Beginning a new Blog here for my 3D printing class.   Just a collection of my findings online and an overall synapsis of the materials I'm reading about 3D printing.  Much of th

Brief History of 3D Printing- (notes taken from the book 3D Printing-The Next Technology Gold Rush)

3D printers are bringing about a revolution in manufacturing. Much like the industrial and computer revolutions, these amazing new machines will completely transform the face of manufacturing, distribution and consumption.3D printing is not actually a ‘new’ technology. It is simply now coming into the public consciousness, and being more widely publicized. 3D Systems co-founder, Chuck Hull, invented stereo-lithography in 1986, and the company remains to this day one of the markets’ largest players, along with Stratasys and Z Corp. Prices for commercial 3D printers range from $15,000 to more than $300,000. At the other end of the scale, personal 3D printers requiring DIY assembly, now sell for as little as $500, whereas five years ago the lowest-priced printer was at least $15,000.  The open source development of 3D printers began in 2009.  Most consumer 3D printers available at the moment use a manufacturing process in which layers of plastic are deposited layer by layer, building up to form the required shape of the final object. This begins with a software process, developed by Stratasys, which processes an .stl file. . Technically speaking this is known as FDM extrusion or fused deposition modeling. Some machines work by laying down a strand of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS) polymer from a heated nozzle. ABS is best known as the plastic from

which Lego bricks are made. Other 3D-printer makers have chosen to “go green", using a biodegradable compound called PLA or polylactic acid, a plastic made from food starch. Some machines work by laying down a strand of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS) polymer from a heated nozzle. ABS is best known as the plastic fromwhich Lego bricks are made. Other 3D-printer makers have chosen to “go green", using a biodegradable compound called PLA or polylactic acid, a plastic made from food starch.   

 Here is a short video highlighting the basic process.