Breaking Ground in the Digital World

Nikki Bradford
9/22/2014





[3D Printing Face] Thedrum.com Retrieved 9/22/2014
http://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2013/12/31/cyberlaw-predictions-3d-printer-
printed-3d-printer
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Table of Contents
What is 3D Printing?
Page 2
How Do We Get a 3D Shape?
Page 2
How Does it Work?
Page 2
Practical Applications
Page 3
Bibliography
Page 3










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What is 3D Printing?
3D printing is a process in which a solid object can be made out of the layering of a solid material by a digital
technology. This process has become increasingly popular in all fields of manufacturing throughout the 21
st
century.

Horizontal layers are built up from the bottom of the object, slowly forming a solid 3 Dimensional form.
This process is often referred to as Additive Manufacturing.
How Do We Get a 3D Shape?
The process begins with a digital file containing the design of the object called a CAD.
A CAD is a Computer Aided Design.
Once created, it is uploaded to the 3D scanner.
The scanner then slices the design into microscopic horizontal layers.
The printer then reads these layers and
creates a perfectly blended 3D object.
How does it Work?
The most common method of 3D printing is
called
FDM.

FDM stands for Fused Deposition
Modeling.
This method was created by Scott Crump
in the late 80s.
It works by feeding a filament into the printer which could be metal, plastic, etc.
The material is fed into the nozzle of the printer and melted.
[3D Printing Example] Gitastudents.com Retrieved 9/22/2014
http://gitastudents.com/~tjoam/assign2.htm
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The melted material hardens immediately and each layer fuses with the former.
An example of 3D printing in action can be seen at http://vimeo.com/84273795.



Practical Applications
There are many uses for 3D printing which not only make things easier, but more efficient as well.

Prototypes can be made for a smaller cost and in significantly less time than if they were made by
hand.
Nike has begun using 3D printers to make the prototypes of their shoes, cutting on cost and time.
Architects have been able to not only print prototypes of their designs, but the buildings themselves.
The reconstruction of fossils, artifacts and evidence has been achieved through 3D printing.
3D artists have adopted 3D printing to create their art.
Doctors have been able to use 3D printers to create new body parts.
A discussion of the uses of 3D printing can be found at http://youtube/Vx0Z6LplaMU.

Bibliography
[3D Printing Face] Thedrum.com Retrieved 9/22/2014
http://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2013/12/31/cyberlaw-predictions-3d-printer-printed-3d-printer
[3D Printing Example] Gitastudents.com Retrieved 9/22/2014 http://gitastudents.com/~tjoam/assign2.htm
[Tardis 3D Print] Vimeo.com Retrieved 9/22/2014 http://vimeo.com/84273795
[Uses of 3D Printing] Youtube.com Retrieved 9/22/2014 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx0Z6LplaMU
[What is 3D Printing?] 3DPrinting.com Retrieved 9/22/2014 http://3dprinting.com/what-is-3d-printing/