Did you know that there were more than 2 million 3D printers sold across the world in the year 2020? 3D printers are amazing pieces of technology that make a massive difference in the world that we live in. It is one of the fastest-growing technologies on the market with no known bounds of what it can create.
The technology for 3D printing has been around for around forty years but it has grown by leaps and bounds since its beginning. As the technology becomes more accessible, so do 3D printers.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn some fun facts about 3D printing as well as 3D printing technology facts then today is your lucky day. You’ve discovered the perfect article to teach you a wide variety of interesting facts about 3D printers.
Keep reading this article to learn seven fun and interesting 3D printing facts today.
1. 3D Printing Started for Prototyping
As mentioned earlier, 3D printing has been around since the 1980s but it is becoming more and more prominent with each passing year. When the technology was first getting honed it was meant for use with prototyping designs and parts. It has since moved into making parts for testing and production.
Ford Motor Company is one of the first companies to implement 3D printing as a way of rapid prototyping. This switch has led to the company saving millions of dollars on the prototyping process and getting new parts out to consumers in record time. Learn more about 3D printing and helping your business’s growth at https://www.rapidpsi.com/additive-manufacturing-3d-printing.
Nowadays, 3D printing gets used to produce custom creations for their own use as well as to sell to customers that are interested in these goods.
2. 3D Printers Print in Layers
One thing that many people don’t realize when it comes to 3D printers is that they print the objects that they’re creating in different layers. Think of additive printing or 3D printing in terms of how a paper printer works. An ink printer puts one layer of ink onto a piece of paper in order to produce the documents that you need.
A 3D printer is quite similar but it continues to add layers where they’re required. Most printers require an escape hole so that you can clean your 3D printed products in an effective manner.
3. You Can 3D Print Numerous Materials
There are a number of different materials that you can use when you start with your 3D printing. Many people think that 3D printing is relegated to plastics and polymers but that is far from the truth. The truth is that you can use almost anything to print an object with a 3D printer.
Some of the more common printing materials that you can use include gold, titanium, silver, and even wood. It is easy to write these printing materials off as something that you’d need special equipment for but that is also false. Anyone with a 3D printer can use these printing materials to bring their designs and creations to life.
Over the past few years, people have used 3D printers in order to create homes, drones, and even jewelry. If you set your mind to it then you can find a way to print it with a 3D printer.
4. 3D Printing Lowers Production Costs
If you’ve never worked in manufacturing then odds are that you’re not aware of the large upfront costs that manufacturers face. That isn’t even going into the expensive fees that come with storing goods or dealing with investors that aren’t sure about your business operations.
You’ll also need large and expensive machines if you’re going to produce large quantities of your products and get them out to market in a short amount of time. 3D printing makes all of that obsolete and helps to make the manufacturing process a breeze. You can wait until you get a new order for your products before you start making them thanks to the ease of using 3D printing.
This makes 3D printing a great fit for an entrepreneur or someone that wants to start their own business using 3D printing. You’ll find that it is the best way to avoid waste when making goods or products.
5. 3D Printing Is Part of the Film Industry
3D printing is also quite prevalent in the film industry. The process of making props for movies and television series is time-consuming and expensive. 3D printing is the perfect solution to this issue since you can make just about anything that you set your mind to in a short amount of time.
You’ll have no problem creating and replacing those props as you need them. Movies like Jurassic Park, The Hobbit, and The Avengers have all features of movie props that got created using 3D printing. This is one of the most surprising facts about 3D printing.
6. 3D Printing Is Going to Outer Space
NASA is working on figuring out how to make a 3D printer work in space using robots to help create buildings and infrastructure on the Moon. This is a revolutionary idea on how to best use 3D printers for advancing technology and society as a whole. It is one of the coolest facts about 3D printing out there and it will change the way that humans live.
7. 3D Printing Is Big in Education
Many schools now offer 3D printing as a part of their educational curriculums. They’re also getting used for helping people with disabilities participate in activities that they were previously excluded from thanks to the ability to print medical solutions. This technology is expanding the ability to educate people to an entirely new level.
Now You Know These Fun 3D Printing Facts
There are countless 3D printing facts that will blow your mind, but these ones are the facts that stand out the most if you’re looking for a good mix of interesting facts about 3D printing to share with your friends. 3D printing is playing a big role in the exploration of space and it makes providing a great educational experience much easier.
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