Book 3d printing


The 8 Best 3D Printing Books in 2021 (Including Introductions to 3D Printing)

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best 3D printing books 2021. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The best place to really dig in deep about a subject is a book. If 3D printing has piqued your interest, our lineup of the best 3D printing books will help wrap your head around this concept, teach you to apply it to everyday work, and learn helpful hints, tips, and tricks.

Books on 3D printing are an excellent foray into the world of additive manufacturing

At first glance, 3D printing (or additive manufacturing) can be an intimidating field to get into. The intersection of science, technology, and mathematics may appear to be overwhelming, but with the right resources and tools, anyone who’s serious about learning the inner workings of 3D printing can.

What is 3D printing?

It may sound like a futuristic practice, but 3D printing has been around since the ’80s. In essence, 3D printing is the art and science of producing tangible materials, models, and objects out of digital files on a 3D printer. There are a lot of moving parts that go into it between the creation of the files, the uploading of them, and the actual printing and implementing of the object.

This method can be used in numerous applications, from at-home science projects or creating a jamb for a door to constructing artificial organs in the medical field or building parts for the aircraft industry. The beauty of additive manufacturing is that it can be adapted for both minuscule projects and large-scale inventions, and many industries are beginning to understand this. In fact, one survey found that nearly 75% of those who participated are looking to invest in 3D printing in 2021. If you’re curious about how things work in this sector, these books are a great place for getting started or brushing up on your knowledge about all-things printers, filaments, software, and uses.

Thomas’ Top Picks for the Best 3D Printing Books

Whether you’re just starting out in the world of 3D printing or are familiar with the processes and endless breadth of projects, these books will provide inspiration, instructions, and important details.

  • Best 3D Printing Book for Troubleshooting3D Printing Failures
  • Best General 3D Printing GuideThe 3D Printing Handbook
  • Best 3D Printing Book for Everyday ObjectsFunctional Design for 3D Printing
  • Best 3D Printing Book for Kids3D Printing Projects
  • Best 3D Printing Book for BeginnersGetting Started with 3D Printing
  • Best 3D Printing Book for EssentialsThe Zombie Apocalypse Guide to 3D Printing
  • Best Introductory 3D Printing Book3D Printing: An Introduction
  • Best 3D Printing Book for Learning SoftwareFusion 360 for Makers

Browse through our selection of the best 3D printing books to kickstart your journey to learning about this fascinating science.

1. Best 3D Printing Book for Troubleshooting—

3D Printing Failures

The best way to learn is through mistakes, whether you’re the one making them or you have the privilege to learn from someone else’s. In 3D Printing Failures: How to Diagnose and Repair All Desktop 3D Printing Issues, the author, Sean Aranda, delves into problems you may run into with materials or the machinery itself. This is an update from the original version and includes seven new chapters that are more relevant to today’s 3D printing processes and conundrums. “While it is geared primarily to newbies to 3D printing, I found material helpful to me and my three years of experience,” wrote one happy reviewer.

BUY NOW:

$18.99, Amazon

2. Best General 3D Printing Guide—

The 3D Printing Handbook

The pages of The 3D Printing Handbook: Technologies, Design and Applications by Ben Redwood, Filemon Schöffer, and Brian Garret pulls insight from additive manufacturing experts and forms it into digestible chapters. It goes into detail about how the equipment works, how to choose the right technology for your specified sector or projects, and outlines industry standards. It’s a great read for those who have a background in 3D printing, but with a bit of dedicated attention, beginners can utilize this book, too. “If you need an all-in-one guide on 3D printing as a whole, this is an invaluable resource,” described one customer.

BUY NOW:

$32, Amazon

3. Best 3D Printing Book for Everyday Objects—

Functional Design for 3D Printing

For knowledgable hobbyists, or those further along in their additive manufacturing careers, there is plenty of useful information in Clifford T Smyth’s Functional Design for 3D Printing: Designing 3D Printed Things for Everyday Use. It provides readers with techniques and guidance on how to configure different materials, set up proper support structures, improve workflow, and handle concerns surrounding problems like warping and adhesion. This third edition has not only expanded textually, but it has included additional instructive illustrations. “This book hits the middle ground just right,” explained one buyer. “It focuses on pragmatic advice for designing useful parts that are strong enough to work in real-world applications.”

BUY NOW:

$22.95, Amazon

4. Best 3D Printing Books for Kids—

3D Printing Projects

If you have the equipment at the ready but are unsure where to start, the compilation of ideas and tutorials in 3D Printing Projects by DK is the perfect place to start. While it’s ideal for kids and teens who are testing the waters with 3D printing, it’s a fantastic resource for adults who are just breaking in, too. Of the projects listed, you’ll find guidance on how to make desk caddies, phone stands, and even fridge magnets to try your hand at 3D printing. The book also offers a nice overview of the topic, a glossary of terms, and some light reading on troubleshooting. “My teen boys and I are working our way through the projects and having so much fun,” wrote one customer. “There is plenty of room for adding your own artistic flair to each project and my boys are really proud of their creations.”

BUY NOW:

$12.73, Amazon

5. Best 3D Printing Book for Beginners—

Getting Started with 3D Printing

Getting Started with 3D Printing: A Hands-on Guide to the Hardware, Software, and Services Behind the New Manufacturing Revolution provides a basic yet comprehensive blueprint for people who are easing their way into this science. In the book, authors Liza Wallach Kloski and Nick Kloski discuss the history as well as the supplies and tools needed. It also offers guidance on how to select the right materials and technology (i.e. the printers and filaments) that’ll suit you and your needs best. The book also contains a few project tutorials to start out with. “This book covers everything and helped me a lot when I couldn't figure out how to fix my prints,” wrote one beginner. “I'm not very tech-savvy and found other books harder to follow. I found this book the easiest to understand.”

BUY NOW:

$13.99, Amazon

6. Best 3D Printing Book for Essentials—

The Zombie Apocalypse Guide to 3D Printing

It’s hard not to be intrigued by the title of this guide to 3D printing, another book written by Clifford T Smyth. While the subjects may seem incongruent, the context of The Zombie Apocalypse Guide to 3D Printing: Designing and Printing Practical Objects makes sense; it gives an in-depth guide to being as self-sufficient as possible with a 3D printer. While you’ll learn how to make certain objects, it takes a more interesting angle. It’ll teach you how to make replacement parts, items, and hardware that fit in certain spaces (like bolts and jambs), and integrate 3D printed prototypes into already existing objects. “It covers expert topics… and the ‘Appendices’ are actually full-blown chapters, with more examples of how to meet your design constraints,” wrote one reviewer. “It's a solid handbook to mark up and keep by your printer.”

