1. In 1984, Bill Masters patented the first 3D printer. 
2. 3D printing is one of the most disruptive technologies and is estimated to lead the 4th industrial revolution. [4]
3. The global 3D printing market size was valued at USD 16.75 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.3% from 2023 to 2030. [6]
4. Modern 3D printers cost between $200 and $10,000 depending on the quality and requirements. [8]

Stats About the History of 3D Printing

For its relatively short history, 3D printing has garnered some impressive feats. It seemed almost immediately in its young life it began revolutionizing the medical field, with prosthetics and organ transplants receiving the brunt of the attention. 

But it wasn’t until 2009 that it started transforming into the consumer product we see today.

5. In 1974, David Jones published the first 3D printing concept. [7]
6. Dr. Hideo Kodama developed the first 3D printing experiments in the 1980s. It used a photosensitive resin that was polymerized by a UV light. [1]
7. The first bladder was successfully printed in 1999. 
8. The first kidney was printed in 2022. 
9.  ZCorp launched the Spectrum Z510 in 2005, which was the first high-definition color 3D printer. [1]
10. The first 3D-printed prosthetic limb was created in 2008. [1]
11. The FDM patent landed in the public domain in 2009, leading to an innovative wave of 3D printers and increased access to desktop 3D printers. This sparked the consumer 3D market. [1]
12. In the 2010s, manufacturers started to create metal end-use parts with 3D printing. [7]
13. In 2014, Manos M. Tentzeris and Benjamin S. Cook created a method to use 3D printing to make complex electronics. [7]

3D Printing Use Cases & Users

Who is using 3D printing and how are they using it? Companies (and now everyday people) for endless reasons. Let’s break it down. 

14. Desktop 3D printers are increasingly used for domestic and household purposes [6]
15. Healthcare’s 3D printing market size was valued at $1,036.58 million in 2020 and is predicted to reach $5,846.74 million by 2030 at a registered CAGR of 20.10%.  [13]
16. Schools, universities, and educational institutes are also leveraging desktop 3D printers for training and research. 
17. The 3D-printed prosthetics, orthotics, and audiology market will gain $509 million in revenue by 2026 and grow to $996 million by 2030. [14]
18. Adidas has developed 3D-printed midsoles for its new 4DFWD shoes. [12]

14. Small businesses are beginning to offer 3D printing services to meet customer needs. 
15. Prototyping was the most common 3D printing application in 2022, accounting for over 54% of global revenue. [6]
16. Accounting for 23% of global revenue share in 2022, the automotive segment led the market in 2022. 
17. With over 33% of revenue share, North America led the market in 2022. 

Hardware Industry Facts & Stats

Hardware is the biggest sector of the 3D printing market. It includes applications (prototyping and functional parts), vertices (specific industries), and materials used for printing. Here’s what you need to know: 

Compared to other industries – like the drone industry– 3D printing boasts relatively high CAGR percentages and has expected revenue operating in the billions over the next few years.

23. Prototyping is the top hardware application market segment, capturing over 55% of revenue worldwide in 2020. 
24. The functional parts segment of the application market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.5% from 2021 to 2028, along with an increased demand for designing and building functional parts. [6]
25. The automotive vertical holds the largest share of the industrial 3D printing market accounting for over 23% of the segment’s global revenue. [6]

3D Printing Cost & ROI

Let’s face it, a 3D printer and materials are going to cost a bit more than your standard inkjet and paper. But you may be surprised by how much money this technology can save companies as well. 

26. Entry-level printers for beginners can cost between $400 and $1000. [8]
27. $10,000 is the standard cost for an industrial printer. [8]
28. By using 3D printing for titanium parts, Boeing saved $3 million. [7] 
29. General Electric predicts they will save up to $5 million over the next decade by changing to 3D printing for manufacturing.  [7]
30. In less than 4 months, The Center for Advanced Design achieved an ROI on a Stratasys F370 3D printer. [9]

3D Printing Materials

Early 3D printers used only plastics, but now they can use many different materials, expanding their capabilities. 

31. In 2022, metal was the largest material segment for 3D printing, accounting for 52% of global revenue. [6]
32. The fastest-growing materials in 3D printing are metals and metal alloys. This segment is expected to grow by over 28.2% between now and 2030.  [6]
33. Polymer had the second-largest share of revenue in 2022. [6]
34. Ceramic is a newer material segment, but it’s expected to grow rapidly at a high CAGR of over 25% over the forecast period. [6] 
35. Discrete manufacturing is the top industry for 3D printing. [3]

Technology and Software

Moving forward, streamlining user-friendliness and ready-made part designs will be paramount to the growth of 3D printing software. 

36. Stereolithography (one of the oldest printing techniques) was the largest segment in the market, capturing over 10% of global revenue in 2022. [6]
37. The design software segment accounted for 36.7% of global revenue, making it the largest software segment. [6]
38. Scanning software demand is predicted to grow due to a demand to store scanned images of objects to use when needed. 
39. Between 2023 and 2030, scanning software is expected to have the highest CAGR of 24%. [6] 
40. Hardware is predicted to continue holding the largest revenue share, but software is expected to have the fastest CAGR over the next several years. [6]
41. The market for on-demand parts services and CAD software is expected to triple by 2026. [4]

3D Printing Devices

Who’s making 3D printers? HP and GE have the most additive printing patents, but here’s what you need to know:

42. By 2030, there are expected to be 2.8 million additive manufacturing and 3D printing devices worldwide. 
43. In 2022, GE had the most 3D printing patents in the United States. [5]
44. The top 5 leading 3D printing companies are AutoDesk, HP Inc., 3D Systems, Desktop Metal, and Proto Labs.
45. The world’s largest 3D printer manufacturer is AutoDesk, with a market capitalization of $68.22 billion. [10]
46. After going public in December 2020, Desktop Metal’s market capitalization exceeded $7.5 billion in 2021, and received $575 million as part of a merger with special acquisitions company Trine Acquisition Corp.

3D Market Size & Growth 

3D printing has already made its mark, and the future looks bright. Here’s a breakdown of the market:

47. Between 2018 and 2026, the market for 3D printing materials is expected to grow by 12 percent annually to reach just under four billion U.S. dollars by 2026. [3]
48. The 3D printing market is expected to grow by nearly 24% between 2020 and 2026. [4]
49. By 2026, the global 3D printing market is expected to reach $37.2 billion dollars. [4]
50. Hardware (including applications, materials, and vertices) is the leads global 3D printing market share. [6]
51. In 2022, the industrial printer segment led the market, accounting for over 76% of global revenue because of the adoption of industrial 3D printers in the electronics, healthcare, automotive, and aerospace industries. [6]

Market Outlook for 3D Printing

According to Forbes, the future of 3D printing lies heavily in prototyping for both desktop and industrial printers. 

It seems 3D printers are on the last stretch of the home run as the industry works towards developing this technology to satisfy diverse needs. 

