So, you got a 3D printer for the holidays, and you’re excited to dive in. Chances are, you’re not sure where to begin. What can you print? What’s fun? What’s useful?

If you don't own a 3D printer, you can still 3D print any 3D model you found through a database or designed through a software tool. Just use a 3D printing service such as Shapeways, i.Materialise ...

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF): FFF, also known as fused deposition modeling (FDM), is the most common method of consumer 3D printing. FFF machines build in successive layers of plastic filament.

This is the specific layer of the 3D model that it’s printing. Similar to how an FDM printer prints one layer at a time, an SLA printer exposes a single layer to light before passing to the next.

Most people buying 3D printers for the first time don't know that specific software is also needed to make a 3D model ready for printing. These programs are called slicers, and they're essential ...

We continue our DIY-IT discovery series on 3D printing by exploring how to download and print 3D objects from the Internet. If you can download a file, and you have a little patience, you can do this.

The machine’s 3D printing software “slices” the file into 2D layers, or G-code (.gcode), the language the 3D printer uses to control each axis and tool head.

What 3D printing is used for If you can dream up an object, especially if it's plastic, you are likely able to 3D print it. Think toys, jewelry, models, phone cases, molds, and more. There are ...

A 3D printer is simply a machine that can take a digital 3D model and turn it into a tangible 3D object via additive manufacturing. While these printers come in many forms, they all have three ...

There is a big difference between a 3D model and a 3D model designed for 3D printing. 3D printing a model requires a lot of specific parameters on the model to be exact for the print to succeed ...

Students will learn to use 3D printing software and to make or modify their own 3D models. Students will be able to produce ...

How do 3D printers work? What's the impact on our economy? How expensive are they compared to traditional manufacturing? We take a three-dimensional look at the world of additive manufacturing.