BUY NOW:

from $14.99, Amazon

7. Best Introductory 3D Printing Book—

3D Printing: An Introduction

To stay on track and set yourself up for success, you’ll want to turn to 3D Printing: An Introduction by Stephanie and Jonathan Torta. Not only does it present you with the history and basic parts of a 3D printing configuration, but it’ll lead you in setting up your printer and how to get started without relying solely on beginner’s luck. The chapters also contain tips on avoiding mistakes and fixing mishaps, how to follow safety protocols, and how to start the actual printing procedure. “I found the book so helpful that I marked off several pages for quick reference,” wrote one customer. “I was able to follow the steps in the book to start printing some real decent quality models.”

BUY NOW:

$34.04, Amazon

8. Best 3D Printing Book for Learning Software—

Fusion 360 for Makers

Fusion 360 for Makers: Design Your Own Digital Models for 3D Printing and CNC Fabrication gifts readers with a detailed look at this popular program that many turn to for their 3D printers and other computer numerical control machinery. The author, Lydia Sloan Cline, is a teacher on the subject and has authored eight other books in a similar vein, and many reviewers found her writing to be easy to implement. Aside from the projects in the book, readers will be educated on how to solve problems, apply this tech in a real-life work environment, and get a well-rounded grasp on understanding the software. “Excellent primer on getting up to speed with Fusion 360,” wrote one happy consumer. “Combined with the many online tutorials, it makes the program approachable.”

BUY NOW:

$18.59, Amazon

Best 3D printing Books 2021—Summary

No matter where you are in your 3D printing career or passion project, there’s a book out there to help. Beginners will enjoy Getting Started with 3D Printing while those further along will appreciate the brush up that Functional Design for 3D Printing provides. We hope our review of the best 3D printing books has been helpful. For more similar suppliers, including suppliers of plastic filaments, direct energy deposition additive manufacturing, and 3D photographic printing, consult our additional guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

*Prices listed in this article were as shown on Amazon.com as of April, 2021.

Sources

  • https://amfg.ai/industrial-applications-of-3d-printing-the-ultimate-guide/
  • https://3dinsider.com/3d-printing-history/
  • https://www.designnews.com/automation/predictions-future-3d-printing

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The 3D printing books you should read this year!

Published on April 22, 2021 by Carlota V.

Today is World Book Day and so we thought there was no better occasion to present to you some of the must-read books about 3D printing, updated for 2021. From a fictional children’s story to designing your first 3D printable model, everyone should be able to find some insightful knowledge about a 3D printing topic of interest. We made sure to cover books for all levels (and ages!) so take a look and see what takes your fancy!

Children’s Books

Peter And Pablo The Printer: Adventures In Making The Future

Together with Peter, who received a 3D printer as a gift from his father, children can playfully discover the value and potential impact of the technology. Pablo the Printer can print Peter not only all the toys he wants, but also his new best friend, the blue dog Rocky. However, Peter also learns that although Pablo can print anything, he shouldn’t print everything. Even though technology has brought us amazing things, it will not be able to replace social interaction and communication in the modern world.

 

‘Build a Better Book’ Project

Build a Better Book from the University of Colorado Boulder is a project about the collaboration between schools and library maker spaces to develop and produce integrative media for children and young people, such as picture books, games and graphics. Using tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and handicraft materials, children create books, games, and STEM graphics (STEM includes, similar to MINT, the subjects of science, engineering, and mathematics) with tactile and acoustic functions. These products have been developed by and for young people with visual impairments and other physical and mental disabilities. Through the project, middle and high school students develop technological skills while simultaneously making books and other products for the blind.

3D Printing Projects

3D Printing Projects is a step-by-step guide to 3D printing that was created for both children and adult beginners who want to learn how to design and 3D print. The book not only covers  topics such as how a 3D printer works and the different types of 3D printers but will give readers instructions to walk them through the 3D design process, digital modeling and sculpting, slicing, printing and even painting the final objects. Additionally, it is cheap to use as all the projects in the book were selected because they could be made using free online modeling and CAD software. With the beautiful and simple instructions, it is ideal for a child just learning 3D printing or an adult who wants inspiration for easy-to-follow projects or to learn more about 3D printing in general. 

3D Printing Books for Adults

3D Printing for Dummies, 2nd Edition

3D Printing for Dummies by Kalani K. Hausman and Richard Horne has been revised and a second edition published! It provides you with all the information you need to immerse yourself in the world of 3D printing. You will learn what are the different types of 3D printers and which methods of modeling you can use, depending on the software. You will learn more about 3D scanners and photogrammetry, but also materials such as plastic, concrete, wax, glass, metal or even chocolate. Get to know the many applications of 3D printing, whether in the medical field for artificial organs or prostheses, in the manufacture of things such as clothing, toys and furniture or even in the food industry. Print prototypes of your product to perfection before production and build your own self-printing 3D printer are all things you can learn in 3D Printing for Dummies!

3D Hubs’ 3D Printing Handbook

3D Hubs is a recognised player in the 3D printing industry and has made it its mission to network various local 3D printing services with users looking to develop their project. This way, they can offer a multitude of additive manufacturing technologies at a better price and with better accessibility. To get closer to users in 2018, after months of work and research, the 3D Printing Handbook offers a comprehensive guide for students, engineers, architects, designers, etc. and helps anyone who wants to enter the additive manufacturing world. It contains more than 300 pages of photos, real-world examples, industry data, and more to make you an expert in 3D printing.

3D Printing Failures, 2020 Edition

The incredibly popular book on how to diagnose and repair all desktop 3D printing issues has been updated for 2020! The new version has been fully revamped and rewritten to ensure that it is up-to-date with a rapidly changing sector. The 2020 version is nearly 50% longer than the previous (2019) edition with 7 new chapters and new photographs. As can be expected from the title, the book contains practical advice from writers Sean Aranda and David Feeney who both have tremendous experience of successful 3D printing.  It is designed for people with no experience or a good degree of experience in 3D printing to continuously achieve consistent clean prints!