52. Over the next decade, we expect the majority of manufacturing spending to shift to functional end-use parts as the technology becomes more affordable and widely adopted.  [15]
53. We expect to see additive manufacturing playing a bigger role in sustainability and conservation efforts as 3D printing has proven to reduce waste and energy consumption. [16]
54. 3D printing will adopt the use of more specialized materials to meet the criteria in specialized fields. [16]
55. The next frontier of 3D printing will be to move from small models and fixtures to functional end-use parts in mass production.  [6]

Since the beginning, additive manufacturing has pushed the limits on creativity and production, and now it promises to do the same on a larger scale.

For 3D printing to achieve the monumental tasks ahead, speed and design capabilities need to be at the forefront of manufacturers’ goals to accommodate the growing need for this technology.

Sources:

[1] https://www.sculpteo.com/en/3d-learning-hub/basics-of-3d-printing/the-history-of-3d-printing/ 

[2] https://cloudtweaks.com/2015/03/3d-printing-history-organs/ 

[3] https://www.statista.com/statistics/590113/worldwide-market-for-3d-printing/

[4] https://www.statista.com/topics/1969/additive-manufacturing-and-3d-printing/#topicOverview 

[5] https://www.statista.com/statistics/315386/global-market-for-3d-printers/ 

[6] https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-printing-industry-analysis 

[7] https://facts.net/3d-printing-facts/

[8] https://www.3dsourced.com/3d-printers/how-much-does-a-3d-printer-cost-price/#h-3d-printer-price-guide 

[9]https://www.stratasys.com/contentassets/1bcbb899100b4f0db586d1daa9489f27/stratasys-case-study-cad-oct19.pdf?v=48fa53 

[10] https://investingnews.com/daily/tech-investing/emerging-tech-investing/top-3d-printing-companies/ 

[11] https://wohlersassociates.com/press-releases/new-wohlers-report-2021-finds-7-5-growth-in-additive/ 

[12] https://news.adidas.com/running/4dfwd–data-driven-3d-printed-performance-technology-designed-to-move-you-forward/s/514baddb-1029-4686-abd5-5ee3985a304a 

[13] https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/3d-printing-healthcare-market 

[14] https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/07/06/2258303/0/en/Revenues-from-3D-Printed-Prosthetics-Orthotics-and-Audiology-to-Reach-Almost-1-Billion-by-2030-According-to-New-SmarTech-Report.html 

[15] https://www.designnews.com/automation/predictions-future-3d-printing 

[16] https://www.jabil.com/blog/future-of-3d-printing-additive-manufacturing-looks-bright.html

Overall, my top recommendation at for a budget 3D printer kit is the Creality Ender 3 V2. It’s consistent, reliable, and still a great printer for the money. For a newer version that’s slightly more expensive, I also recommend the Ender 3 V2 Neo which I recently tested.

Also consider the Anycubic Kobra, as it’s one of the easiest kits to build, and prints with great reliability. I have personally tested it and think it’s super easy for beginners to use, and matches the Ender 3 V2 and Ender 3 S1 range in specs.

Super Budget 3D Printer	Great Home 3D Printer Kit	Premium 3D Printer Kit
Creality Ender 3 3D Printer	Anycubic Kobra 3D Printer	Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ kit
3DSourced Rating:	3DSourced Rating:	3DSourced Rating:
Primary Rating: 4.2	Primary Rating: 4.7	Primary Rating: 4.5
Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm	Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm	Build Volume: 250 x 210 x 210 mm
Assembly time: around 1 hour	Assembly time: around 45 minutes	Assembly time: Assembled (ready to print), 3D Printer Kit (6-8 hours)
Max extruder temp: 280°C	Max extruder temp: 260°C	Max extruder temp: 330°C
Max bed temp: 100°C	Max bed temp: 110°C	Max bed temp: 120°C
Filament Compatibility: PLA, ABS, TPU, wood	Filament Compatibility: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU	Filament Compatibility: PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PC, CPE, PVA/BVOH, PVB, HIPS, PP (Polypropylene), Flex, nGen, Nylon, Carbon filled, Woodfill and other filled materials.
$189	$299	$999
Creality here	Anycubic Store here	Buy as a kit here
Amazon here	Amazon here	Buy pre-assembled here

Super Budget 3D Printer

Creality Ender 3 3D Printer

3DSourced Rating:

Primary Rating:

4.2

Build Volume:

220 x 220 x 250 mm

Assembly time:

around 1 hour

Max extruder temp:

280°C

Max bed temp:

100°C

Filament Compatibility:

PLA, ABS, TPU, wood

$189

Creality here

Amazon here

Great Home 3D Printer Kit

Anycubic Kobra 3D Printer

3DSourced Rating:

Primary Rating:

4.7

Build Volume:

220 x 220 x 250 mm

Assembly time:

around 45 minutes

Max extruder temp:

260°C

Max bed temp:

110°C

Filament Compatibility:

PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU

$299

Anycubic Store here

Amazon here

Premium 3D Printer Kit

Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ kit

3DSourced Rating:

Primary Rating:

4.5

Build Volume:

250 x 210 x 210 mm

Assembly time:

Assembled (ready to print), 3D Printer Kit (6-8 hours)

Max extruder temp:

330°C

Max bed temp:

120°C

Filament Compatibility:

PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PC, CPE, PVA/BVOH, PVB, HIPS, PP (Polypropylene), Flex, nGen, Nylon, Carbon filled, Woodfill and other filled materials.

$999

Buy as a kit here

Buy pre-assembled here

These 3D printer kits can take just a few minutes to assemble, or take hours or even days. They can also vary greatly in price, print accuracy, maximum build and print speed.

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The Best DIY 3D Printer Kits in 2024 – Full Reviews

1. Anycubic Kobra – Easiest Kit To Build

• Price — Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Assembly Time: around 45 minutes
• Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
• Max Extruder Temp: 260°C
• Compatible Filaments: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU 

The Anycubic Kobra is a reliable DIY printer by a reliable brand, at an incredibly low price. Despite the low price, it comes with auto-leveling, a touchscreen, and a filament sensor.

I’ve tested the Kobra for 3DSourced, and it performed well overall, especially for the price. I highly recommend it as a great desktop DIY kit.

For example, here’s some test prints I managed with the Anycubic Kobra:

Build volume on the Kobra is a relatively standard 220 x 220 x 250 mm for a printer of that price range. It’s impressively lightweight – just 7 kg – which makes it a convenient portable option if you’re a casual hobbyist who doesn’t have a dedicated craft space.

The Kobra is also equipped with a spring steel PEI-coated bed. It’s flexible and magnetic, allowing you to take the plate and bend it to pop prints off. No risk of damage to the print!

I would suggest the Anycubic Kobra to beginners who don’t have the time or aren’t interested in long assembly times and sharp learning curves. You can assemble the entire printer in just 15 – 60 minutes, depending on your level of skill.

