3D Printing

The process begins by developing a virtual model within computer-aided design software, which can be facilitated by having data from an existing object's 3D scan. The design is then exported to a slicer—software that cuts the model into horizontal cross-sections, similar to cutting a loaf of bread into slices, and generates printing instructions for each. Some devices print these layers by depositing melted filaments, resembling the construction of a wall from strands of hot glue. Others use light to harden resin or fuse fine particles into a solid structure.

Once built, fabrications undergo post-processing, which may include removing printed support structures, rinsing away excess powder, and smoothing surfaces. They may also be painted or chemically treated to impart specific properties, like scratch resistance.