3D Printing

3D Printing (3DP) is the most popular and commonly used term by those in manufacturing as well as the general population. Although 3D printing has existed since the 1980’s for product development companies, the hobbyist 3D printer market began its boom in 2012 which led to massive adoption and awareness. 3D printing is often considered the term used to define a wide range of technologies, processes, and use cases. From inexpensive hobbyist equipment to multi-million dollar professional grade machinery, 3D printing for product development and tactile prototyping remain the most popular applications amongst the industry. This is possible with technologies such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) and many, many more. With every 3D printing technology comes a varying range of applications dependent on the mechanical properties of the available materials, speed, and capacity. From simulation plastics to titanium metals and flexible rubbers to robust production-grade nylons, all of which fall under the 3D printing umbrella.