heats up and melts the filament. The hot end moves around the printer and places the filament where it’s needed according to your design. Never touch the hot end when working with a printer! The temperatures typically exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit when the machine is printing.
Next Steps
Now that you have an overview of the basic mechanics behind 3D printing, it’s time to start designing for 3D printing! The next several lessons introduce the design tools you’ll use to get started with this process.