3D printing specialist job


3D printing technician | Explore careers

How to become a 3D printing technician

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or a degree in a relevant subject like:

  • 3D design
  • product design
  • engineering
  • materials science
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information

College

You could take a course in creative design, model making or engineering. This could help you to find a job with a manufacturing or 3D printing company. Courses include:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Computer Aided Design
  • Level 3 Award in 3D Computer Aided Design
  • Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Technology
  • T Level in Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and computing
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level
More Information

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

  • Lean manufacturing operative intermediate apprenticeship
  • Digital engineering advanced apprenticeship
  • Engineering technician - product design and development advanced apprenticeship
    • Entry requirements

      You'll usually need:

      • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
      • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
      More Information

      Work

      You may be able to start as an assistant in a 3D print workshop and take training on the job to become a technician. Skills and qualifications in manufacturing, model making, printing, technology or design will be useful.

      More Information

      Career tips

      Learn more about the basics of 3D printing.

      Further information

      You can get details about working in 3D printing and design engineering from the British Printing Industries Federation and Neon.

      What it takes

      Skills and knowledge

      You'll need:

      • knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
      • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
      • knowledge of engineering science and technology
      • the ability to operate and control equipment
      • analytical thinking skills
      • the ability to work well with others
      • the ability to analyse quality or performance
      • knowledge of maths
      • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

      What you'll do

      Day-to-day tasks

      In your day-to-day duties you may:

      • create estimates and quotes for parts and materials
      • set up machines and schedule print jobs
      • create digital models and prototypes based on customer requirements
      • operate 3D scanning and printing machinery
      • clean, sand, polish or apply finishes to products
      • inspect products to check quality
      • pack items for delivery and update paperwork
      • service and repair equipment

      Working environment

      You could work at a manufacturing plant, in a factory or at a research facility.

      Your working environment may be noisy.

      You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

      Career path and progression

      You could move into research, investigating new materials for use in 3D printing and how to make them commercially workable. You could also train to work in 3D printing software and hardware development.

      You might work for a company that specialises in printing particular items, for example custom-made prosthetics, construction prototypes, or models of archaeological remains and historical buildings.

      There are also opportunities in print equipment sales and training.

      Current opportunities

      Apprenticeships In England

      Production Operative Apprentice
      • Wage: £11,440. 00 Annually
      • Location: Austin Way, Great Barr
      Multi-skilled Manufacturing Apprentice
      • Wage: £11,440.00 Annually
      • Location: HOLMEWOOD, CHESTERFIELD

      Find apprenticeships near you

      Courses In England

      2D Computer Aided Design (CAD) Award
      • Provider: SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE
      • Start date: 31 January 2023
      • Location: Paignton
      Computer Aided Design - Level 2 Award
      • Provider: Capital City College Group
      • Start date: 03 January 2023
      • Location: London

      Find courses near you

      Jobs In the United Kingdom

      The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

      Profession 3D printing technician

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      3D Printing technicians assist in the designing and programming of products, ranging from prosthetic products to 3D miniatures. They may also provide 3D printing maintenance, check 3D renders for customers and run 3D printing tests. 3D printing technicians can also repair, maintain and clean 3D printers.

      Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

      3D printing technician Jobs: Open positions

      Find the job of your dreams on Talent.com, one of the largest job sites worldwide.

      Job postings: talent. com

      Personality Type

      • Realistic / Conventional
      • Realistic / Investigative
      • Artistic / Realistic

      Knowledge

      • Printing techniques

        The techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.

      • Printing on large scale machines

        Methods, processes, and restrictions related to printing on machines that produce large quantities and sizes of graphic print materials.

      • 3D printing process

        The process of reproducing 3D objects by using 3D printing technologies.

      • Maintenance and repair

        The preservation and restoration of products and systems, and the methods and logistics of these practices.

      • Printing materials

        The materials, such as paper, film, metal foils, and glass, on which texts or designs can be transferred by applying ink through direct pressure or with intermediate rollers.

      • CAD software

        The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.

      • Maintenance of printing machines

        Upkeep procedures and technical working of machines that produce printed graphical material.

      • ICT software specifications

        The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.

      • 3D modelling

        The process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of an object via specialised software. The product is called a 3D model. It can be displayed as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering or used in a computer simulation of physical phenomena. The model can also be physically created using 3D printing devices.

      Skills

      • Use technical drawing software

        Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.

