This post introduces 3D printing, the best 3D printers, how a 3D printer works, etc. For more computer tips and solutions, you can visit MiniTool Software website where you can also find some useful programs like MiniTool Power Data Recovery, MiniTool Partition Wizard, MiniTool ShadowMaker, etc.
About 3D Printing
Based on Wikipedia, 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It refers to the processes in which material is joined and solidified to create a three-dimensional object under computer control. It adds the material together like plastics, liquids, powder grains, etc.
In the past, 3D printing usually means the production of functional or aesthetic prototypes (also known as rapid prototyping). In 2019, 3D printing is considered an industrial-production technology, and it is usually used for producing very complex shapes/geometries that cannot be constructed by hand. FDM (Fused deposition modeling) is the most common 3D printing process in 2020 and it uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material.
Best 3D Printers
- Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ (Best Overall)
- Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer (Best 3D Printer for Professionals/Business)
- Original Prusa Mini (Best Budget)
- MakerBot Replicator+ (For Product Designers/Engineers)
- Ultimaker S5 (Best 3D Printer for Large Objects)
- Monoprice Mini Delta V2 3D Printer (Best 3D Printer for Beginners)
- Anycubic Vyper (Best Budget 3D Printer for Large Objects)
- Flashforge Finder 3D Printer (For Kids)
- Elegoo Mars 2 (MSLA (Resin), good budget 3D printer under $200)
- Dremel Digilab 3D20 3D Printer
- Comgrow Creality Ender 3 3D Printer
- Monoprice Voxel Wi-Fi 3D Printer
- Comgrow Creality Ender 3 V2 3D Printer
- Anycubic Photon Mono X 3D Printer
- Monoprice Select Mini V2
- LulzBot Mini 2
How much is a 3D printer? The 3D printer price ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Some cheap 3D printers are under $200. Some expensive 3D printers can be about $2000. You can choose to buy one based on your budget.
How Does a 3D Printer Work?
The process of 3D printing is to make a graphic model of the 3D object to be printed with a 3D printer. The 3D object model is usually designed by using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software like TinkerCAD, Fusion360, Sketchup, etc.
A 3D printer moves around precisely under computer control. 3D objects are created by fusing layers of material. It prints one layer and lets it dry, then prints the next layer on top.
As for the FDM 3D printer, it uses a geared motor (extruder) to push a plastic filament through a heated nozzle. The heated nozzle melts the plastic filament, and then the molten plastic is deposited onto a build platform.
Bottom Line
This post gives a simple introduction to 3D printing and lists some best 3D printers for your reference. If you are looking for solutions for more computer problems, you can visit MiniTool News Center.
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