3D printing

Extracted Attributes

• Inventor

  Chuck Hull

• Invention Era

  1980s

• Alternative Name

  Additive manufacturing

• Common File Formats

  STL, OBJ, 3MF

• Most Common Process

  Fused deposition modeling (FDM)

• Projected Market Size

  $41 billion by 2026

Timeline

• 3D printing technology is invented by Chuck Hull, initially utilized primarily for rapid prototyping. (Source: Web Search (Department of Energy) & Wikipedia)

  1980-01-01

• The precision, repeatability, and material range of 3D printing increase to the point of viability as an industrial-production technology. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2019-01-01

• Fused deposition modeling (FDM) becomes the most common 3D printing process in use. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2020-01-01

• The global 3D printing market is forecasted to reach $41 billion. (Source: Web Search (3D Printing Industry))

  2026-12-31

3D printing

3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer control, with the material being added together (e.g. plastics, liquids, or powder grains being fused), typically layer by layer. In the 1980s, 3D printing techniques were considered suitable only for the production of functional or aesthetic prototypes, and a more appropriate term for it at the time was rapid prototyping. As of 2019, the precision, repeatability, and material range of 3D printing have increased to the point that some 3D printing processes are considered viable as an industrial-production technology; in this context, the term additive manufacturing can be used synonymously with 3D printing. One of the key advantages of 3D printing is the ability to produce very complex shapes or geometries that would be otherwise infeasible to construct by hand, including hollow parts or parts with internal truss structures to reduce weight while creating less material waste. Fused deposition modeling (FDM), which uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material, is the most common 3D printing process in use as of 2020.

Web Search Results

• 3D Printing Advantages: 10 Benefits of 3D Printing Technology – Raise3D: Reliable, Industrial Grade 3D Printer

  Complex Geometries and Lattices: Intricate designs, which would have been nearly impossible or prohibitively expensive with conventional manufacturing methods, are now feasible. For instance, aerospace and automotive industries can create components with complex lattices without compromising strength. Internal Cavities and Voids: The 3D printing process can create objects with internal cavities and voids, essential for specific applications, especially in medical care, such as implants or prostheses. Customization and Personalization: The term ‘mass customization’ truly comes to life with 3D printing. The possibilities are vast, whether personalized consumer goods or tailored medical devices suited to an individual’s anatomy. [...] Reading Time: 10 Minutes One can’t help but be mesmerized by the numerous advantages that 3D printing technology brings. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the facets of 3D printing that have revolutionized industries, streamlined manufacturing processes, and provided unprecedented design freedom. Welcome to the future of creation and production. 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process where a three-dimensional object is crafted layer by layer, following a digital model. Since the 1980s, 3D printing manufacturing technologies have undergone immense advancements. [...] From prototyping to the production of final components, 3D printing offers design freedom, reduces material waste, and accelerates the product development cycle. Furthermore, it allows mass customization, enabling car manufacturers to tailor vehicles according to customer preferences without significantly altering the production process. ### What are the Implications of 3D Printing in Aerospace? In an industry where precision, strength, and weight are paramount, 3D printing has emerged as a game-changer. Aerospace companies leverage 3D printing to produce lightweight structures, reducing the overall weight of aircraft and enhancing fuel efficiency. The ability to print complex geometries also means fewer assemblies, leading to more reliable parts with fewer points of failure.

• 3D Printing Guide: Types of 3D Printers, Materials, and Applications | Formlabs

