3D Printing Process

3D design
The design process of 3D printing is to first use computer modeling software to model, and then "partition" the built 3D model into layer by layer cross-sections, i.e. slices, to guide the printer to print layer by layer.
The standard file format for collaboration between design software and printers is the STL file format. An STL file uses triangular faces to approximate the surface of an object. The smaller the triangular surface, the higher the resolution of the generated surface. PLY is a scanner that generates 3D files through scanning, and the generated VRML or WRL files are often used as input files for full-color printing.
Slicing processing
The printer reads the cross-sectional information from the file, prints out these cross-sections layer by layer using liquid, powder, or sheet materials, and then glues each layer of cross-sections together in various ways to create a solid. The characteristic of this technology is that it can create almost any shape of object.
The thickness of the cross-section printed by the printer (i.e. Z direction) and the resolution in the plane direction (i.e. X-Y direction) are calculated in dpi (pixels/inches) or micrometers. The typical thickness is 100 microns, which is 0.1 millimeters. Some printers, such as the ObjetConnex series and the 3D Systems' ProJet series, can print a thin layer of 16 microns. The plane direction can print at a resolution similar to that of a laser printer. The diameter of the printed "ink droplets" is usually 50 to 100 micrometers. Creating a model using traditional methods usually takes several hours to several days, depending on the size and complexity of the model. The use of 3D printing technology can shorten the time to several hours, depending on the performance of the printer, as well as the size and complexity of the model.
Traditional manufacturing techniques such as injection molding can produce polymer products in large quantities at lower costs, while 3D printing technology can produce relatively fewer products in a faster, more flexible, and lower cost manner. A desktop sized 3D printer can meet the needs of designers or concept development teams to manufacture models.
Complete printing
The resolution of a 3D printer is sufficient for most applications (curved surfaces may be rough, like jagged images). To obtain higher resolution items, the following method is used: first, use the current 3D printer to print a slightly larger object, and then slightly polish the surface to obtain a smooth "high-resolution" item.
Some technologies can use multiple materials for printing simultaneously. Some technologies also use supports during the printing process, such as using easily removable materials (such as soluble substances) as supports when printing inverted objects.