What Is a 3D Printer?

What Is a 3D Printer?

What Is a 3D Printer - Print something in the form of 2-dimensional is common we see, but what about using a 3D printer to print something in a form similar to the original (prototype)?

The 3D printer is a new technology in the printing world, where technology works almost the same as 2D printers, in general, only the object that generated the 3D shape. 3D printers are printers that produce a 3-dimensional object, produced from a digital model (computer software such as CAD) into the object that is similar to the original (prototype). Also, 3D printers are often referred to as additive manufacturing. Can be used for a wide variety of industries such as architecture, engineering, construction, automotive, medical industry, education, industrial design, etc.

3D printer main areas of use, there are;

• Prototyping
• Specialized parts
• For hobbies and home use
• Future applications (for medical purposes; create some human body parts for science use)

A 3D printer is a printing tool in the form of 3-dimensional, also known as the rapid prototype or stereolithography, in which a 3-dimensional object is created by putting a layer in a row of some materials. A 3d printer is a machine that can produce physical 3D models from digital data with printing layer by layer. The central principle on the 3D printer is in need of a 3-dimensional shape data is also mentioned with three-dimensional digital data. Or commonly known with CAD (Computer Aided Design). CAD is an application that can display data in 3 dimensions. In contrast to such technology on CNC (computer numerical control) namely subtractive manufacturing, 3D printing technology embraced additive manufacturing in which the objects are constructed by forming layer per layer material, rather than dispose of the material as in laser cutting/milling machine.

How it works to make 3-dimensional prints just the same as conventional inkjet printer where the printer make a layer or layers of color prints make an object look like it should. Although similar to 2D printer in general, there are striking differences in the materials used. The 3D printer is not completely the same as the regular printer (printer 2D). 3D printers do not use ink, but using diverse materials. For example; certain types of plastic, metal, ceramic, and others. These materials are usually in powder form.
With a revolutionary method for making 3D models, can save time and costs resulting from the need for the creation of 3D model conventionally as paper, glue, paint, etc. Now you can create a design that is complete in a single process using a 3D printer.

Advantages of 3D Printer (in general);

• The manufacture of a product model (prototype), it can be done very quickly and efficiently and detail with this tool. 
• With this 3D printer technology, capable of making workers at the factory to create a 3D prototype models becomes much easier.
• Able to make complicated 3D shapes
• Many of the materials forming the eco-friendly and capable of recycling with the supervision of the local government.
• The efficiency of the time. The time it takes to make a product or prototype 3D model depends on of the level of complexity of the model itself. When simple, 3D models can be created in a matter of minutes to hours. But in a complex 3D model, can be made in a matter of days.
• Cost-effective. Cost-efficient to create a 3D product or model, because in making 3D models can be done with a single process at no additional cost.
• Able to improve the quality of the goods of a commercial enterprise.
• Help science to continue to evolve with the 3D models.

Disadvantages of 3D printer (in general);

• The size of the 3D models that can be made is limited.
• The sophistication of the 3D printer in the print product is anything with a particular design, making the 3D printer will be prone to abuse. For example, can be used to make guns illegally.
• It's hard to operate the 3D printer for a beginner, and it took quite a long time to learn it.
• Most of the objects that will be printed, 3D images must be made in advance, although there are some objects which can be downloaded from the internet. However, if there is none, the object should be created with 3D design software.

With the advanced technology such as the 3D printer, the world certainly helped the industry to continue to develop what is or has been developed to be even better than before. Expected to bring the world a better place again.