Really, the Kobra is Anycubic’s version of the popular Ender 3 S1. It has similar assembly times and essentially the same build size (though the Ender 3 S1 has 20 mm more in the Z axis, it’s basically the same).

Unless you’re attached to the Creality brand, I personally feel that the Kobra is a better option. It’s cheaper, and there are minor improvements. For example, the Kobra has an inductive probe instead of a touch probe, which is the faster option of the two.

Easiest Kit To Build

Anycubic Kobra 3D Printer

This ultra budget-friendly printer assembles in a lightning-fast 15-60 mins.

The lightweight 7kg body and 220 x 220 x 250mm build volume make printing and portability a breeze.

Reliable auto-leveling and filament runout detection provide peace of mind.

Perfect for beginners seeking hassle-free printing, the Kobra delivers impressive performance with no fuss!

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2. Creality Ender 3 V2 / V2 Neo – Best Under $300

• Price: Check price at Creality Store here / Amazon here
• Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
• Assembly time: 1-2 hours to fully assemble
• Max extruder temp: 260 °C
• Filament compatibility: PLA, TPU, PETG, ABS

Building on the success of the Ender 3 and improving on its flaws, the Ender 3 V2 is a much improved kit.

The upgraded motherboard makes the printer quieter than ever, and the extra power makes for a more stable and precise printing experience.

The upgraded extruder is also a great touch. It’s easier to load and feed filament into via the rotary knob, which is ideal for PLA and flexible filaments. The large 4.3-inch screen makes the interface more intuitive, and the Ender 3 V2 is really easy to use overall.

Another extra is the carborundum glass platform, which can heat up faster than ever and improves adhesion so you can be sure of a great first layer. If you have the extra $100 to spare, I recommend going for the Ender 3 V2 over the original.

However, having since owned and tested the new Ender 3 V2 Neo, I recommend buying this instead of the standard V2 if you have the budget.

I put it through its paces for my test, and I was impressed with the V2 Neo overall.

The Ender 3 V2 Neo has auto-leveling – a big improvement! – as well as an all-metal extruder. The DIY kit itself has also been simplified to be quicker to create, so it’s more beginner friendly.

If you have the budget, I recommend the Ender 3 V2 Neo over the standard V2.

Top Budget Kit, and Most Upgradeable

Creality Ender 3 V2 3D Printer

Upgraded version of the original Ender 3 with a number of key improvements.

This easy to assemble DIY kit creates a 220 x 220 x 250mm build volume for printing epic creations. Experience ultra-quiet operation and stable, precise printing with the upgraded motherboard and extruder.

And, get great first layers with the heated carborundum glass print surface.

Creality Store here Amazon here

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Incredible Value for Money

Ender 3 V2 Neo

An easy-to-use enclosed 3D printer with auto-leveling and removable steel print surface.

With pristine 0.1 mm resolution, you won't find a more precise 3D printer for this price anywhere.

Easy setup, operation and print removal make this an ideal pick for beginners.

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3. Creality Ender 3 – Cheapest DIY Kit

• Price: Check price at Creality Store here / Available on Amazon here
• Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
• Assembly time: around 1 hour
• Filament compatibility: PLA, ABS, TPU, wood

The original Ender 3 is still one of the world’s most popular 3D printer kits, years after it was originally released. The low price, great build area, and reliability have cemented the Ender 3 as one of the best 3D printer kits around.

Whereas issues caused by low-quality parts plague most DIY printers in this price range, the Ender 3 is dependable and consistent, partly due to its upgraded extruder to prevent clogging or poor extrusion.

However, many of the features that were rare and innovative at the time, are standard or considered basic now. Print resume functions are expected, and the Ender 3 does not have auto-leveling which is frustrating.

As an older kit, the original Ender 3 also takes longer to assemble than the newer kits.

So now, I recommend the Ender 3 V2 Neo instead, and you can read my full review of the Ender 3 V2 Neo here, or read on to the V2 section in this article for more details.

If you’re on a tight budget, then absolutely the Ender 3 is still the best printer under $200. But, if you have the spare cash, then upgrade. You’ll be glad you did, for the quality-of-life improvements like auto-leveling, and the far better metal extruder.

The ultimate super cheap 3D printer

Creality Ender 3 3D Printer

$189

The best budget 3D printer kit around - and the best-selling, too.

If you have the budget, pick up the V2 or V2 Neo version, or even the Ender 3 S1 if you prefer a direct drive extruder.

Creality here Amazon here

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4. Creality Ender 5 S1

• Price — Check latest price at Creality here
• Assembly Time: 1 hour
• Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 280 mm
• Max Extruder Temp: 300°C
• Compatible Filaments: PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, PC, ASA, HIPS

The Creality Ender 5 S1 is one of the more recent printers in a long line of DIY Creality kits. It’s a long way from the original Ender 3, now boasting easy leveling, great filament compatibility, and a more stable design.

Assembling the Ender 5 S1 only takes slightly longer than the Anycubic Kobra at 1 – 2 hours, depending on experience. The build plate is also similar– a PC spring steel sheet with a magnetic base. It has high sticking power but allows for popping off models by bending.

You can expect the same quality-of-life features that are on any cheaper printer, like auto-leveling through CR-touch, a touch screen, and a filament runout sensor. But the Ender 5 S1 boasts high print speeds of 250 mm/s, too.

It has a stronger extruder than previous Ender models and other cheap DIY kit options. Allowing for a max temp of 300°C, you will be able to use a wide variety of filaments.

A key benefit to purchasing the Ender 5 S1 is that Creality’s entire Ender series is somewhat open source. All Ender printers are built off a similar layout as the Ender 3, which is completely available on GitHub.

Plus, Creality has a huge community that loves DIY. Any project or upgrade you want to do with your Ender 5 S1 has probably been done before, and it’s likely you can find numerous tutorials or forum threads online to help you out.

Sturdy and large kit for big prints

Official Creality Ender-5 S1

This user-friendly DIY kit assembles in just 1-2 hours. Print big projects up to 280mm tall with its spacious 220 x 220 x 280mm build volume.

Print fast at speeds up to 250mm/s and use exotic filaments like ABS and PC thanks to its durable 300°C extruder.

Amazon here Creality here

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5. Flsun Super Racer – Best Delta Kit

• Price: Check latest price at Amazon here / Flsun here
• Assembly Time: 20-40 minutes
• Build Volume: 260 x 260 x 330 mm
• Max Extruder Temp: 260°C
• Compatible Filaments: PLA, ABS, PETG

The Flsun Super Racer is the newer replacement for Flsun QQ-S Pro. It’s a niche option, instead using a delta triangle configuration instead of standard Cartesian setups.

Delta 3D printers are known for being much faster than standard Cartesian printers. As a result, print speeds reach as high as 200 mm/s, with the default printing speed left at 150 mm/s. Even the default speed is faster than the default of comparable printers like the Ender 5 S1, at 120 mm/s.