  SLS 3D printers use a high-power laser to sinter small particles of polymer powder into a solid structure. The unfused powder supports the part during printing and eliminates the need for dedicated support structures. This makes SLS ideal for complex geometries, including interior features, undercuts, thin walls, and negative features. Parts produced with SLS 3D printing have excellent mechanical characteristics, with strength resembling that of injection-molded parts. [...] While 3D printing technologies have been around since the 1980s, recent advances in machinery, materials, and software have made 3D printing accessible to a wider range of businesses, enabling more and more companies to use tools previously limited to a few high-tech industries. Today, low-cost desktop 3D printers are widely used by hobbyists, while professional 3D printers accelerate innovation and support businesses in various industries, including engineering, manufacturing, dentistry, healthcare, education, entertainment, jewelry, and audiology. ## How Does 3D Printing Work? [...] #### 1. Design PreForm 3D slicer software for 3D printing 3D printers create parts from three-dimensional models, the mathematical representations of any three-dimensional surface created using computer-aided design (CAD) software or developed from 3D scan data. For 3D printing, the design needs to be exported as a file that's readable by 3D print preparation — also known as 3D slicer — software: STL is the classic (mesh of triangles), OBJ supports colors and materials, and 3MF is a modern, compact format with richer metadata.

• What is 3D Printing? - 3D Printing @ Pendergrass - Research Guides at University of Tennessee Knoxville

  3D printers can also be used to fabricate replacement parts for household items that break. All one needs is a 3D model of the part, or for those with design skills, you can make your own using 3D modeling applications. An alternative to using 3D modeling applications is to utilize a 3D scanner to scan an object and then print it from the resulting file. Next: Submit a 3D Print Request >> Last Updated: Sep 4, 2025 5:06 PM URL: Print Page;) Login to LibApps Report a problem Tags: 3d printing 3d printer 3d makerspace pendergrass 3d printer rapid prototyping university of tennessee 3d printing [...] If you are developing a new product, you can use a 3D printer to take advantage of the process called rapid prototyping, which allows designers to create as many different iterations of an object as necessary to get the dimensions and form correct before going to production. Full production of an object usually involves the costly process of creating dies and tools or utilizing manufacturing processes such as milling, forging, and/or casting. With 3D printing, these costs are greatly reduced because the 3D print material is cheaper by comparison and allows the designer to perfect the object before going to the production phase. If changes are made to a design after dies, tools, or other manufacturing implements are fabricated, they must be abandoned and new ones created adding to the [...] How does it work? 3D printers work by making use of 3D design files, such as those created in AutoCAD or similar applications. These files are processed by specialized software that slices the data into cross sections to create a gcode file. The printer uses the gcode to build the desired object from the bottom up one layer at a time. Pendergrass’ printers use the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process, which utilizes thermoplastics in filament form. This filament is fed to a nozzle that heats the plastic to its melting point and then extrudes the material onto the build surface according to instructions from the gcode.

• How 3D Printers Work | Department of Energy

  3D printing has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing, allowing companies (and individuals) to design and produce products in new ways while also reducing material waste, saving energy and shortening the time needed to bring products to market. #### What is 3D printing? First invented in the 1980s by Chuck Hull, an engineer and physicist, 3D printing technology has come a long way. Also called additive manufacturing, 3D printing is the process of making an object by depositing material, one tiny layer at a time.

• What is 3D printing? How does a 3D printer work? Learn 3D printing

  When your file is sliced, it’s ready for your 3D printer. Feeding the file to your printer can be done via USB, SD or Wi-Fi. Your sliced file is now ready to be 3D printed layer by layer. ## 3D Printing Industry Adoption of 3D printing has reached critical mass as those who have yet to integrate additive manufacturing somewhere in their supply chain are now part of an ever-shrinking minority. Where 3D printing was only suitable for prototyping and one-off manufacturing in the early stages, it is now rapidly transforming into a production technology. Most of the current demand for 3D printing is industrial in nature. Acumen Research and Consulting forecasts the global 3D printing market to reach $41 billion by 2026. [...] qidi # What is 3D Printing? # What is 3D Printing? 3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional 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. There is one exception though, and it’s called volumetric 3D printing. With volumetric printing entire structures can be formed at once without the need for layer-by-layer fabrication. It’s worth noting, however, that as of now, volumetric technology is primarily in the research phase. [...] require no polishing or post-processing of any kind. The focal areas can also be completely customized so that a certain area of the lens can provide better clarity at a distance while a different area of the lens provides better vision up close.

• Image

  

• Instance Of

  Q1408286