What is 3D printing in simple words?

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a method of creating a three dimensional object layer-by-layer using a computer created design. 3D printing is an additive process whereby layers of material are built up to create a 3D part.

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created.

3D printing is used to produce architectural scale models, enabling a faster turnaround of the scale model and increasing the overall speed and complexity of the objects produced.

The term "3D printing" originally referred to a process that deposits a binder material onto a powder bed with inkjet printer heads layer by layer.

The main advantages of 3D printing are realized in its Speed, Flexibility, and Cost benefits. For small production runs, prototyping, small business, and educational use, 3D printing is vastly superior to other industrial methods.

More speed – For small to medium runs of small objects, 3D printing is already faster than many methods of traditional manufacturing simply because of the time it takes to create the tooling for injection molds and casts required for traditional manufacturing.

plastic

Out of all the raw materials for 3D printing in use today, plastic is the most common. Plastic is one of the most diverse materials for 3D-printed toys and household fixtures.

3D printing can cost anywhere from $3 up to thousands of dollars. It's hard to get the exact cost of a 3D print without a 3D model. Factors such as material, model complexity, and labor affect the price of 3D printing. 3D printing services can sometimes cost more than an entry level 3D printer.

3Dirigo

“The largest solid 3D printed object measures 2.06 m³ (72.78 ft³) of 3D printed material, and was made by the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (USA) in Orono, Maine, USA, on 10 October 2019. The boat is named 3Dirigo, after the state of Maine's motto, 'Dirigo'.”

Among the items made with 3D printers are shoe designs, furniture, wax castings for making jewelry, tools, tripods, gift and novelty items, and toys. The automotive and aviation industries use 3D printers to make parts. Artists can create sculptures, and architects can fabricate models of their projects.

And yes, some 3D printers do allow for the creation of sweets, pastries, chocolates, pizzas and dishes of all kinds. A food 3D printer offers more freedom and creativity in the kitchen and in some cases, can even reduce food waste.

Producing garments and accessories made to measure are made possible thanks to 3D printing. 3D printing could also totally help to create clothes adapted to the movement of all bodies! 3D printing is not only a manufacturing method for haute couture creations anymore.

When printing plastics, 3D-printer nozzles heat the material to its melting point as it comes out the tip, and the plastic later hardens. That process can work for some foods, such as chocolate, but not for others, such as peanut butter or cream cheese.

You can 3D print directly onto a t-shirt with your home printer using standard PLA, ABS or other regular filament.

On average, 3D printing an object can take anywhere from 30 minutes up to 12 hours to print. Sometimes, it can even take several days depending on how large and detailed your 3D model is.

How long does it take to create a 3D garment? This can range from 2 minutes for a simple t-shirt, to 2 hours for a complex jacket.