Despite the high speeds, the Flsun Super Racer can still produce the high-quality prints we’ve come to expect after the QQ-S Pro.

Here’s some of the high-quality prints I managed on my Flsun QQ-S Pro, and the Super Racer achieves even better consistency as well as speed improvements.

Assembly time is similar to the Flsun QQ-S Pro, taking around 15 to 45 minutes.

The Super Racer comes with a ton of spare parts, so you don’t need to worry about losing or breaking pieces. It even has a digital version of the user guide, and videos to help you on your way.

One interesting quirk about building the SR is the leveling sensor. You need to attach it in order to level the bed properly, but then you are instructed to detach it before printing. The process is repeated for every re-level – which isn’t often on a delta printer.

The main upgrade that the Super Racer brings to the table is a better motherboard. It uses a 32-bit high-speed motherboard with 4 TMC 2209 for quieter and more accurate printing. All things considered, the Flsun SR is a great DIY 3D printer for those who want high speeds and tall prints.

Best FAST delta 3D printer kit

FLSUN SR Super Racer

This lightning fast delta 3D printer assembles in just 20-40 minutes.

Max print speeds hit an incredible 200 mm/s for insanely fast prints.

Achieve new heights with the generous 260 x 260 x 330 mm build volume.

Precise 32-bit motherboard and auto-leveling deliver professional quality prints every time.

Amazon here Flsun here

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6. Prusa i3 MK3S+ – Most Reliable Kit

• Price: Varies — Available on the Prusa store here or Amazon here / Fully assembled — Available on the Prusa store here or Amazon here
• Build volume: 250 x 210 x 210 mm
• Assembly time: Assembled (ready to print), 3D Printer Kit (6-8 hours)
• Max extruder temp: 330°C
• Filament compatibility: PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PC, CPE, PVA/BVOH, PVB, HIPS, PP (Polypropylene), Flex, nGen, Nylon, Carbon filled, Woodfill and other filled materials.

The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is known as the undeniable king of DIY 3D printer kits.

These RepRap kits are fantastic, with an impressive print volume of 250 x 210 x 210 mm, and able to print at speeds up to 200mm/s.

The Prusa is extremely accurate, precise, and a reliable workhorse 3D printer. For a long time it has been the gold standard in FDM 3D printer kits.

Accessible via USB stick or by SD card, the Prusa i3 MK3S+ kits are designed to be simple to use as well as effective.

With layer resolutions up to 50 microns, the Prusa i3 homemade 3D printer is so effective that it outperforms far more expensive 3D printers.

It can print tougher filaments than more expensive printers too, with a Bondtech extruder that can reach temperatures of up to 300°C, making printing Polycarbonate, ABS, Nylon, and other difficult filaments no problem.

Additionally, you can print up to 5 colors simultaneously with your Prusa if you purchase their multi-material upgrade kit, costing $300. This makes colorful model printing a breeze, and opens up for far more extravagant printing projects.

• With a Multi Material Upgrade kit, it can also print multiple colors. We explain more in our color 3D printer buyer’s guide.
• You can buy the Multi Material Upgrade Kit 2.0 here.

You can choose to either assemble the kit yourself or buy the printer pre-assembled, though this costs a few hundred dollars more.

Overall, the Prusa remains the undisputed king of DIY 3D printer kits.

Top 3D printer kit

Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ kit

4.5

$899.00

Meet the gold standard in DIY printing - the Prusa i3 MK3S+!

Print like a pro with exotic filaments like PC and nylon thanks to the 300°C hotend.

Reliable, precise, and loaded with innovations like auto bed leveling, the Prusa i3 MK3S+ delivers exceptional performance right out of the box!

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Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ 3D printer (pre assembled)

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7. Peopoly Moai 130 – Top Resin 3D Printer Kit

• Price: Check latest price at Peopoly here
• Assembly Time: 4 – 6 hours
• Build Volume: 130 x 130 x 180 mm
• Resolution: Z-layer: 5 micron (resin dependent), XY: 70 microns

The Peopoly Moai 130 kit is an incredible feat of engineering. It’s huge, offers incredible precision, and best of all, it lets you build your own 3D resin printer at home from scratch.

Featuring a 70-micron laser spot size and a 130 x 130 x 180 mm build volume, you can create everything from resin molds for 3D printed jewelry, dental models, engineering pieces, or miniatures.

The Moai 130 costs slightly more than the now-unavailable original Moai. In return, you get a variety of quality-of-life upgrades that were previously missing. The inclusion of an FEP film vat and an easier-to-level build plate makes the Moai 130 more approachable as a printer kit.

It is only to be expected that the Moai will take some time to assemble, as resin 3D printers are more complex than their FDM 3D printer counterparts. Most makers will be able to build their own Moai 130 within 4 – 6 hours.

As a DIY kit, Peopoly understands that people don’t want to buy branded resins only. You can use the Moai 130 with any third-party resins you want. Another great DIY opportunity is in the form of add-ons. Certain add-ons are supported by Peopoly itself, such as a heater module.

The Moai 130 is something in between an extreme do-everything-yourself experience and a pre-assembled wonder. So long as you’re willing to put in the effort, it’s a reasonable resin option for both beginner and experienced makers.

Best DIY Resin Printer Kit

Peopoly Moai Laser SLA 3D Printer Kit

$625.86

This expansive DIY kit offers a generous 130 x 130 x 180 mm build area for sizable resin prints.

Expect perfect 70 micron XY resolution and astonishing 5 micron Z resolution for professional quality results.

Build it yourself in 4-6 hours and unleash your creativity.

Matterhackers here

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8. Voron 2.4 LDO Kit – Professional DIY Kit

• Price: Check latest price at Matterhackers here
• Assembly Time: 20 – 40 hours
• Build Volume: 350 x 350 x 350 mm
• Max Extruder Temp: 300°C (customizable)
• Compatible Filaments: PLA/Tough PLA/PLA+, PETG/CPE, ABS/ASA, TPU/TPE, Nylon/NylonX/NylonG, PVA, Polycarbonate

The Voron 2.4 LDO Kit is in sharp contrast to beginner printers like the Anycubic Kobra. It’s hands down the most customizable, and that’s because it’s a true DIY printer. You get the pieces, and you build it entirely yourself. No pre-assembly included.

In the past, the Voron project just gave you a sourcing guide and instructions for you to buy all of the pieces individually. This LDO kit makes the process significantly easier, since they’ve sourced all the pieces already.

It’s pricey because it comes with pretty much everything you could want in a printer. There’s the touch screen, auto-leveling, and filament runout sensor. But the Voron 2.4 also has an enormous build volume of 350 x 350 x 350 mm.

The Voron 2.4 LDO Kit comes with clear acrylic panels for you to mount onto the frame. You will need to print or purchase the panel clips in order to properly enclose the printer, but it’s an option for anyone with the kit.

