3D printing (English: 3D? Printing), a kind of rapid prototyping technology, is a technology based on digital model files, which uses bonding materials such as powder metal or plastic to construct objects by stacking them layer by layer (that is, "laminated molding method"). In the past, it was often used to make models in mold manufacturing, industrial design and other fields, but now it is gradually used in the direct manufacturing of some products. In particular, some high-value applications (such as hip joints or teeth, or some airplane parts) already have parts printed by this technology, which means the popularization of the technology of "3D printing".

3D printing technology is usually realized by using digital technology material printer. Since entering the 2 1 century, the output and sales volume of this printer have increased greatly, and the price has also decreased year by year.

This technology has applications in jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automobile, aerospace, dentistry and medical industry, education, geographic information system, civil engineering, guns and other fields.

3D printing technology appeared in the mid-1990s, and it is actually a rapid prototyping equipment using light curing and paper lamination technologies. Its working principle is basically the same as that of ordinary printers. The printer is full of "printing materials", such as liquid or powder. After connecting with the computer, the "printed materials" are superimposed layer by layer under the control of the computer, and finally the blueprint on the computer becomes a physical object. This technology is now used in many fields. People use it to make clothes, building models, cars, chocolate desserts and so on.

Universal principle

The design process of 3D model block 3D printing is: firstly, the 3D model is modeled by computer aided design (CAD) or computer animation modeling software, and then the built 3D model is "blocked" into layers of sections, thus guiding the printer to print layer by layer.

The standard file format for collaboration between design software and printer is STL file format. STL files use triangular surfaces to roughly simulate the surface of objects. The smaller the triangular surface, the higher the resolution of the generated surface. PLY is a scanner that generates 3D files by scanning. VRML or WRL files generated by PLY are usually used as input files for full-color printing.