A printer is a machine that takes words and pictures and makes a hard copy of them on paper in two dimensions, right? Not anymore! These day, 3D printers are changing the way we think about manufacturing. Many everyday objects are made in a factory, but special buildings for making things could soon be a thing of the past. In the future, we'll just choose a design and print the object we need! /
The idea was first demonstrated in the mid-80s, although the trem 3D printing didn't appear until the mid-90s. A number of different technologies can be used, but most work in a similar way. A desing is created on computer , often by scanning an existing object. A laser passes over the object and creates a 3D picture of the shape. The shape is then broken down into layers. Each one is only about 0.1 mm thick, and the object might be made of thousands of them. The printer makes the object one layer at a time. /
The way it does this depends on the type of printer. Some use plastic, glass, or metal powder , which is melted by a laser into the correct shape. Others use hot plastic, which they put in place like icing on a birthday cake. In the same way that bakers cover a cake using a pastry bag, the hot plastic comes out of a tiny nozzle, which moves over the surface of the object. The hole opens and closes to control the flow of plastic. /
Right now, companies are working on producing 3D printers for the home . One day soon, you might be cooking and realise you need a frying pan. Instead of going to the store, you'll tell your computer what you need, and your 3D printer will do the rest! The possibilities are endless.