You can opt-in to purchase better parts, like stronger nozzles or better hotends. Since you’ve built the whole thing by hand, without any proprietary parts, you can really adjust anything you want except build volume.

If the trial-and-error, DIY process is the fun part for you, the Voron 2.4 Kit is perfect. It will take you anywhere from 20 – 40 hours to assemble (and then some if you have add-ons), but the result is incredible.

High-quality, professional 3D printer kit

LDO Voron 2.4 R2 3D Printer Kit

4.5

This epic DIY kit offers a massive 350 x 350 x 350mm build volume to print colossal projects. Tinker to your heart's content assembling the kit in 20-40 hours.

Print like a pro with exotic filaments like ABS, ASA, nylon, and PC!

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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Advantages of DIY 3D printers

• Open source: Most homemade 3D printers are also open source 3D printers, meaning they can be tinkered with, upgraded, and modded freely, with the printer files usually hosted on a repository like GitHub. Many Creality and Prusa printers are open source.
• Easily upgradable: Makers frequently switch out parts, such as nozzles, hot ends, and extruders for better quality parts or for certain projects.
• Lower price: For the quality and size, they’re cheaper 3D printers than pre-assembled versions.
• Larger build volume: The open build area means you can have a larger 3D printer build area for the same size.

Build your own 3D printer: what makes a good DIY 3D printer?

We used several criteria to determine which 3D printer kit made it into our ranking:

• Affordable: We only included FDM 3D printer kits under $1,500. The printers are listed in price order, cheapest first.
• Print quality
• Easy to build: Not everyone is a technology wizard. Therefore, any kit that can be assembled quickly, easily, and is simple to operate, is at an advantage.

FAQs

What’s Changed

In our August 2023 update of this article, we changed the following:

• The Flsun QQ-S was switched out in favor of the newer Flsun Super Racer. It is better in every dimension, and is now the 3DSourced choice for delta printer kit.
• Added the newest versions of the Ender 3 range, including the V2 Neo, which we have tested and reviewed on our site.
• Updated the Peopoly Moai section now that the newer Moai 130 version is sold.
• Replaced the Ender 5 Pro with the newer Ender 5 S1.
• The Voron 2.4 LDO kit was added, as it is a high-quality, premium kit.

Jan 2024 updates:

• Updated pricing information for 2024.

In this guide, I’ll reveal how 3D printing is helping engineers produce space projects like rovers, spacesuits, and even engines for use in active space missions, with drastic improvements in efficiency.

3D Printing Shelters for Space

Mars Dune Alpha Habitat

• Company: NASA
• Technology: Vulcan Construction System
• Purpose: Researching a functioning human habitat on the moon and eventually Mars

In June 2023, a simulation began in the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

This is phase one of the Mars Dune Alpha Project by NASA. Assuming all goes well, the volunteer crew will spend a year in this simulation, emulating life on the red planet as realistically as possible, including delayed contact times.

The data extracted from this mission will provide valuable insights into the behavioral and social effects of such a mission, but also the viability of 3D printed space shelters for long-term living and storage.

The mission is due for further trials on the moon in 2025, before hopefully being used for a real Mars mission in 2026 and beyond.

AI Spacefactory

• Company: AI Spacefactory
• Technology: ISRU resource finding and utilization
• Purpose: Building safe and sustainable shelters for space habitation

Companies like AI Space Factory have designed Martian dwellings that could be 3D printed from local materials such as basalt. 

Their Marsha Project proposes tall, thin structures capable of withstanding Mars’ harsh atmospheric and thermal pressures.

However, these Martian habitats, like their lunar counterparts, would need to overcome numerous challenges, including dust control and thermal management. They’re mimicking these environments on earth to find innovative ways of ensuring construction is safe and involves the least amount of destruction to nature as possible.

3D Printing in Spacecraft & Rockets

SpaceX and Boeing Embrace 3D Printing

• Company: SpaceX and Boeing
• Technology: Ultem 9085 3D Printing Thermoplastics
• Purpose: Using 3D printing to simplify the construction of complex parts

Both SpaceX and Boeing utilize hundreds of 3D printed parts in their machinery, taking advantage of the capacity to print in-house.

Given the need for accurate, light, and robust components, 3D printing is perfectly suited to this industry where rocket parts don’t need to be mass-produced.

In 2022, Boeing unveiled an update to their use of 3D printing to launch multi-purpose, taking advantage of both rapid prototyping and 3D printed parts to make a flexible alternative to traditional manufacturing.

Relativity Space and the 3D-Printed Rocket Revolution

• Company: Relativity Space
• Technology: STARGATE large format 3D printing
• Purpose: Developing mostly-entirely 3D printed rockets for efficient construction and flight

Relativity Space has taken 3D printing to the next level, boasting the world’s largest metal 3D printer in their Stargate factory. By embracing advanced machine-learning, analytics, and 3D printing, the company aims to reduce the traditionally labor-intensive process of building rockets, resulting in fewer parts and lower costs.

The company’s flagship rocket, the Terran I, is 90% 3D printed, and is designed to launch up to 1,250kg into low-earth orbit and is touted as one of the most cost-effective launchers globally.

The Terran I saw its first launch 3 years after being announced in 2015, with its first flight occurring in March 2023.

This pilot launch met an unfortunate end, however, as an engine failure prevented the rocket from successfully reaching orbit.

Rocket Lab Leaps into 3D Printing

• Company: Rocket Lab
• Technology: High end FDM 3D printing
• Purpose: Prove the efficiency and purpose of 3D printed engines in rockets

Rocket Labs has had a very successful 2023, revealing that their 3D printed Rutherford engine has been reinvented once again for more launches.

This 3D printed Rutherford engine powers the Electron Rocket, which includes a 3D printed combustion chamber, injector, main propellant valves, and pump. The company has 3D printed over 260 models of the Rutherford engine, resulting in lighter, cheaper satellite launches.

NASA RAMPT Project

• Company: NASA
• Technology: Direct Energy Deposition
• Purpose: Cutting cost and production time without sacrificing reliability

NASA has frequently utilized 3D printing in their space research and plans. NASA’s RAMPT project, for example, 3D printed rocket parts including nozzles, thrust chambers, and even propulsion chambers, reducing the number of components and weight.

In 2020, the RAMPT project was used to print a new rocket nozzle. At 40 inches in diameter, it was the largest rocket nozzle they’d ever made.

The Audi Lunar Quattro: Pioneering 3D-Printed Space Rovers

• Company: Audi
• Technology: FDM 3D printing
• Purpose: Use 3D printing to ensure longevity and survivability of technology in harsh extraterrestrial environments

Designed with 3D printed aluminum and titanium solar panels, the Audi Lunar Quattro demonstrates the potential of lightweight, efficient designs for future interplanetary exploration.

Although the Quattro did not go to space in 2021 as intended, the concept has not gone unnoticed. Nano3Dprint announced a partnership with Finite Space in May 2023 to use 3D printing for sustainable space travel and habitation, beginning with a 3D printed lunar rover.

