• Question: How does 3D printing work?

    Asked by Quantum mechanics to James on 15 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: James Martin

      James Martin answered on 15 Mar 2017:

      You’ve got different types of 3D printers, but they will be either additive or subtractive printers. Additive printers build up the structure layer by layer. Subtractive start with a block of material, and cut away excess, leaving the final model.

      The thing to print is made on computer, usually using Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs. CAD programs are a bit like minecraft, where you combine blocks and other shapes to make the overall object you want to end up with.

Comments