3D Printing History Explained
3D Printing History Explained 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating three-dimensional objects by building up layers of material. The history of 3D printing can be traced back to the 1980s when the first patents for 3D printing technology were filed. One of the earliest forms of 3D printing was called "stereolithography" (SLA). This process involved using a laser to cure (harden) a liquid resin, layer by layer, to create a solid object. Another early form of 3D printing was called "fused deposition modeling" (FDM), which involved using an extruder to deposit layers of melted plastic to create a solid object. In the 1990s, the first commercial 3D printers became available. These early printers were primarily used for prototyping and were primarily used by engineers and designers. However, as the technology continued to improve and the cost of 3D printers decreased, 3D printing began to gain popularity among hobbyists and small...