3D Printing Tools in Space

European Space Agency (ESA)

• Company: ESA
• Technology: Various
• Purpose: Aiding space exploration with multi-purpose, lightweight 3D printed tools

After announcing plans for a 3D printed lunar base in 2013, the European Space Agency (ESA) has taken to 3D printing to help with a lot of mechanical complexities and issues. The bend-based mechanism, which you can see below, is one of their 3D printed innovations from 2023.

It may look like a mess, but this mechanism is important for stabilizing and allowing frictionless rotation of geared mechanisms like thrusters and telescopes.

In partnering with other companies like CSEM and 3D Precision SA, the ESA is continuing to improve their work by utilizing additive manufacturing.

While their lunar base has run into some issues, largely due to the moon’s atmosphere not being suitable for most 3D printing projects, they have high hopes for the future of 3D printing in space exploration.

Made In Space

• Company: Made in Space (now acquired)
• Technology: FDM Printing
• Purpose: To ensure astronauts can create bespoke tools and equipment mid-mission

In 2014, Made in Space sent an Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF), a zero-gravity FDM 3D printer, to the International Space Station (ISS). It was the first of its kind, with no other 3D printer ever sent to space before this.

The AMF, which has a 6 x 6 x 6 inch print volume, can 3D print with ABS, ULTEM 9085, and HDPE materials. The 3D printer has successfully produced parts like a wrench, an antenna part, and a connector for free-flying robots while orbiting Earth.

In the event of an unforeseen issue on the ISS, astronauts can now have the tools or parts they need to fix the problem designed on Earth and remotely sent to Made in Space’s 3D printer on the ISS, which is 250 miles away.

Unfortunately, there has been no further news since Made in Space was acquired by aerospace manufacturing company Redwire in 2020.

Tethers Unlimited

• Company: Tethers Unlimited
• Technology: FDM 3D printing with recyclable parts
• Purpose: To make sustainable 3D printing solutions for space exploration

Tethers Unlimited shipped a ReFabricator to the ISS in February 2019, enabling astronauts to recycle waste materials that accumulate while in space. This high-performance polymer printer can also recycle these parts back into feedstock for re-use.

The company’s CEO, Rob Hoyt, envisions astronauts using this technology to manufacture and recycle food-safe utensils.

3D Printing Food in Space

NASA and BeeHex

• Company: BeeHex Automation
• Technology: Food 3D printing
• Purpose: Allowing astronauts to enjoy nutritional and interesting 3D printed food in space

NASA is exploring 3D printing’s potential for producing food in space and has provided BeeHex with a $1 million investment to develop a 3D printed pizza.

By using specially-designed cartridges, 3D printable food ingredients for pizzas can be stored in a manner that significantly slows down spoiling along with other benefits like ease of transportation and reducing food waste, providing sustenance for astronauts on their journey into the far reaches of space.

To learn more, you can check out our detailed article on 3D printed food and some of the most mouthwatering projects here.

Ceramics

• Company: Redwire
• Technology: Ceramic 3D printing
• Purpose: Printing ceramics in zero-g to environments for stronger pieces

In 2020, Redwire-acquired company Made In Space tested a Ceramics Manufacturing Module (CMM) utilizing Stereolithography (SLA) to 3D print ceramic components in zero gravity. The zero-gravity environment alleviates intense stresses on the parts during the printing process, allowing for a more uniform stress distribution.

As a result, stronger, lighter parts can be created in space than on Earth. This approach may open the door for future manufacturing of high-performance ceramic turbine blades in Earth-orbiting additive manufacturing mini-factories. These parts could then be sent back to Earth for sale and use.

3D printing shoes allows companies like Reebok and Nike to design more complex footwear using materials previously thought unfeasible.

Allowing for complete customization, the best 3D printed shoes come from companies like Zellerfeld and FUSED, which can cater to any customer regardless of foot size or tastes.

This process removes the need for factories and warehouses, significantly reducing both cost and environmental impact, and the process continues to be refined even now in 2023.

In this guide I’ll walk you through some of my favorite 3D printed shoe projects that are changing how we look at the footwear industry.

Best 3D Printed Shoes Projects in 2023

Zellerfeld

• Best for: Affordable, custom-fit shoes with eco-friendly recycling options.
• Price: $185 – $370
• Learn More: Zellerfeld

Zellerfeld uses additive manufacturing to create unique and custom footwear that’s ‘printed, not made.’ They do this by using a fused mesh design to make their 3D printed shoes provide maximum comfort, perfectly sized, and printed to order.

Their collection of 3D printed shoe models is one of the most affordable around, and one of the reasons they can afford to make them so cheap compared to other high-end brands is because they don’t rely on factories.

As well as being made to fit, Zellerfeld 3D printed shoes are odor-protected and machine washable, making them convenient and easy to take care of as well as comfortable. You can also return old shoes when purchasing new ones for recycling to receive a discount on your next pair!

Dior Derby

• Best for: Fashion-forward individuals seeking lightweight and comfortable designer shoes.
• Price: $250+
• Learn More: Design Boom

The first Paris Fashion Week of the year may have wrapped back in January, but a lot of the product lines displayed are still being talked about today. One of the more interesting entries, at least to me, was the 3D printed shoes exhibited by Dior.

These shoes were essentially upgrades to the Carlo Derby shoe, which was 3D scanned and recreated using additive manufacturing. Despite their heavy, boot-like appearance, they’re ultra-lightweight, comfortable, and very easy to wear.

Botter

• Best for: Trendsetters looking for a blend of high-end design and practicality.
• Price: N/A
• Learn More: Sneaker News

Botter collaborated with Reebok to make what I think of as the world’s first 3D printed shoes that combine high fashion with sportswear. The footwear, also demonstrated in Fall/Winter Fashion Week 2023, combines high-end designs with comfortability and practicality.

While not on the market just yet, crowds were impressed by the amphibious aesthetic, smooth design, and seashell-inspired form based on the carapace Venus is depicted using as a comb.

Nike

• Best for: Athletes seeking performance-enhancing, water-resistant footwear.
• Price: $600+
• Learn More: Hype Beast

The Nike Flyprint was integral to the achievement of Eliud Kipchoge’s sub-2 hour marathon. Developed from a 3D printed upper made of TPU, and building on the the existing Vaporfly Elite, the Flyprint underwent thousands of design iterations.

Fortunately, the rapid prototyping capability of 3D printing cut the timescale of the project significantly, ending with a shoe that’s both lightweight and water-resistant.

Following the disputed record, the final design, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly, is now available to the public for an admittedly steep price.

Adidas

• Best for: Sneaker enthusiasts and athletes wanting cutting-edge, research-backed shoes.
• Price: $150+
• Learn More: Adidas

Adidas has collaborated with Carbon 3D, a resin 3D printing company, to utilize their Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology for creating 3D printed sneakers. 3D printing reduced the lead time for new models, with the Futurecraft 4D taking only 11 months to release compared to the usual 15-18 months.