Make: Getting Started with 3D Printing

One of Make Community’s various guides on everything from drones to robots to any DIY project you can imagine, Getting Started with 3D Printing: A Hands-on Guide to the Hardware, Software, and Services Behind the New Manufacturing Revolution is a practical book introducing 3D printing to the average person. The book contains everything you would need to understand the fundamentals of 3D printing including a short history of the topic, the best hardware and software choices, hands-on exercises for readers to practice at home and how 3D printing can be applied in someone’s life or profession. Liza Wallach Kloski and Nick Kloski, the authors, wanted to create a book that would allow the general population to understand what 3D printing is as they believe it will affect our lives much more in the years to come. Note that a new edition of the book will be coming out in May with even more information. You can also check out Make’s other books such as their guides to Fusion 360, design for 3D printing and more.

How to Make Money with 3D printing

Many people know what 3D printing is, however not many people know how to create 3D models or use a 3D printer. Just like many growing and innovative technologies, as the quality, speed and costs are optimised, the adoption and potential uses start to spread and flourish. In his book “How to make money with 3D printing”, Jeffrey Ito develops on the idea of ‘hacking the 3D printing ecosystem and becoming a world-class 3D designer’. He goes into detail about all you need to know to become an expert in 3D printing technologies and monetise from this expertise. Jeffrey is a graduate of the University of Southern California in Industrial & Systems Engineering and young entrepreneur who has a passion for 3D printing and is keen to share the keys to making it successfully in this growing industry.

3D Printing Design

The 3D Printing Design book has been written to give both designers and industry leaders access to the conceptual and practical knowledge needed to participate in the cultural and social transformation of the fashion industry. It is organised around three key topics: materials/production technologies; computational geometry/simulation; and design methodologies. 3D Printing for Fashion will provide both design students and industry professionals with the know-how, skills and confidence needed to critically engage with a rapidly evolving design landscape of tools, materials and software applications. The book is full of project-driven step-by-step tutorials and aims to explain in simple terms complex design and manufacturing processes through interviews with leaders in the design and 3D printing industries

The Zombie Apocalypse Guide to 3D printing: Designing and printing practical objects

Did you watch The Walking Dead and wonder whether you yourself would be able to survive a zombie apocalypse? If you did (and you own a 3D printer!), this might be the book for you. According to the author, the book was written for someone who wants to make practical, durable items for everyday use, the first chapter is even titled “Designing and Printing stuff that won’t break when you need it to work.” The easy-to-read book has been created as a one-stop place for everything you might need to do for 3D printing. The tongue in cheek nod to zombies also makes for a more entertaining read, combining practical advice and technical subjects with levity.

Did one of these books spark your interest? Let us know in a comment below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages! Sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox!

Read Free Book “3D-Primet in Small Business” Dmitry Gorky completely online-MyBook

3D-Plot

In the Small Business

Examples of Practical Application ,0002 9000 3D-PRIVE 9000 9000

Gorkov Dmitry

2015

About the author

My name is Dmitry Gorkov and I will tell you a little about

myself. I have been actively working in the field of 3D printing since 2013.

Initially started doing 3D printing on order.

As a result, I built a system on how to start this business from scratch.

At the moment I am developing and

conducting various training programs, both for working on a

3D printer, and building my own business in this area.

You can find a list of training programs

in the appendix to this book.

I cooperate with a large number of manufacturers

and sellers of equipment and consumables, and I can learn from

first hand and convey all the information to you.

I publish articles in the magazine for professionals

publishing activities Publish.

Acted as an invited expert at

conference 3D Print Expo 2015 in Moscow.

All methods of printing and working on 3D printers

this is my personal experience passed through myself, my

rake, my discoveries. In this book, I even more

rethought some points so that more

it is accessible and with a great end result to transfer my knowledge

9.
This is not a retelling of other people's articles from the Internet

and you understand the value and uniqueness of

our country similar knowledge and skills.

Introduction

Have you heard that 3D printing is

the technology of the new millennium and promises huge benefits

to those who use it?

Is it true?

In what areas is its use justified, and where

is not? Is it true that this technology can replace

classical manufacturing techniques?

Find answers to these and other questions in this

book.

In order not to be unfounded, I will give you examples

of practical use in the work of many small businesses

.

I would really like 3D printing in Russia

to develop rapidly. I believe that thanks to

to us, this will happen faster and better.

Opportunities and niches for 3D printing

More and more information is coming in about the introduction of 3D printing into all areas of our

life.

Is everything so simple and easy?

How can we apply 3D printing to reality?

Let's start with the fact that this technology is not a magic wand

for all problems.

No, is a VERSATILE tool.

In

first

for

manufacturing

non-standard/small series

products

made of

plastic/resin/plaster etc. The

technology itself is of interest to a not very large group of people,

present here.

Other people are interested in solving their problems.

Can we solve their problems with 3D printing?

Many yes!

Everything that we will tell further will be

refers to the use of a printer that prints using FDM-

technology. Technology of layer-by-layer deposition of plastic.

This is the most versatile and budget option for

starting a business. The main thing is to come to an understanding that a 3D printer

is a universal machine for manufacturing

small non-standard plastic parts.

And you have to “dance” from this.

The main areas of application in which

3D printing is mainly used are:

Modeling of architectural, engineering projects.

Design.

Manufacture of various artistic creations

Decoration, bijouterie.

If you are engaged in one of these areas,

you still yesterday needed to purchase a printer and bring your work to a new level

.

In addition to the customers in the above areas, there are

many more niches for 3D printing applications.

In the CIS countries, a unique situation has developed due to

which the use of 3D printing can be used in

many areas.

What are these factors?

1. The exchange rate of local currencies to world currencies, resulting in

the price of the printer, positions it as equipment ,

and not a toy for printing gnomes.

2. The same exchange rate makes many plastic

things/parts vehicles/equipment from abroad

have a fairly high cost , which allows

much more expensive 3D printing technology

compete with cast parts.

3. Destroyed or built inefficiently

economic relations of enterprises of the former USSR

led to the fact that there is a demand for the manufacture of

plastic parts. Production of parts by casting

is theoretically cheaper, but it is economically justified for large batches

. In the field of small business

injection molding technology ultimately fails

justify.

4. At

West

Problems

small

companies-

manufacturers

decides

large

number

engineering companies . In the countries of the former USSR

this niche is practically not developed . For various

reasons.

