3D printing turns a digital design into a physical object. If you are new to the hobby, understanding that basic process is a useful first step before choosing equipment or planning a project.
In this quick MakerBuildIt introduction, we cover what 3D printing is, how filament printing works, and what you need to begin.
What is 3D printing?
A 3D printer builds an object from a digital 3D model, adding material layer by layer until it reaches the intended shape and size. The model describes the object you want to create; the printer produces its physical form.
Different types of 3D printing
The video introduces several technologies: fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), and selective laser sintering (SLS). Each uses a different printing process.
This guide focuses on FDM, the filament-based method introduced in the video for beginners.
How does FDM printing work?
Filament feeds into the printer’s hotend, where it melts and passes through a nozzle. The printer positions the nozzle relative to the build surface and deposits material in a controlled pattern.
Each new layer builds on the previous one. Over time, those layers form the finished object.
What is filament?
Filament is the material used in FDM printing. Different filaments have different properties, including strength, flexibility, and color. Choosing a material is part of deciding what you want your finished print to do.
What do you need to get started?
The video introduces three core elements:
- A 3D printer: the machine that builds the object.
- Filament: the material used by an FDM printer.
- A digital model: the design of the object you want to make.
To create your own models, you can use 3D design software. Tinkercad, Blender, and Fusion 360 are the examples mentioned in the video.
Understanding the connection between the model, material, and printer gives you a starting point for exploring your own projects.