      • Operate 3D computer graphics software

        Use graphical ICT tools, such as Autodesk Maya, Blender which enable digital editing, modelling, rendering and composition of graphics. These tools are based in mathematical representation of three-dimensional objects.

      • Use CAD software

        Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.

      • Adjust engineering designs

        Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.

      • Create solutions to problems

        Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.

      • Identify customer's needs

        Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.

      • Draft design specifications

        List the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.

      • Operate printing machinery

        Operate machinery for various types of printed documents, adjusting the font, paper size, and weight. This allows ascenders and descenders to be correctly placed.

      • Advise client on technical possibilities

        Recommend technical solutions, including systems, to the client within the framework of a project.

      Optional knowledge and skills

      design principles clean equipment technical drawings determine suitability of materials product comprehension cadd software create technical plans mechanics blueprints prosthetic devices manufacturing processes use manual draughting techniques industrial engineering manual draughting techniques design drawings monitor manufacturing quality standards calculate materials mathematics design prototypes

      Source: Sisyphus ODB

      where to study, where to work, salary

      Updated

      3D printing engineer is engaged in technical support, work with equipment, software, creation of 3D models. A specialist needs to have deep knowledge of engineering, programming, and mathematics. The profession is referred to the specialties of the future. By the way, the ProfGid career guidance center has recently developed an accurate career guidance test that will tell you which professions suit you, give an opinion about your personality type and intelligence. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in physics and mathematics (see. choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

      Content:

      • Short description
      • Features of the profession
      • Plus and minuses
        • Plus
        • Minuses
      • Important personal qualities
      • PROMICATION
      • 9001
      • Salary
      • 3d printing engineer salary as of October 2022
      • Professional knowledge
      • Examples of companies with 3d printing engineer vacancies

      Brief description

      The profession of a 3D printing engineer has appeared quite recently, but its value and social significance cannot be underestimated. With the help of 3D printing, unique products used in medicine and industry are already being created today. Mathematicians and engineers are constantly developing more advanced technologies that make it possible to create blanks, anatomical models, souvenirs, houses, prostheses using this type of printing. And printers used for printing with biomaterials make it possible to create human skin, which has become a breakthrough in the treatment of wounds, injuries, and acceleration of the rehabilitation period.

      Read also :

      Complete control over 3D printing is carried out by an engineer who is an excellent programmer, technologist, biologist and even a chemist, because the profession forces him to know the composition and properties of different materials well. To work in this area, you must have a technical education, attending IT courses, lectures on modeling will be a plus. A specialist must be able to independently design a 3D model, select the necessary materials, calculate all the risks, and then print, creating products for the field of medicine, aviation, industry, etc.

      Occupation specifics

      3D printing engineers use different materials for their work, computer programs and industrial 3D printers. Today, medical centers, industrial, aerospace, engineering and other industries need these specialists. There are few specialists, their work cannot be called simple, because the duties of a 3D printing engineer include:

      • selection of new materials, testing;
      • using modern software to improve and adjust 3D printer settings;
      • preparation of layouts, development of raster images for subsequent printing;
      • full print control;
      • study of new technologies;
      • knowledge of certification rules, requirements that are put forward for 3D models and finished products;
      • documentation development, software debugging;
      • selection of new equipment, training of other employees;
      • equipment maintenance.

      Responsibilities vary by location, but a 3D Printing Engineer must be a multi-skilled professional who is ready to quickly learn new technologies at any time and then successfully apply them in practice. Employers put forward strict requirements for engineers, because the wages of such specialists are solid. They must have at least 3 years of practical work experience, the obligatory knowledge of a technical foreign language is important. A 3D printing engineer must know the basics of economics and marketing, because his duties include optimizing workflows aimed at reducing the cost and speed of printing.

      Read also:

      Pluses and minuses

      Pluses
      1. An important profession that will help save millions of lives in the future, improve the environment, and allow the rational use of natural resources.
      2. 3D printing engineers are unique specialists today.
      3. Demand in various fields.
      4. A specialist will have no problems finding a job in megacities.
      5. The salary is stable and high.
      6. An experienced engineer will be able to open his own production for the manufacture of souvenirs or other products.
      7. You can study in Russia by enrolling in a technical university.
      8. Lack of physical activity.
      Cons
      1. Working sedentary, but not monotonous.
      2. Irregular working hours, because the creation of a large product can last for more than 5 hours.
      3. The cost of industrial 3D printers is high, so in order to organize your own production, you need to think about starting capital or finding an investor.
      4. Any mistakes made by a 3D printing engineer are associated with huge financial losses.
      5. Difficulties with finding work in small towns and villages.
      6. Work at the computer leads to a decrease in vision.

