A Brief History
The first 3D printing technology was developed in the 1980s by Chuck Hull, who invented SLA (Stereolithography). In 2009, the first FDM patent expired, making the technology accessible to hobbyists and small businesses. Since then, 3D printing has revolutionized prototyping, manufacturing, and even healthcare!
Today, you can find 3D printers in homes, schools, businesses, and even in space (NASA uses them on the ISS!). What was once industrial technology is now available to everyone.
What is FDM Printing?
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) is the most common type of 3D printing – and it's what we use! Here's how it works beautifully simple:
- Feed: A plastic filament (looks like thick wire) is fed into a heated nozzle
- Melt: The nozzle melts the plastic to around 200-250°C
- Extrude: The nozzle moves precisely, depositing melted plastic layer by layer
- Build: Each layer fuses with the previous one, building your object from bottom to top
It's like a hot glue gun that's incredibly precise! The printer follows your digital model's path, creating physical objects that match your design.
Understanding Layer Height
Layer height is the thickness of each layer the printer deposits. Think of it like the resolution of your print – lower layer height means finer detail.
- 0.1mm (Fine): Smooth surfaces, great for detailed models. Takes longer but looks amazing
- 0.2mm (Standard): Good balance of quality and speed. Perfect for most prints
- 0.3mm (Draft): Quick prints for prototypes. Visible layer lines but faster
Tip: Lower layer height = smoother surface but longer print time. Higher layer height = faster but more visible "steps" on curves.
What is Infill?
Infill is the internal structure of your print. Your model doesn't need to be solid plastic inside – that would be wasteful and heavy. Instead, the printer creates an internal pattern.
- 0-20%: Light decorative objects. Quick to print, uses less material
- 20-40%: Standard for most prints. Good strength-to-weight ratio (our default is 20%)
- 50-100%: Maximum strength. For mechanical parts that need to handle stress
Infill Patterns: We use patterns like grid, triangles, or gyroid inside your model. These structures are incredibly strong while using minimal material – nature's design principles in action!