What is 3D printing? -3D4ALL

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of producing solid three-dimensional objects based on digital files. A 3D object is created through an additive process. In this process the object is constructed by successively layering the material. Each of these layers can be seen as a horizontal slice of the fabricated object.

How does the 3D printing process begin?

It all starts with creating a virtual drawing of the object we want to print. The virtual project can, for example, be created in the form of a CAD (Computer Aided Design) file. From here, just a few steps are enough to transform your project into a real object.

3D printing has become a process that has gained notoriety in recent years due to the great advantages it offers.

The first reason why many choose this printing method is that it does not require molds. Making modern molds can sometimes take several weeks and is an expensive process. Furthermore, with 3D printing, an object can be made in one piece and therefore no other assembly process is necessary. Once the support material (the one that dissolves in water, acetone or D‘limonene) is deleted obwe keep the finished product.

The cost of such a service is much lower if compared only to the volume, because no other additional work and practices are necessary, so the costs are linked only to the size of the object.

The last, and probably the greatest advantage it represents, is the fact that it can create shapes that are impossible for traditional technology. Through 3D printing we can create perfectly functioning mechanisms in a single operation. Chains, gearboxes or even motors can be printers in a single technological process.

IIn what areas is it used?A 3D prototyping?

While at the start this technology was usedA Iespecially for prototyping, things have Istarted toA change. Icurrently, many PRODUCER from various fields ISI produce components, or even complete products, through 3D printing technologies. Start with the industry aerospace Until when creating medical models or implants, 3D prototyping is usedyour Ione way or another Iin almost all fields.

The 3D printing process begins with the creation of a virtual drawing or digital model of the object you wish to print.

Here are the subsequent steps that follow the initial virtual drawing, transforming the digital file into a physical object:

💻 1. Digital Modeling (The Beginning)

The entire process hinges on having a digital blueprint. This is typically created using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software, such as Fusion 360, Blender, or SolidWorks. The resulting file defines the exact dimensions, geometry, and shape of the intended physical object.

💾 2. File Conversion to STL

Once the virtual design is complete, the CAD file must be converted into a format the 3D printer can understand. The universal standard for 3D printing is the STL (STereoLithography) file format.

• An STL file describes the surface geometry of a 3D object using a collection of small interconnected triangles (a mesh). It contains no information about color, texture, or material—just the shape.

🔪 3. Slicing (The Key Step)

The STL file must then be processed by a slicer program (like Cura, PrusaSlicer, or Simplify3D). This is the crucial step where the «additive» nature of the process is planned:

• Orientation: The user orients the model on the virtual build plate.

• Settings: The user defines key parameters, including layer height, infill density, print temperature, and support material requirements.

• Slicing: The software digitally «slices» the 3D model into hundreds or thousands of individual, horizontal 2D layers.