3D printing is a type of rapid prototyping, which is a technology that constructs objects by printing layer by layer, based on a digital model file and using a bondable material such as powdered metal or plastic.
Simply put, if an object is dissected into a very large number of thin layers, 3D printing is the process of printing the layers one by one, with the first layer overlaying the next and bonding with it until the object is printed and shaped.There are a number of different technologies that exist for 3D printing. They differ in the way the materials are available and are built in different layers to create the part.Common materials used for 3D printing are nylon fiberglass, durable nylon materials, gypsum materials, aluminum materials, titanium alloys, stainless steel, silver-plated, gold-plated, and rubber-like materials.
3D printers, on the other hand, emerged in the mid-1990s as a rapid prototyping device that utilizes technologies such as light curing and paper lamination.
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The biggest difference between 3D printers and traditional printers
Using the printers is like printing a letter: tapping the Tap the "print" button on your computer screen and a digital file is sent to an inkjet printer, which sprays a layer of ink onto the surface of the paper to create a two-dimensional image. In 3D printing, software uses computer-aided design (CAD) technology to create a series of digital slices and sends the information from those slices to a 3D printer, which stacks successive thin layers until a solid object is formed. The biggest difference between a 3D printer and a traditional printer is that the "ink" it uses is actual raw material.
Applications of 3D printing
The current 3D printers are mainly divided into desktop-grade and industrial-grade, with the former focusing on civilian use and the latter favoring industrial applications. In industry, 3D printing mostly uses aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, etc. as raw materials, and has a wide range of application prospects in intelligent manufacturing, industrial design, aerospace, medical care, education and other fields
Baidu Encyclopedia-3D Printing
People's Daily Online-Science: What is 3D Printing?
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