What do we get? 3D printing services are in demand. This,

is exactly the niche of engineering firms that

are needed in the field of small-scale production of

plastic parts.

They are also in demand in the public services sector . But

here I have to warn you that it is very difficult to promote such services

directly against the backdrop of the current informational

noise.

It is much easier to communicate this to future customers through

companies that already provide services or

sell consumer goods. For it to be

economically justified, it is necessary to focus on

the execution of small-scale orders from various organizations

. Such as car repair shops, household appliances repair shops or clubs

for people who are engaged in some kind of hobby.

In general, at the moment there is still

the opportunity to enter the market from scratch with the offer of 3D printing services and

work on third-party orders.

Many do not yet see 3D printing in their workflow

or are not financially ready to implement this

equipment. The purpose of this book is to convey the full benefits of

3D printers in the manufacturing and service industries.

Some misconceptions

Unfortunately, one of the factors hindering the introduction of

3D printing into business is the incorrect positioning of equipment

. That is, we all hear

that the scope of application is huge, but in fact at exhibitions and from

TV screens we see only "gnomes".

Yes, they can look spectacular, but a person, unfortunately,

does not perceive such presentation of information. He

does not want to think out how he can implement this

technology into his work.

A person does not want to draw an analogy between a

printed dog with an engine on its back and a banal

plastic gear that he uses in his

equipment.

You can understand the manufacturers and sellers - such

products look quite impressive at exhibitions, but they

attract a limited audience of designers and

artists.

Such pictures are empty words for an engineer. I'm not

trying to prove here that the artistic use of 3D printing is not correct

. It's just one of the many

facets of technology application.

And just a huge mistake would be to drive all the 3D-

Printing in narrow frames for the production of decorative items.

In the book you will learn about some practical niches

How 3D printing is changing the world. Chapter from the book "3D Printing" by Christopher Barnatt (translation) / Books, comics / iXBT Live

I have long wanted to delve into the topic of 3D printing, but I did not find a suitable introductory material. All articles went into a detailed technical analysis.
I learned about Barnatt's work when he became interested in single-board computers. Christopher reviewed almost all single-payers on his YouTube channel. From there, I realized that with the advent of 5-6 generations of devices, the dream of a silent workplace will finally come true. Also on his channel I got acquainted with video tours of exhibitions TCT Show 2017-2019 showcasing the latest developments in 3D printing. And with the release of the book, I was able to get a basic understanding of the technology.
Simplified some "boring" parts in the process of translation. For example, where the author provides graphs and diagrams with a detailed description of statistics, he left only conclusions. Also acted with the cash reports of large manufacturers. Everything else remains unchanged and I suggest you familiarize yourself with the result of my work.

Contents
  • Customization and personalization
  • Optimization of design and assembly
  • Free market access
  • Digital storage and transport
  • Material savings and environmental impact
  • 9046 Challenges can be overcome!
  • In the world of pioneers
  • A new frontier
  • A new era of technological revolution

    Every year 3D printing becomes more and more mainstream. According to the CONTEXT research group, the 500,000th 3D printer was shipped in 2015, and by 2017, about a million devices had been sold. 3D printing is already being introduced as a manufacturing technology. For example, in 2016 company General Electric began selling aircraft engines with 3D printed fuel injectors. Atlas-5 rockets with parts printed with the same technology were launched into space. Brands Under Armor and New Balance launched small batches of partially 3D printed athletic shoes, while Organovo launched commercial bioprinting of human kidney tissue.

    So far, this is just the foundation. Throughout the history of mankind, there have been many technological revolutions, each of which went through three phases. The first is "9"0452 conceptualization "when visions and ideas are formed that determine the future path. Then " implementation ", during which previously seemingly impossible plans begin to be partially realized. And the third phase is " mass commercialization of ", when enterprises master the production and application of new technology.

    And what phase is 3D printing in? The use of a 3D printer to turn a digital file into a physical object is already widespread. For example, in such areas as engineering, law, economics, business, geography and art. There is already debate about the implications of exchanging digital objects over the internet to immediately print out their physical version on a printer (let's say a firearm). Clearly, we are far from the day when personal 3D printers put an end to capitalism by placing production in the hands of the majority. However, there is no doubt that the 3D printing revolution has reached its second phase, implementation.

    By this time, enough methods have been invented to make solid objects by printing them in many thin successive layers. In fact, the most common 3D printing technologies have been around for decades.

    Although the technology continues to evolve, I will assume that the last revolutionary phase - mass commercialization - is about ten years away. The pioneers of 3D printing are already using it to make a wide variety of things. However, this market is still niche and limited in commercial applications. In particular, these are companies that are engaged in small-scale, piece production or goods that cannot be manufactured using traditional methods.

    Notwithstanding the above, we must remember that ten years ago, no industry sector reported selling products entirely or partially made with a 3D printer. Therefore, what is happening now is impressive. As 3D printing techniques evolve and new ones emerge, and old processes become faster and cheaper, we can expect 3D printing to move closer to a mass commercialization phase in the late 2020s or early 2030s. Innovators in the field plan to take advantage of the technology long before that.

    3D printing technology

    How does 3D printing work? To a large extent, it is an evolution of 2D printing, already used ubiquitously in offices and homes.

    Most of us are familiar with inkjet or laser printers that allow you to print documents or photos. They create them by controlling the application of ink or toner to the surface of a sheet of paper. Similarly, 3D printers produce objects by controlling the placement and adhesion of successive layers of "building material" in 3D space. For this reason, 3D printing is also known as Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM).0452 additive manufacturing "( AP or AM - Additive Manufacturing).

    To print an object on this printer, you need a digital model on your computer. It can be created using a computer-aided design (CAD) application or other 3D modeling software. Also, a digital model can be captured by scanning a real object with a 3D scanner and processing with CAD or other programs.

    The model must then be run through yet another "slicing" program that will cut the digital object into multiple cross-sectional layers - typically about 0.1mm thick. These digital ribbons are sent to a 3D printer, which makes them one on top of the other until a real object is formed.

    3D model in Cura, the popular open source slicing software The same model printed by the Ultimaker desktop 3D printer Finished toy

    How a 3D printer renders an object one layer at a time depends on the technology it is built on. There are many 3D printing methods and they can be divided into 4 categories.

    The first category includes printers that create objects by extruding molten semi-liquid material from a print head nozzle. Most often it is thermoplastic that quickly hardens when it leaves the print head. Other extrusion-based 3D printers produce objects by extruding molten metal or chocolate icing (for printing culinary creations). There are also printers that use concrete, ceramic paste or clay.