In 2021, Adidas unveiled the 4DFWD, a 3D printed running shoe designed for peak performance building on their Futurecraft technology. After coding millions of different midsole structures and meshes, they settled on the best form they found and created one of the world’s foremost performance-driven 3D printed shoes.

These shoes are both top quality, affordable, and were made building on years of research and prototyping, so it’s easy to see why sneaker and 3D printer enthusiasts are hyped about this series.

Reebok

• Best for: Runners valuing weight reduction, enhanced traction, and innovative design.
• Price: $189+
• Learn More: BASF

In 2016, Reebok introduced their 3D printed Liquid Speed shoe outsoles, developed in collaboration with BASF. The 3D printing allowed a 20% weight reduction in the shoes and the use of “liquid laces” – directly printed on the shoe and requiring no tying. The design also included a ‘liquid grip’ for enhanced traction, contributing to a ‘high-rebound outsole’ that absorbs and returns energy during running.

In 2018, Reebok released the Liquid Floatride Run, using the same technology and weighing just 170 grams each.

New Balance

• Best for: Consumers seeking advanced cushioning and weight-saving features in their trainers.
• Price: $400+
• Learn More: Bailiwick Express

New Balance partnered with 3D Systems in 2015 to develop flexible and shock absorbent Duraform Flex midsoles using SLS technology and thermoplastic elastomer material.

Building on this, they helped create “Rebound Resin” to further improve their shoes’ performance. They launched the 990 Sport trainer with 3D printed heels for weight savings and better cushioning.

The 2019 Fuel Cell Echo Triple also featured Rebound Resin 3D printed parts, which produced the limited-run Zanate Generate model.

Fused 3D Printed Shoes

• Best for: Environmentally conscious consumers wanting fully 3D printed, recyclable shoes.
• Price: $250+
• Learn More: Fused Footwear

FUSED Footwear is an indie 3D printed shoe company founded by Philippe Holthuizen, breaks industry norms by eliminating the need for large factories and mass production This makes them amongst the best 3D printed shoes for eco-conscious consumers.

The company offers two variations of its entirely 3D printed sneaker, the FUSED Kodo, available in white or translucent. Made from flexible TPE filament, the sneakers retail for $250, and customers receive a 20% discount on their next purchase if they return their worn-out shoes for recycling.

How do 3D Printed Shoes Work?

Market research has shown that the 3D printed footwear industry is worth as much as $993.22 million as of 2022, with the projection to grow to $3758.75 million by 2030. While this may seem ambitious, 3D printed shoes are already commonplace.

All major footwear brands use 3D printing for rapid prototyping, facilitating quicker and more precise mold creation, and expedited product launch. Companies like Reebok have been using additive manufacturing and 3D design for rapid prototyping for years.

However, 3D printing’s role has expanded over recent years to mass production of shoes. Shoes manufactured through the additive processes are now sold in hundreds of thousands across various familiar brands, especially after having been thrust into the spotlight in January 2023.

Most 3D printed shoes feature a 3D printed midsole, which is vital for absorbing impacts and maintaining foot health. 3D printed midsoles can potentially reduce weight, provide better foot cushioning, and enhance shoe strength.

Most 3D printed shoe projects involve resin 3D printers, with companies like Carbon and Formlabs partnering with top sneaker brands like Adidas and New Balance.

Materials typically used include elastic polyurethane and flexible TPU, with occasional use of SLS 3D printers. But there are some 3D printed shoes you can design and make at home, like these flip-flops from Thingiverse.

Other articles you may be interested in:

• 3D printed casts
• Flexible filament 3D printing
• 3D printing TPU and flexible filaments on the Ender 3

Here we’re going to look at some of the coolest, most interesting, and most aesthetically pleasing examples of 3D printed furniture from both professionals and hobbyists.

The Best 3D Printed Furniture Projects in 2023

Nagami’s Chairs – Architecture Meets Furniture

• Designer: Manuel Jiménez García
• Location: Spain
• Price: $1000+
• Source: Nagami Design

3D printing seats don’t just involve plastic stools and simple shapes, as designer Manuel Jiménez García shows with his 3D printed furniture.

3D printed seats are what Nagami is mainly known for, using a blend of PLA polymer materials 3D printed to be a combination of furniture and sculpture. The whimsical shape structures and creative designs are complex, visually pleasing, and comfortable.

These seats are more of an example of modern furniture made with modern technology. Adapting architectural design for practical function, these 3D printed chairs look like they belong in a museum rather than a living room.

While expensive at first, Nagami has worked tirelessly to maximize production efficiency to make their 3D printed furniture more affordable and accessible in the 7 years since their founding.

And it’s not just chairs Nagami 3D prints. They also produce a small collection of tables and lamps that look great in any modernly decorated home.

Print Your City Project – Recycling Plastics For a Sustainable Future

• Designers: Panos Sakkas and Foteini Setaki
• Location: Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Thessaloniki
• Price: N/A
• Sources: Print Your City and The New Raw

Additive manufacturing can help the environment and reduce waste in a lot of different ways. The New Raw has shown off this concept by making bespoke 3D printed furniture made from recycled plastics.

Print Your City does exactly as the name implies, creating publicly available benches and other furniture that shows the world how to better use their plastics to improve people’s lives in a sustainable way.

The 3D printed furniture combines public benches and plant pots to beautify neighborhoods and prevent plastics from being thoughtlessly discarded and potentially polluting the planet. The XXX Bench, for example, was designed for Amsterdam as it used the approximate amount of waste plastic created by two of the city’s inhabitants in a single year.

This shows how hard The New Raw is working to raise awareness while being practical and green in the process. Their efforts have taken them to Thessaloniki in Greece, where citizens were able to enjoy their city’s waterfront with a selection of recycled 3D printed furniture.

This project saw 800kg of plastic recycled and 2080kg of CO2 saved over the course of the 30 day program.

BigRep Ocke – A Big Addition to the Furniture Industry

• Designer: Beatrice Muller & Others
• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Price: N/A
• Source: Ocke Series

Using the BigRep ONE 3D printer, former designer Beatrice Muller created a proof of concept that one-shot large 3D prints are both possible and reliable despite the use of complex geometries.

The parametric design is visually pleasing and uses less filament than a more solid structure would, all while being sturdy enough for use as a chair. This large model is an impressive feat of engineering and has inspired others to create their own parametric 3D printed furniture too.

The Ocke series shows how even standard filaments can be strong and useful as furniture pieces with enough time and patience, all without sacrificing decorative value.

Puzzle Chair from BITS&PARTS – 3D Printing Fun Furniture

• Designer: BITS&PARTS
• Location: Zaandam, North Holland
• Price: Free (STL files) or $30+ (purchase)
• Source: Puzzle Chair

The puzzle chair from BITS&PARTS is a fun and unique example of 3D printed furniture that you can print and construct yourself. It was originally designed as a child’s chair, combining practical 3D printed furniture with a fun and simple two-color jigsaw puzzle.

