3D PRINTING

3D Printing

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. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced cross-section of the object.

3D printing is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing which is cutting out / hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic with for instance a milling machine.

3D printing enables you to produce complex shapes using less material than traditional manufacturing methods.

Application of 3D Printing

3D printing encompasses many forms of technologies and materials as 3D printing is being used in almost all industries you could think of. It’s important to see it as a cluster of diverse industries with a myriad of different applications.

A few examples:

• consumer products (eyewear, footwear, design, furniture)

• industrial products (manufacturing tools, prototypes, functional end-use parts)

• dental products( Teeth and jaws)

• prosthetics

• architectural scale models & maquettes

• reconstructing fossils

• replicating ancient artefacts

• Reconstructing evidence in forensic pathology

• movie props

• Biological Products (Heart or bone etc)

Here are images of some of products made by 3D printing:

Artificial Heart

Rapid Prototyping of eiffel tower

Rapid Prototyping of basket