How a 3D printer works

3D printers are our modern reality. And although it may still seem like something fantastic and far away, they are already being used to make a lot of things. They are used in medicine, in the fashion industry, in everyday life.

Hell, Elon Musk has even started printing working space engines with them!

If you are as interested as we are in the principles of these wonderful machines, we suggest you take a closer look.

The components of a 3D printer

Basically, 3D printers are made up of the same parts and are similar in design to regular printers. The main difference is that a 3D printer prints in three planes: width, height, and depth.

Here are the parts that make up a 3D printer:

• The print head - it heats the surface, measures the exact amount of material with the help of the gripper system, and squeezes out semi-liquid plastic that is fed in the form of filaments.
  
• Print surface - this is where the printer forms parts and "grows" things.
  
• Linear and stepper motors - drive the parts and are also responsible for the accuracy and speed of printing.
  
• Fixtures - these are sensors that detect print coordinates and limit moving parts. They are needed to keep the printer from moving off the table. In general, they make printing more accurate;
  
• Frame - connects all the elements of the printer.
  

How 3D printers work - principles

So, we've dealt with what these devices consist of. Now it's time to look at how they work.

Before you print something, you need to get a volumetric digital model of the future product. It can be downloaded from the Internet or created independently. If you choose the second option, then you can do it in the following programs:

• Tinkercad - a free browser application for beginners.
  
• 3D Builder is an application from Microsoft. It is also suitable for beginners and is also free.
  
• FreeCAD - software for a more advanced audience. By the way, it is also free, just as its name suggests.
  
• Fusion 360 - a convenient program for professional use with simple functionality. But already for money.
  
• Inventor - it is a very serious program. It is suitable for professional modeling and creating complex objects. It costs a certain amount of money and has a high entry threshold.
  

Once you have created a 3D model, the next stage comes.

You will need to break it down through layers, which then step by step on top of each other and will be applied by the printer. In addition, at this stage you will need to set the parameters for moving the extruder.

The model can be sliced into layers using slicers.

These are special programs. Here are some of them:

• Simplify3D is many people's favorite slicer. It is compatible with almost all 3D printers, regardless of the number of extruders and other design features. If the desired hardware model is not on the list, it's easy to add it yourself.
  
• 3DPrinterOS is a cloud-based service with many customizations for 3D printing. You can edit models, upload objects, and print them, including on industrial equipment. 3DPrinterOS works with almost all printer models. If the device you need is not on the list, the developers are quick enough to add it on individual request. (well, as a rule).
  
• Astroprint is a cloud service for remote printer management, downloading and processing for subsequent printing of 3D models. It is possible to work in a browser.
  
• Cura is a fairly standard program for all Ultimaker 3D printers, but it can be used with most other printers as well. The program is completely open source and can be extended with plug-ins, which is very convenient.
  

In fact, there are many more of them. It is also worth mentioning the fact that many of them work only with certain printers, so this should definitely be taken into account when you start working.

The topic of 3D printers is very, very broad. We will continue to cover it in our next few articles, revealing more details.

A huge number of ready to print 3D models in STL format you can download for free on our website - link. These are all kinds of characters from computer games, movies and comics and much more.

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