3D printing is a modern technology that has revolutionized the way we manufacture products. The main advantage of this technology is that it allows you to print anything you want, from small parts to full-size objects. You can do it at home or upload your design online and get it printed by someone else.
3D printing is used for making prototypes and concept models, but also for manufacturing parts, such as medical implants, airplane parts or other complex items.
The process of 3D printing starts with a digital file that contains the instructions for creating an object from scratch. This file can be created in any CAD software program like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. The file contains information about the shape of the object and how it should be built up layer by layer.
Once you have your digital file ready, all you need to do is send it to a 3D printer which will use this data and create your model layer by layer using plastic or metal powder.
There are many advantages to consumer 3D printing:
No shipping involved: When you make something on your own computer and then send it to a factory, you don’t have to worry about shipping costs or waiting for your product to arrive.
Lower cost: Because consumer 3D printers only use plastic, they are not as expensive as industrial machines that use metal or ceramic materials. This means that consumers can get started with their own machine for less than $1,000 while industrial machines can cost thousands of dollars each.
Accessibility: A couple years ago, if you wanted to produce anything in 3D form, you had to pay someone else to do it for you — but now anyone with access to an affordable consumer 3D printer can create objects in their own home or office. This is especially true since there are so many free designs available online from different websites like Thingiverse and MyMiniFactory.com where people upload their free designs for others to download and print at home .