    The second category of 3D printers creates layers of objects by selectively curing a liquid resin known as " photopolymer " that cures when exposed to a laser or other light source. Some of these machines create layers of objects inside a reservoir of liquid. Others release a layer of resin from the print head and use UV light to cure it before applying the next layer. There are devices that mix several different photopolymers in one print job, which allows them to output color objects made from several materials. In particular, one of these printers is J750 from Stratasys - offers a palette of 360 thousand shades and can make objects from a mixture of different materials.

    The third and most common category of equipment is layering by selectively bonding very fine powder granules. This "bonding of granular materials" is achieved by applying adhesive to layers of powder or by melting the granules with a laser or other heat source. There are many types of powder adhesion based on various materials. These include nylon, wax, bronze, stainless steel, cobalt chromium and titanium.

    The latest category of 3D printers is built on lamination . Successive layers of cut paper, metal, or plastic are glued together to form a solid object. If sheets of paper are used as a building material, they are cut with a blade or laser, then glued together. They can be sprayed with ink during the printing process to create inexpensive, full-color 3D objects.

    Market and application

    3D printing is used for prototyping, mold making, digital direct manufacturing and custom manufacturing. Suppliers of 3D printing hardware, software and materials are already serving the needs of various market sectors. And now we will look at these applications to understand how 3D printing technology is developing.

    Rapid Prototyping

    Most often, 3D printers are used for rapid prototyping (RP - Rapid Prototyping). This includes concepts and functional prototypes . Concepts are fairly simple, non-functional "drafts" of product design (such as a bottle without a removable cap) and are intended to allow artists to recreate their ideas in a physical format. Functional prototypes, on the other hand, are more complex and allow you to evaluate the form, fit, and function of each part of a product before putting it into production.

    Functional prototypes and concepts were created before the advent of 3D printers using laborious methods and tools. Therefore, their production often takes many days, weeks or even months, and the cost is thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. 3D printers can create concepts and functional prototypes in days or even hours, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional fabrication methods. Examples of this industry include the production of concept cars for Formula 1.

    In addition to saving time and money, printing prototypes allows improved products to be brought to market as designs typically go through many iterations. Thermos, a thermos maker, for example, uses Stratasys 3D printers to produce prototypes in hours, not days, at a fifth of the cost of production from an external supplier. Because their designers can now “create as many prototypes as needed,” the company has been able to fine-tune product features such as lid retention and ease of pouring.

    3D printing technology in color in various materials and metals continues to evolve, so the range and quality of products, including their components that can be quickly prototyped, continues to increase. So the company Nano Dimension demonstrated a desktop 3D printer - DragonFly 2020, which can produce functional PCB prototypes. This equipment uses inkjet technology to output highly conductive "nano-ink" and can produce multi-layer boards, including all connections between layers. While many companies wait days or weeks to get a prototype board from an outside vendor, the machine will print it in a matter of hours.

    Molds and other production tools

    In addition to prototypes, 3D printers are used to make molds and other fixtures for production equipment. A mold is needed in order to cast metals or plastics in it. Like prototypes, molds have traditionally been made by hand. Therefore, the use of 3D printers can save time and money for large manufacturers. For example, using Stratasys' Fortus printers, Lyon, France-based automotive giant Volvo Trucks has reduced the time it takes to manufacture some engine components from 36 days to 2.

    In August 2016, the American Oak Ridge National Laboratory 3D printed a 5. 34 x 1.34 x 0.46 m trimming and drilling tool for Boeing. It is used in the construction of passenger aircraft, and was printed from carbon fiber reinforced plastic in about 30 hours. Previously, the production of such a part would take three months. As Boeing's Leo Christodoulou explained, “Additive manufacturing tools like the wing trim tool will save energy, time, labor and manufacturing costs. They are also part of our strategy to apply 3D printing technology to manufacturing areas.”

    Another promising application is the production of molds used for casting metals. 3D printers are able to directly produce the required shapes, as well as any additional cores needed to be placed inside them, by applying thin layers of foundry sand that are held together with a binder. The resulting 3D printed molds are sent to the foundry, where molten metal is poured into them to produce the finished product.

    ExOne is one of the companies specializing in the production of 3D printers for additive manufacturing using foundry sand. By 3D printing molds and foundry sand cores, manufacturers can not only save time and reduce costs, but also improve accuracy and mold more complex parts, the company says. This is because 3D-printed shapes and rods do not require post-processing, which could damage them.

    Core molded in a mold made on an ExOne 9 3D printer0002 3D printers can also be used to make molds that are needed for injection molding plastic parts. Such molds typically cost tens of thousands of dollars and are traditionally made of aluminum. Technically, a 3D printer can already make aluminum die casting molds using metal powder. However, nowadays printers make such molds from resin using photopolymerization. Plastic molds are not as durable as their aluminum counterparts. However, they are cheaper, faster to produce and can be used to make up to 200 plastic parts before replacement is required.

    Bi-Link , based in Bloomingdale, Illinois, 3D prints low-volume injection molds. It manufactures parts for electronics and medical device manufacturers around the world. 3D Systems' ProJet 3500 HD Max printer creates a form in hours instead of weeks. As Director of Research and Development Frank Sieberna said: “Customers are delighted with this service. Previously, you had to wait two or three weeks to get just the tools, not to mention the test parts. With the ProJet 3500 HD Max, you can produce four different part designs for one customer in six days, sending them 10-12 parts for each iteration overnight.”

    Some companies are building machines that can print objects from wax (or wax substitutes) to create investment casting molds. The wax object is 3D printed, then molded around it using a material such as plaster. After the form is heated, as a result of which the wax “burns out” and flows down. Molten metal or other liquid material is then poured into the mold to create the finished product. The use of 3D printers to create wax models is quite common in the jewelry industry and other industries that specialize in complex and expensive items. Like injection molds, wax samples are consumable because the process of creating the finished product causes them to break.

    Digital Direct Manufacturing

    In several niche markets, 3D printers are already being used to produce finished industrial components and even consumer products. This development is referred to as " Direct Digital Manufacturing " ( DDM - Direct Digital Manufacturing) and is becoming increasingly popular, for example, in aviation. Airbus and Boeing are installing tens of thousands of 3D printed components for their aircraft.

