3D Printers

3d printers have revolutionized manufacturing today by being able to prototype and manufacture at an individual level.

To explain this scientifically, this happens due to gravity. Any part you print that doesn't touch the ground/print bed will just fall down because of this. These parts that do not touch the ground are also known as overhangs (due to the fact that they are hanging in the air). So, when we say overhangs we basically mean any part that is not lying on anything; that is hanging in the air. When a 3D printer, such as the Da Vinci Jr., attempts to print these overhangs, the strings of filament used to print this part just gall

If you want to print complex shaped stuff that have these overhangs, then you need to add supports. Supports are basically pieces that are printed below the overhang so that they hold it in order for it not to fall. You can easily remove those supports after the print and you will have the complicated shape you wanted.

To add supports to your designs, you can use several PC softwares. One free downloadable software that you can use for supports is Meshmixer, which you can download by searching Meshmixer download

To see how you add supports using it, you can search up videos on how to add supports on Meshmixer on youtube. For example, to find a video that might help you if you are planning to use Meshmixer, just search "Adding custom 3dprinting supports in Meshmixer" by Mold3D TV.

Make sure that when you add supports, the supports look satisfying to you.

You can also google and find other softwares you can use to add supports if Meshmixer doesn't fit you.

Some of the materials that a 3D printer uses to make objects include plastics, resins and metals.

If you're setting up a company that prints photos from files people bring in, you want a real minilab.

Yup - try Shapeways/iMaterialize/Ponoko etc. Full color is definitely possible in ceramic/sandstone.

At home, you're practically limited to two colors on most consumer plastic printers.

There is currently lots of activity in this area.

Some of what is happening:

Very Expensive: Full color sandstone/ceramic have been around for a while but is costly and generally not affordable at the consumer level.

Expensive: This paper 3D printer uses an inkjet printer to color each layer - 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping | Mcor Technologies (old $50k+ versions worked, new 15k versions due end of 2016)

Affordable: This printer purports to be able to do full color: Spectrom - Full-Color Desktop 3D Printer

Cheap: This box splices different colors into any consumer/plastic 3D printer to create multi color prints: Multi-Color 3D Printing (very new)

So it is very do-able and the space is changing very quickly.

My guess is that the MCOR line will be the first of the "good" home/school full color printers that don't require a huge amount of tinkering.