3D printers print 3D models, using a process called additive manufacturing or AM. This process uses computer control to lay successive layers of material to build a 3D model.
If you're in the market for a home 3D printer then there's a lot to consider. Do you want single colour, dual-colour or more? Do you need a 3D scanner? Do you place a premium on maximum quality or faster printing? Physical size and weight are issues, especially if space is at a premium, and then of course there's the small matter of price.
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2. If you have decided to buy a 3D printer,
hold your horses. Here are few things that
you need to consider before diving into the
world of rapid prototyping or 3D Printing.
There are lots of options available in the
market. 3D Printers have varying
specifications which in turn cater to
different demands. To help you decide on
which printer to make your first, we have
compiled a list of important things you
need to know before you buy a 3D printer.
3. Types of 3D Printers
•Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
•Stereolithography
•Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Printer type:
There are two main types of 3D printers: FFM (fused filament
manufacturing) and SLA (stereo lithography). FFM printers
work by melting a plastic filament in a moving print head to
form the model.
4. Printing materials:
Whichever type of printer you choose, pay attention to
the type of material it can use to print. The filament
material used by FFM printers available in several
different materials, such as PLA (a brittle, biodegradable
material), ABS (the same plastic used in Lego blocks),
nylon, TPE (a soft, rubberlike material) and HDPE (a light,
tough polystyrene). Many of these materials, particularly
PLA and ABS, are available in a huge range of colors.
Filaments come in two sizes: 1.75 mm and 3 mm, which
are not interchangeable.
5. Print volume:
All printers have limits on the size of the 3D print
they can produce. That limit is defined by the size of
the print bed and how far the printer can move the
print head. This is usually measured in cubic
inches, but you should also pay attention to each of
the individual dimensions, which determine the
maximum size 3D print the device can create.
6. Print speed and quality:
3D printing is a slow business, and at
present, there's no way to get around this.
You should expect a 3- to 4-inch model to
typically take between 6 and 12 hours to
print, depending on the print quality you
select.
