Ever wonder what all the buzz about 3D printing is about? Or maybe you're not even 100% sure what 3D printing is. Learn the basics about 3D printing and how to get started at home.
View the full article at http://accent.chubb.com/3D-printing-explained and for more information on the world’s latest technology, check out http://accent.chubb.com/technology.
2. Imagine
needing
a
hammer,
and
then
being
able
to
create
one
at
home.
Imagine
buying
a
musical
instrument
online,
and
then
manifes(ng
its
parts
right
in
your
studio.
Imagine
designing
a
sculpture,
and
then
seeing
it
brought
to
life
before
your
eyes.
Sounds
futuris(c,
right?
Well,
the
future
is
here—and
in
fact,
it’s
been
here
since
the
1980s,
when
the
three-‐
dimensional
printer
was
first
developed.
3. Three-‐dimensional
prin(ng
technology
is
already
capable
of
crea(ng
simple
objects
made
from
materials
like
plas(c,
metal
and
rubber,
but
engineers
and
scien(sts
are
working
on
printers
that
can
also
create
organic
products
like
edible
meat
or
even
transplant
organs.
In
fact,
some
futurists
envision
a
world
where
3D
prin(ng
has
made
mass
manufacturing
and
shipping
obsolete
and
solved
urgent
problems
like
shortages
of
food
and
donated
organs.
To
be
clear,
this
version
of
the
future
remains
far
in
the
distance,
but
the
groundwork
has
been
laid.
Life-‐changing
technology
4. So
how
does
it
work?
Create
your
own
computer-‐aided
design,
or
download
a
ready-‐made
blueprint,
and
watch
as
your
printer
magically
manifests
your
object.
The
technology
behind
the
magic
is
called
addi(ve
manufacturing,
which
basically
means
you
print
the
object
by
layering
one
cross-‐sec(on
of
maMer
upon
the
next.
Unlike
lightning-‐fast
laser
paper
printers,
their
3D
cousins
are
significantly
slower.
It
can
take
hours
or
even
days
for
a
single
object
to
print.
(You
may
be
able
to
run
to
the
store
for
a
new
hammer
faster
than
you
can
print
one
at
home,
but
where’s
the
fun
in
that?)
Just
as
paper
printers
need
ink
cartridges,
3D
printers
need
prin(ng
supplies
too.
Most
non-‐commercial
printers
create
objects
from
plas(c,
resin
or
metal.
3D
prin4ng,
explained
5. You
can
enjoy
this
novel
technology
at
surprisingly
affordable
prices.
One
of
the
best
models
for
beginners
at
home
is
the
Printrbot
Simple
($599).
True
to
its
name,
it
allows
users
to
create
simple
metal-‐based
designs
with
ease.
The
FLASHFORGE
Dreamer
($1,099)
is
a
favorite
for
its
ability
to
print
in
two
colors
of
filament.
For
something
even
more
advanced,
try
the
MakerBot
Replicator
($2,899)
for
faster
speed,
improved
quality
and
more
choices
for
prin(ng
materials.
Hobbyists
at
home