    Other DDM industries include automotive, medical, jewelry, and footwear. One of the leading pioneers is Nike. According to COO Eric Sprank, the company "has made a number of breakthroughs in design and manufacturing through 3D printing that will enable the creation of an entirely new custom shoe cushioning system." To this end, Nike is building an "Advanced Product Creation Center" covering approximately 11,000 square meters to house 3D printing and other design and manufacturing technologies.

    It is quite possible that in the future everything will be made using a 3D printer, including even human organs. This is most noticeable in dentistry: wax models, orthodontic applications, fittings, surgical guides and veneer models are now 3D printed.

    In addition to creating inorganic prostheses, there are "bioprinters" that build up human tissue by laying down layers of living cells. Such technology could revolutionize the medical field, for example by cutting the queues in organ donation. Company Organovo , a bioprinting pioneer, already sells printed liver and kidney tissue for use in drug testing.

    In addition to bioprinting tissues outside the body, bioprinting on the body or inside a wound is already under development. It involves printing layers of cultured cells directly onto the wound or even inside using keyhole surgery techniques. When such technology becomes advanced enough, the patient simply needs to insert an instrument into the wound, which will remove the damaged cells and replace them with new ones. These instruments will even be able to heal the wound caused by their introduction.

    Individual production

    In parallel with the growth of industrial 3D printing, there is an increase in individual production. These are all situations when an entrepreneur prints his own things on a 3D printer, bypassing the launch of production at a remote factory. There are already several hundred professional 3D printers on the market starting at $230.

    In addition to the growing number of personal machines, there is a growing number of free and paid 3D models that can be downloaded for printing. On resource Thingiverse hosts over a million free models - some of which can be customized to your needs. It is possible that the provision of such content will become the foundation for mass personal production, as it will eliminate the need for creative and engineering skills.

    Currently, personal and professional 3D printers are limited in their ability to use thermoplastics or composites, as well as photopolymer resins. Therefore, the range and quality of products that can be manufactured on such equipment remain low. At the same time, an increasing number of cloud-based 3D printing services, such as Shapeways and i.materialise allow anyone to upload a 3D object to be printed on industrial equipment. It is likely that access to such a service – rather than the sale of personal 3D printers – will be the driving force behind the DIY revolution over the next five to ten years.

    If the majority of people start making the products they need on their own, this will have a serious impact on many industries. Parts companies are already wary of the threat of mass-produced personal items. The representatives of the transport and logistics sectors are afraid of the same, because this will change the demand for their services.

    In 2014, the IBM Institute for Business Value published a report highlighting four futures for custom manufacturing. And now we will briefly get acquainted with it.

    The two unknowns are the speed at which 3D printing technology will advance and the willingness of consumers to accept custom fabrication. If technology advances slowly and consumers don't start 3D printing at home, then we'll see a quiet revolution " with gradual changes.

    There is also an alternative: technology is developing slowly, but consumers want to become producers - then we will see a " production revolution " when more and more necessary things will be made by small entrepreneurs.

    Another option is that 3D printing technology will make a breakthrough, but consumers will leave it behind - then such printing will become the main technology in industrial production, and will not have a big impact on the consumer market.

    And the last turn of events: 3D printing is developing rapidly, and consumers are actively using it, then we will witness “ rethinking consumption ”. This means merchants large and small offering 3D printed products at your request. There will also be a lot of people "printing" in their homes, garages, kitchens or offices and hangars.

    My guess is that consumer engagement with 3D printing will grow as technology improves, but at a slower pace. This means that over the next few decades, we will gradually move from a “quiet revolution” to a “manufacturing revolution” and then to a “consumer rethinking”.

    The development of the 3D printing industry

    It is important to understand not only the existence of different market segments, but also that they are at different stages of development. Although the very first 3D printers began making prototypes in the late 1980s, the use of printing to create molds did not begin until a few years after that. Even before the early 2000s, the first finished products and works of art printed using this technology appeared. Finally, customization only became possible in 2007 with the introduction of the first "open source" 3D printers that private individuals could afford.

    I believe that by the middle of the next decade, the traditional rapid prototyping 3D printing market will be saturated. Therefore, half of all prototypes will be made on a 3D printer by 2025. 3D printing is not the only rapid prototyping technology. There are cases where traditional methods are better suited for prototyping. It is inconceivable that inventors would stop sculpting things out of clay, wood, paper, metal, and everything else that is available in their kitchens, studios, labs, workshops, and sheds.

    In terms of 3D printing of molds and manufacturing tools, this market currently lags behind rapid prototyping, but will very soon become the mainstay of additive manufacturing. I assume that it will take decades to saturate it. After talking with manufacturers of industrial 3D printers, I was convinced of this. In most industries, 3D printing of molds and other tools represents the biggest market opportunity.

    In digital direct manufacturing, this is just starting to happen, although it is currently a very niche activity. However, in the next ten years or so, many industries, primarily aerospace, automotive, healthcare, fashion, footwear and designer goods, will use 3D printing as one of their core manufacturing technologies. This will allow you to create completely new types of products and attract media attention. And even so, in 10 or 20 years, the vast majority of objects in our lives will still be produced by traditional methods.

    Likewise, for decades to come personal items will be a niche market in both the 3D printing industry and global manufacturing. Currently, no more than 10% of the 3D printing industry's revenue comes from the sale of personal printers. Many of these machines are sold to companies rather than individuals. But this does not mean that the sale of personal equipment for home use does not represent a market opportunity.

    It can be argued that home production will not be the driving force behind the 3D printing revolution - and many in the industry agree. However, I will look forward to 3D printers in 9$9 that will be able to make small plastic items based on a model sent from a tablet or smartphone.

    Making new products in new ways

    Like the internet revolution that preceded it, 3D printing is enabling companies and individuals to achieve the previously impossible. And the reason is not only in the creation of prototypes and old things in new ways. It does so in line with new business models. Let's outline these key benefits.

    Single and small batch production

    With traditional methods, single and small batch production is expensive and often prohibitive. When things are printed on a printer, there is practically no difference in cost per unit - that is, it does not matter if 1, 100 or 1000 copies are required, since there are no costs for tools and workers. Therefore, in many situations where a few hundred or fewer components are needed, 3D printing will be the most economical way. It is for this reason that 3D printing is so widely used in rapid prototyping and is increasingly used in the production of molds and other tools.

