You've probably heard of it... In the 21st century, it's impossible to feign ignorance about the existence of this revolutionary technology. Some consider 3D printing to be the beginning of the 4th industrial era...
From aeronautics to medicine, this 3D creation process is everywhere. At conventions, 3D figurines bearing the likenesses of the greatest fantasy stars are breathtakingly realistic... Everyone has heard of 3D printing at least once. But do you really know what it's all about?
In the 1960s, science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke imagined a machine capable of copying objects. In 1972, the comic strip Tintin et le lac aux requins (Tintin and the Shark Lake) featured a photocopier that was no match for today's 3D printers.
At the beginning of its history, 3D printing was nothing more than a fantasy... Nobody in the street believed for a second that such an invention would ever see the light of day. Printing has always been 2D, and will remain so. At least, that's what the popular masses of the time firmly believed...
On July 16 1984, Jean-Claude AndrΓ©, Alain le MΓ©hautΓ© and Olivier de Witte, three Frenchmen working for CILAS ALCATEL, filed a patent for additive manufacturing. Fifteen days later, American Chuck Hull protected the concept of stereo lithography.
Where do you think the .stl file extension comes from? It's derived from the acronym SLA (StereoLithography Apparatus), popularized by Chuck Hulls and 3D systems, a leading 3D printer design company. It was this company that produced the first 3D printer, the SLA-250, which went on sale in 1988.
Like all conventional printing, it all starts with the choice of model. Do you want to design a dental prosthesis or reproduce a landscape scene you've seen in a image bank image bank?
Before clicking on the "print" button, you need to clearly define your objective. To find ideas, you have three options:
Once this stage has been completed, it's time to start the actual 3D printing.
In your hands is the .stl version of that image you've been raving about. Every 3D printer comes with software that lets you preview your future masterpiece. Now's the time to ire it from every angle and make any necessary modifications.
If you're happy with the result, connect your 3D printer to your PC and install your spool of material. Carefully feed the 3D filament into the feeder and push it so that it becomes visible in the Bowden tube. Wait until the material is fully seated in the print head.
Finally, the big moment... Click on print and twiddle your thumbs while the machine does all the work. In a few minutes or several hours, your 3D creation will be ready.
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While the proliferation of 3D printing is an incredible technological leap, much of the work is actually very grounded in old-fashioned hard work. For this reason, most of the accessories associated with 3D printing are as mundane as masking tape, glue, and tweezers.
Itβs great to finally get to use that 3D printer can make just about anything. The decision was made and everyoneβs decided to use the printer to make stationery. The only problem is that no one knows how to do that! Well relax, here is how to make stationery on a 3D printer.
