Desktop 3D Printers

Definition

the formal definition of 3D printing, or “additive manufacturing” as defined by the ASTM International Committee F42 on Additive Manufacturing Technologies3 as,

“process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies.”

Source: ASTM F2792-10 Standard Terminology for Additive Manufacturing Technologies

Description

Hod Lipson and Melba Kurman:

"3D printers use as an additive process, meaning they make objects by systematically depositing a chosen raw material in layers. Somewhat similar in concept to that of an inkjet printer that orchestrates different colored print cartridges to form an image onto paper, the most common household 3D printing process involves a “print head” that works with any material that can be extruded, or squirted through a nozzle. Another common type of 3D printer uses a laser beam or glue to selectively fuse powdered plastic, metal, or ceramic raw material in layers." (http://web.mae.cornell.edu/lipson/FactoryAtHome.pdf)

How-To

"The 3D printing process works as follows. Once the user has selected an electronic design blueprint and loaded up the raw materials into the 3D printer, the machine begins its work. In a process that can take several hours to days, the 3D print head deposits layer upon layer of tiny droplets of raw material to form the object. Depending on the complexity of the design, the machine is able to switch between different print heads to work with multiple materials and form shapes with a number of colors and diverse textures. Eventually, after countless back-and-forth sweeps, a three-dimensional object forms out of raw material."

Advantages

'3D printers appeal to artists and designers since their unique layer-upon-layer production process enables creative people to precisely fabricate imaginative and unusual objects, according to exact blueprint specifications. 3D printers are clean, meaning since their manufacturing process does not involve cutting, scraping, or burning a raw material, they produce very little manufacturing waste, or un-used byproduct. Due to their precision and versatility, 3D printers are already in use in industry for industrial modeling, product or part visualization, and prototyping."