    Jay Leno, who enjoys collecting cars, is already using 3D printing for one-off production. As an example, when a rare EcoJet concept car needed to have some broken air vents replaced, it turned to 3D Systems. The company scanned the broken parts, digitally repaired them using a CAD program, and sent the resulting data to service provider Quickparts. There, the new vents were 3D printed from a lightweight, fiber-filled nylon material called DuraForm HST. The result is a reliable replacement part with a better strength-to-weight ratio than the original.

    3D printing is being used to make props for TV shows, movies and theatrical productions. With this technology, SpaceX is printing the engine chambers of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, and NASA has printed about 70 parts for the rover.

    Customization and personalization

    In addition to facilitating the small-scale production of identical items, 3D printing allows products to be customized according to the tastes of the buyer and his physical needs. For example, company Robot Bike Co. uses technology to make a custom R160 mountain bike frame. It is created from carbon fiber passing between titanium ridges, which are printed on Renishaw 3D printers. On the Robotbike.co website, the buyer enters his height, leg size and arm span, which allows him to get a frame individually for him.

    The R160 is a great example of a real product that combines 3D printed parts with other standard components. This makes it possible to offer a product according to individual requests in an economical way. I am sure that, over time, many companies will realize the potential of "custom-made" by 3D printing certain parts.

    Design and build optimization

    Another key benefit of 3D printing is that it removes the limitations of traditional manufacturing methods. Although a designer can come up with any design for a product, if its components cannot be molded, machined, and assembled, the product will never hit the market. And in the “brave new world” of 3D printing, you can create things that were previously impossible to make. For example, such a printer can produce a chain or necklace made up of links that do not have breaks and therefore will never come apart.

    The TransFIORmers motorcycle racing team used a Renishaw metal 3D printer to produce a new optimized suspension design. The original version was handcrafted from steel, and at the same time, twelve parts were required for assembly, which must be welded together. But with the help of 3D printing, the team was able to combine the structure into a single titanium component that required no assembly, resulting in a 40% weight reduction, a critical feature for racing.

    Using plastic or polymer materials, some printers can create working, pre-assembled, composite mechanisms such as a gearbox. Traditionally, the production of multi-component products includes a final assembly step. But when things are printed on a 3D printer, this is not necessary.

    Free access to the market

    In addition to improving product performance, 3D printing will enable many more people to become manufacturers. This is because the cost of prototypes and production tools will no longer be prohibitive, so 3D printing is making small-scale production increasingly viable. But more importantly, the availability of 3D printing services will allow almost any talented artist or designer to find a market for their creations.

    Today, it is very difficult for an individual or even a small company to bring a product to the market, let alone on a global scale. One of the few exceptions is book publishing, where an author can create and distribute a print-on-demand product. For example, residents of the UK can order a printed book through Amazon and receive a book printed in the corporation's warehouse within eight hours. This innovation allows authors to sell books without pre-printing and distribution.

    Similarly, 3D printing allows individual designers to bring products to market without investing in equipment and prefabricated copies. For example, more than 8 thousand designers have already opened online stores on the site of a 3D printing service provider - Shapeways . As an example, consider the store of the famous bot creator Kidmechano. His creation is Modibot, which is an ever-expanding line of 3D printed action figures with an articulated design. You can compare Modibot with Lego or Transformers.

    Kidmechano uses the Shapeways platform to sell over 400 different ModiBot figures and accessories, including armor and weapons. Prices start at a few dollars, and when an order is placed, Shapeways prints whatever is required, sending the finished product to the customer, and Kidmechano his share of the proceeds.

    Digital storage and transportation

    In addition to enabling small-scale production, cost-effectiveness and democratization of market access, 3D printing will facilitate the storage and transportation of digital objects. This means that in the future there will be two options for sending a parcel. The first is to send the physical product by courier or mail, and the second is to transfer the digital file over the Internet for 3D printing on site by the recipient.

    Many people regularly post texts, photos and videos on the Internet, and thanks to 3D printing, digital objects will soon be added to social networks. Thus, by making digital storage and transport possible, 3D printing will do to things what computers and the Internet have already done to store and transmit information.

    In some industries, digital object storage is already starting to make a difference. For example, most dentists have traditionally had to store huge amounts of plaster casts taken from patients' mouths. Although they were only used once, there was no way to predict if they would be needed in the future, which led to archives with boxes and cabinets littered with plaster models. But now dentists are moving to digital technologies: 3D scanners and 3D printers are replacing alginate molds and plaster casting. This allows you to save impressions of the patient's oral cavity in digital form, for future 3D printing if necessary.

    Material savings and environmental impacts

    In addition to the benefits mentioned above, 3D printing saves materials for manufacturers, which is especially important for sustainable development. Today, factories begin production with a block of metal or other raw material and then cut it: lathe it, file it, drill it, or otherwise, to form the final product. In contrast, 3D printing is an additive activity that takes as much material as the finished product. Therefore, we get significant savings in raw materials if we make things using this technology.

    In addition, 3D printed products can have an internal structure optimized to use the minimum amount of materials. For example, plastic or metal parts printed on printers can be produced with internal cavities or an open grid - something that is almost impossible to achieve using most traditional technologies. Again, this results in material savings as well as lighter parts, which, for example, will reduce the fuel consumption of aircraft and other vehicles.

    More broadly, 3D printing could be the cornerstone of the future transition to " Local Digital Manufacturing " ( LDM - Local Digital Manufacturing). Today, most of the production is carried out in factories remote from their customers. As a result, huge amounts of oil and other resources are being spent on storage and transportation. Given declining natural resource stocks and climate action within a decade or two, these modes of transportation and storage may not be feasible or culturally appropriate. Thus, environmental protection may be a force to stimulate the mass adoption of 3D printing to facilitate the production of goods in local industries.

    Difficulties can be overcome!

    Like any new technology, 3D printing can have both negative and positive effects. For example, there are fears that its further development will reduce jobs. And this is quite possible for some professions. Especially for those who produce prototypes, molds and tools using traditional methods.

    It is possible that employment in countries that prepare products for export will decline as the technology is absorbed by local industries. In his 2013 State of the Union address, President Obama cited 3D printing as a technology that "has the potential to revolutionize everything we do" and thereby bring jobs back from Asia back to the US. In other words, the global economic impact of the development of 3D printing has been recognized at the government level as one of the largest economies in the world.