      Important Personal Qualities

      A 3D Printing Engineer has a lot of professional knowledge, so he must be an erudite person with an excellent memory. The character of this rare specialist should contain responsibility, curiosity, and creativity. An engineer is obliged to constantly study, a craving for both the exact sciences and linguistics is welcomed, because most of the instructions, books and technical documentation are still being created mainly in foreign languages.

      See also:

      3D printing engineer training

      Universities

      • 4 years

        220,000 ₽/year

        15 budget places

      • 4 years

        48,500 ₽/year

        12 budget places

      • 36 200 ₽/year

        25 budget places

      • 4 years

        200,000 ₽/year

        25 budget places

      See also:

      Place of work

      3D printing engineers will be able to work in agencies engaged in the production of consumer goods. They are in demand in architectural companies, factories, medical centers and nanolaboratories, clothing design and manufacturing agencies. 3D printing is used in all spheres of our life, so a young university graduate will be able to choose an interesting and useful direction.

      Salary

      3d printing engineer salary for October 2022

      Salary information provided by hh.ru portal.

      Russia 30000—100000₽

      Moscow 70000—180000₽

      Professional knowledge

      1. 3D printing technologies (SLA, FDM and others).
      2. 3D modeling.
      3. 3D printing materials (PLA, ABS and others).
      4. Slicers for preparing for 3D printing, working with software (Autodesk 3ds Max, SolidWorks, Autodesk 123D Design and others).
      5. Knowledge of the specifics of different models of equipment.
      6. Features of processing printed 3D models.
      7. English.

      Read also:

      Examples of companies with engineer vacancies 3D prints

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      Why you will like it here

      The Top 3D Shop team brought together people with experience in large international companies who understand how to make a quality product. A feature of our corporate culture is a high degree of openness and trust within the team, the ability to value ideas based on their usefulness, and not the age and status of the person who proposes them.

      The company grows because the team solves the most ambitious tasks and is not afraid to take on difficult challenges. For its part, Top 3D Shop offers the best conditions on the market, including opportunities for rapid career growth and decent wages.

      Our conditions

      Best training programs


      High level corporate training: online and offline trainings on leadership, corporate culture, products and business processes.

      Close-knit team


      No random people - only professionals. Plus - a community where you can always get support.

      Participation in conferences


      Russian and international exhibitions, conferences and seminars are open to you. Extensive opportunities for the exchange of experience and access to technological innovations and up-to-date knowledge of the industry.

      The widest product portfolio


      We work with customers from such areas as automotive, medicine, design and advertising, dentistry, construction, aerospace, military and food industries.

      Comfortable office


      Cozy offices in Moscow (5 minutes from Alekseevskaya metro station) and St. Petersburg (5 minutes from Frunzenskaya metro station).

      Comfortable workplace


      Modern technology and everything you need for successful work is already waiting for you in Top 3D Shop.

      Food and recreation


      You can have a snack in a separate kitchen, where there is always tea and fruit, and have lunch in an inexpensive canteen on the territory of the office.

      Free English


      For experienced employees.

      Corporate events and sports


      We communicate informally and have fun at boring corporate parties, we hold team competitions in football, volleyball and basketball.

      Decent pay


      Everyone answers the question where he wants to be in a year and goes to this goal together with the team. Payments without delay. Interesting bonuses.

      Rapid professional growth


      Gaining new knowledge and competencies opens up opportunities for rapid career growth for any team member.

      VHI after probation


      Including dental services and sick pay.

      Social responsibility


      Financial assistance, gift certificate for the birth of a child, travel allowance.

      Loan from the company


      On favorable terms for employees with experience

      Don't take our word for it, look at the company through the eyes of the team

      Vyacheslav Nigamedzyanov

      Dealer Relations Manager

      Good, clean office. Friendly colleagues, good management. The pay system is clear.

      Malakhovsky Evgeny

      Sales manager prof. equipment

      Interesting work in a friendly team. Continuous development of your skills and knowledge. Decent pay.

      Larionov Alexander

      Service engineer of the service department

      Young and close-knit team, excellent communication between departments. Completely satisfied!

      Be part of a great story

      Custom projects

      Professionals

      Outstanding results

      Vacancies

      If you are close to responsibility, diligence, adequacy and thirst for new knowledge - we will be happy to consider your candidacy for one of the open vacancies below.


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