What is 3D Printing ?

Those days are gone when we use to print only two-dimensional objects like a text on a paper or an image on a paper.Nowadays we have got the technology that allows us to create three-dimensional Objects, and this technology is none other than the revolutionary 3D printing.

Marker Bot- A 3D Printer

3D printing is a part of a process known as Additive Manufacturing that deals with the creation of three-dimensional objects from a digital file where the solid object is created by a successive layer of the material and this layering technique keeps on going until the complete object is created.3D printing has already changed the way we print objects from tools to toys, clothing and even body parts.Additive Manufacturing helps and allows designers to create complex objects at a fraction of the cost and much faster when compared to normal designing techniques.

Steps involved in the creation of Objects using 3D Printer:

• The first step is to create a blueprint of the object or the design that we want to print, there are modeling software such as Blender, 3D slash, Google SketchUp is good for beginners that can be used for creating a model and also there are many websites namely Thingiverse and Shapeways that provides a list of the designs that have been created by other people and that helps an individual in creation of their own design.


• Once the 3D model is ready the next step is to convert the CAD drawing file into file formats that have been developed for 3D printing, some common formats are STL, Standard tessellation language, ZPR by Z Corporation and objDF by Object Geometrics.


• After the conversion is completed the next step is to provide the file to the 3D printer, each machine has its own requirements and process, how to initiate the Print Job.Unlike normal printers where we input ink as the printing material here in 3D printers, plastic materials are used whose layering creates an Object.


• Now the building process will be started by the Machine itself where the printing material will be first melted and then the layering process will be initiated by the 3D printer itself and the layering process will be continued until the given design gets created.During the Building process makes sure to keep any eye on the process to make sure there is no error or interrupts.


• The Point here to notice is that the whole creation process depends on the model that is been given to the machine if the model is simple the object creation will be faster, but if the given model is complex the creation time can take hours and sometimes days as well.


• Once the Object creation is completed remove the printed object from the machine and make sure to take safety measures to avoid any type of injuries as wearing gloves to protect yourself from the hot surface and toxic chemicals.


• Now After the removal of printed object make sure to clean up the machine as there might be remaining powder on the surface and also some Printed Object requires cleaning with water so make sure to take precautions while doing so as the Object might be weak and can get broken.


• Now all the steps have been completed successfully now you can use your newly printed object in the real world.

Possibilities of 3D printing:

• Possibilities are endless in the case of 3D printing, using 3D printing we can create toys, tools, can create clothes. There is a buzz in the field of 3D printing is that doctors are trying to create small body parts by using the cells of human beings like human ear and noses, Some Surgeon has even tried transplantation using 3D printed organs,3D printing food is becoming very popular.

3D Printed Ear

• In china, there was a news about a giant 3D printer that created 10 houses in a single day at a cost of 5000$ per house.   

• Recently there was a news about BMW that the company has invested in one of the startups named "Desktop Metal" as they are working on 3D printing technology, and BMW believes that 3D printing is much more than just using the plastic material for creating normal objects and can really contribute to the automobile industry as well.

3D Printed Objects

3D printing has surely been a revolution and I am pretty sure in near future we will be seeing a lot more implementation of 3D printing in almost every field. I Hope this article has given you guys an insight to this awesome technology and now you guys are aware of the potential of 3D printing.You can almost print anything just create a model of your imagination and give it to the 3D printer and see how your imagination become a reality.

Source: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/3-d-printing4.htm and YouTube