Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
The white object is being printed. If you look closely
you can see the red conical tip touching the top of the
white part and extruding a thin strand of white plastic.
The dark plastic is printed support structure that will
wash away later.
Once the printer's firmware reads the formatted file, it calculates the
mechanical path and actions of the physical print head. For example, the
print head needs to know where its print nozzle should deposit the outline
of the design's shape, and how much material the print head should squirt,
where, and so on.
Once the 3D printer's irmware inishes planning the sequence of operations,
the physical printing process can begin. Printers that deposit material typically
move the print head along a set of horizontal and vertical rails (what engineer's
call a “gantry”) that zips the print head where it needs to go. To deposit the
irst layer, the print head outlines the shape of the footprint of the object being
printed. This irst layer, like a pencil tracing around the bottom of a coffee cup,
outlines the base of the object. The print head will then proceed to scan back
and forth to ill in the contour, like a child illing in a shape in a coloring topic.
After the irst footprint layer is printed, the print head is raised slightly and
returns to work to lay down the second layer. The printer continues to repeat
this process, patiently laying down one cross-section of the object after another,
as depicted in the design ile, a process that can go on for hours, even days.
The good thing about this branch of the 3D printing family tree is that
their printing technology can be simpliied into relatively low-tech versions
that are low-cost and can use a wide range of materials. Any raw material that
can be squeezed through a nozzle can be 3D printed. Frosting, cheese, and
