About 3D Printing; What Is 3D Printing?; The Technique; 3D Printing Process - Flashforge FINDER User Manual

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About 3D Printing

What is 3D Printing?

Simply put, 3D printing is transforming three-dimensional models into
physical objects that you can hold and touch. It is also called additive
manufacturing because the 3D model is created by "adding" layers upon
layers of material until the object is fully formed.

The Technique

Fused Deposition Modeling(FDM) is the most common method of 3D
printing. It is also the method that the Finder uses. It works by melting
plastic material called filament onto a print surface using high
temperature. The filament solidifies after it cools down, which happens
instantaneously after it is extruded from the print head. 3D objects are
formed with the filament laying down multiple layers.

3D Printing Process

3D printing involves three steps: 1.) 3D model design, 2.) Slicing and
exporting the 3D model, and 3.) Making the print
1. Designing the 3D Model: Currently, there are three ways of creating a
3D model.
Designing From Scratch. You can use free CAD (computer aided design)
software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Pro-E to design your very own
3D model.
3D Scanners. An alternative method to creating a 3D model is to scan an
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