    Obviously, 3D printing will also help create new jobs. It will be a long time before we can 3D print finished products without the help of a skilled technician. As technology spreads, new jobs will emerge, and such employment will be evenly distributed across the region—not typical of the industrial revolutions of the past.

    Some industries could also benefit from the spread of 3D printing. Last but not least, the logistics sector is already aware of these opportunities. For example, in July 2014, a US Postal Service publication noted that a service operator could "benefit enormously" from the spread of 3D printing due to an expected increase in small package deliveries. In particular, it was predicted that the technology could lead to an increase in the revenue of the local parcel delivery service by $486 million per year. The forecast was based on the assumption that most 3D printed goods will be made in local service bureaus, from where they will need to be delivered to people's homes.

    In addition to the impact on employment, there are two other problems: infringement of intellectual property rights and the use of 3D printing for criminal purposes. It is already possible to use consumer equipment to scan an object, such as a model of Mickey Mouse, and then print a plastic copy of it. Similar to the impact that mp3 music and the internet have had on the music industry, 3D printing can also impact intellectual property rights.

    Even more disturbing, it is already possible to 3D print firearms. Currently, a $230 personal 3D printer can only make a disposable plastic gun. But when the ability to print from metal becomes affordable, we will have serious problems.

    The final minefield with 3D printing and personal effects is health and safety. Today, almost all the products we buy meet certain standards and are tested. However, manufacturers are responsible for any accidents and injuries that may occur as a result of their failure or malfunction. But who will be responsible if, for example, your child downloads a free toy from the site, prints it out and gives it to the younger one - and he swallows a piece broken off from it and suffocates? Will the fault lie with the person who developed the object; the website through which it was published; 3D printer manufacturer, consumable supplier, or even you, the parent who let it happen? Now there is no answer to this question. And pretty soon, we won't be able to ignore it.

    In a world of pioneers

    The 3D printing revolution, like any other technological revolution, is the product of the action, energy and vision of those people who are brave enough to make it happen. Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of interviewing many of the pioneers of 3D printing. And since my goal is to capture your imagination and not focus on details and technical details, so I asked them the fundamental question: “Why did you choose this particular technology?”.

    One of the first people I spoke to was Anssi Mustonen , the head of the Finnish 3D printing and design company AMD-TEC . According to Anssi, 3D printing makes it possible to provide customers with a quality level of service:

    “We live in a hectic world, but thanks to this technology, it is possible to provide customers with quality services. As for prototypes: I don't have time to code and send orders to external vendors for details. 3D printing is not the only way to fabricate, but it is faster at creating complex shapes and configurations than traditional methods.”

    Konstantin Ivanov , co-founder and CEO of 3DPrintus.ru , told me how technology allows us to offer new types of products and services:

    “3D printing provides solutions that are at the intersection of manufacturing and digital technologies of the Internet . Our customers have discovered an easy way to create and produce just about anything. I'm sure the main advantage for them is the ability to use a simple interface to get their product."

    Gary Miller , Managing Director of Print Services 3D Print Bureau in the UK, told a similar story, albeit with caution in the predictions:

    order and almost any geometry is available! I started with the Objet printer over ten years ago when there was only one material. Years have passed, and now there are about 2 thousand materials for printing. Just imagine where we will be in ten years! True, no matter how much raw material you have, you need to transfer it to reliable hands. You need experience in your industry to understand where this technology is suitable, and where it will only increase the cost. Previously, I was skeptical that 3D printing would go into production, but in the first half of 2016, we saw progress and an increase in orders. It's great to see how 3D printing develops and new materials emerge."

    One of the most interesting conversations was with John Cobb , EVP Corporate Affairs of 3D printing giant Stratasys in the US. Shortly after starting the conversation, John focused on the technology's potential to redesign and distribute products:

    “In 3D printing, there is a lot of focus on adapting it to traditional manufacturing processes. The fundamentals of design are changing, allowing for a change in the way products are made and then methods of distribution. Imagine there is a problem with the plumbing. You take a picture of it with your smartphone and send it to the Home Depot And after an hour or two, you assemble the pipeline - replacing a non-standard part. It may take another five years, but we are already moving in this direction.”

    Miranda Bastins , director of the Belgian 3D printing service i. materialise , focused on new market opportunities from a different perspective:

    “3D printing helps create a world where products meet our expectations or individual style , and where everyone has the opportunity to own something unique. Things not only better meet the needs and interests of consumers, but it also becomes possible to sell their own goods to others. For example, a jewelry designer might propose a new ring to a global audience and test the demand for the design. If there are no orders, this is no longer a problem (printing only on demand) - and if there are, then the rings will be printed, delivered to the customer, and the creator will receive his share of the proceeds.

    Lucy Beard , founder of Feetz , also recognizes the potential of 3D printing to create "better fit" products. Feetz is a "digital shoemaker" that uses 3D printers to make custom shoes. As Lucy told me:

    “This technology is changing the way we produce and consume things. We can make personalized products with fewer resources, and it will be much easier to recycle them.”

    Mark Saunders is Director of the Global Solutions Centers at Renishaw , a 3D printer manufacturer. He also focused on the opportunities the technology offers manufacturers:

    “More and more companies are looking to use the potential of 3D printing to improve product performance, making it more efficient and better adapted to the application. The unique ability to create complex geometries from high-quality materials opens up huge potential for innovation in both product design and business models. We expect additive manufacturing to play a key role in further developing processes and improving products.”

    Finally, Sylvain Premont - Founder of iMakr 3D printer shops and My Mini Factory website dedicated to 3D content - noted how technology unleashes the imagination:

    we will be able to invent, design and manufacture almost everything - in the shortest possible time and at a low cost. You will also be able to download content that is ready to print and easily adaptable to your own needs. The next generation will ask their parents: How did you get along without a 3D printer before?

    A new frontier

    As you can see from the interview, 3D printing continues to generate interest among its pioneers. And many large manufacturers using traditional technologies are already changing direction towards this technology.

    Nobody can predict the future of 3D printing. However, there is good reason to believe that the technology will have a drastic impact on many manufacturing sectors. Currently, most 3D printers are still printing prototypes. But in less than ten years, that will change. It is possible that in the future, tens of millions of people will fly airplanes with printed components, dental offices will be equipped with 3D printed equipment, and we will wear shoes with printed parts.

    This is only the first chapter of Christopher Barnatt's book " 3D Printing ".


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