It proved popular enough that they also released an adult’s version which can be used in any workspace or reading nook. Despite being a puzzle, the chair is perfectly safe for use once fully assembled, and because the pieces are all individually set, you can print this chair on just about any sized 3D printer.

“Supermod” 3D Printed Wall

• Designers: Sebastian Misiurek AND Arianna Lebed
• Location: Brooklyn, New York
• Price: N/A
• Sources: Sebastian and Arianna

Designed by the founders of Simplus Designs, the Supermod is made up of individually printed storage modules joined together to make a modular storage “wall” with enough design freedom to be as large or small as it needs to be.

During the day, the Supermod’s patterns and opacities are designed to allow sunlight into each module to produce a glimmering effect.

As a modular system, the Supermod also sidesteps the need to use large-scale 3D printers.  Despite the wall being taller than most people, each module can be printed on an affordable 3D printer.

Jon Christie’s Hybrid Furniture

• Designer: Jon Christie
• Location: United Kingdom
• Price: Varies (depending on the price of wood)
• Source: Jon Christie

Jon Christie spent 20 years designing furniture before returning to university at the age of 40 where he fell in love with the 3D printing process. Using a lot of trial, error, and rapid prototyping of his earlier works, he was able to mostly self-teach 3D printing and add it to his repertoire.

“During my student years, I became interested in 3D printing and how I might integrate it with traditional furniture making. The projects I worked on explored how 3D printed parts could be used to assist the furniture maker and manufacturer.”

He is most famous for his “Saul Dining Table & Chairs” an artisan project made from different materials, mainly combining wood with 3D printed joints.

His printed joint technique has since been used by individuals in amateur furniture-making to offer greater customization, quicker production times, and reduced waste material.

Alexandre Chappel’s 3D Printed Furniture

• Designer: Alexander Chappel
• Location: Switzerland
• Price: $5 – $10+ (files only)
• Source: ALCH

Alexandre Chappel documented the construction process of his own wooden side table with 3D printed joints, and has since gone on to make a name for himself in 3D printed furniture modeling and design from his design studio in Switzerland.

He has made the STL files and instructions available on his personal website linked above starting at only $5. His other projects include a foosball table, a camera arm, a DIY dining chair, and many more.

The simplicity and elegance of the designs make them perhaps the most accessible 3D printed furniture projects for anyone to create regardless of the technology at their disposal. 

RH Engineering & ManoFigura Home Furnishings

• Designer: René Helmreich and Enrico Klemmer
• Location: Schwarzenberg, Germany
• Price: Quote available here
• Source: 3D Print Luxury Furniture

This pair of designers from the mountains of Schwarzenberg have been disrupting the luxury furniture industry with large-scale 3D printing since 2020.

Their printer of choice is the BigRep One. The printer is big enough for furniture printing, with a 1005mm³ build volume, but comes with a $39,000 price tag (depending on specifications), making it quite cost prohibitive for most households. These luxury items are also not mass produced, meaning you will need to contact them directly for a quote.

Their process begins by 3D printing artisan furniture based on a client’s design. The piece is then coated with their signature “ManoVeneer.” What Manoveneer is made from isn’t revealed, but we know the coating is waterproof, and can add a range of surface textures to granite, slate, and sandstone, while weighing far less.

Wilkhahn Printstool One

• Designer: Thorsten Franck
• Location: Bad Münder, Lower Saxony
• Price: $266+
• Source: Printstool

Designed by Thorsten Franck and developed by Wilkhahn in Germany, this 3D printed stool was produced on an industrial 3D printer and is available as a part of Wilkhahn’s range of premium office furniture.

The Printstool One can be completed in a few hours, including the assembly of the non-3D printed base and seat. The main body is 3D printed with lignin, an organic biopolymer that makes the stool completely biodegradable.

Despite being commercially available, the Printstool One isn’t easy to obtain. It is not part of Wilkhahn’s main store catalog, only produced in a limited edition 500-piece run.

The price for each unit is undisclosed, but assuming that the Printstool One matches the $266 to $660 a conventional Wilkhahn stool costs, it’s likely too expensive for most individuals just trying kit out their home office.

Morgan Furniture Rio Collection – Combining Past and Present

• Designer: Mehran
• Location: London
• Price: N/A
• Source: Rio Collection

A collaboration between Morgan Furniture and Studio INTEGRATE resulted in The Rio Collection, a combination of old techniques and modern technology like, using 3D printing and digital methodologies.

Using a mix of the old and new, The Rio Collection uses traditional manufacturing methods to produce tables and chair designs with a polyamide powder-based 3D printing technology to create joints, arms, and backrests before adding the upholstery.

In this guide I’ll be showing you some of my favorite examples of companies making huge waves in 3D printing boat technology, everything from upcoming luxury liners to customizable sloops made from recycled materials.

Top 3D Printed Boats Projects

3Dirigo – The Largest 3D Printed Boat from the University of Maine

• Company: University of Maine
• Price: Not For Sale
• Where to Learn more: 3Dirigo and Guinness World Records Official Site

University of Maine Composites Center research team broke three Guinness World Records with 3Dirigo, the largest 3D printed boat to date, weighing 2.2 tonnes and measuring 7.62 meters.

Created in just 72 hours with a plastic-wood cellulose mix, this milestone was achieved using a 3D printer developed in partnership with Ingersoll Machine Tools. This wasn’t the only example of such a partnership, as the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures department has since worked in military equipment development in 2022.

Capable of additive and precise subtractive manufacturing, the printer can prototype for defense, civil, and infrastructural applications. With a capacity to print objects up to 100 ft long, 22ft wide, 10ft high, and a rate of 500 pounds per hour, UMaine has found itself a real game changer.

The same 3D printer drew the attention of the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command for deployable shelter systems production, with the UMaine presenting a 3D printed army communication shelter alongside 3Dirigo.

Tanaruz Boats – Customized 3D Printed Boats

• Company: Tanaruz
• Price: $16,000+ (Price varies depending on model and customization options)
• Where to Buy: Tanaruz Boats

One of the biggest advantages of 3D printed boats is customization. Dutch start-up company Tanaruz offers fully personalizable 3D printed boats made to order via their app.

From this app you can select the model, shape, color, and even engine type to get exactly the boat you’d like using additive manufacturing to maximize efficiency and precision.

With the cost-cutting advantage of 3D printing, the Tanaruz team makes their boats very affordable for most customers without sacrificing quality. For just a €500 (~$556) deposit, you can reserve your dream 3D printed boat.

Pegasus 88m – The Carbon-Neutral Superyacht

• Designer: Jozef Forakis
• Price: Not Yet Released
• Where to Learn More: Pegasus 88m

The Pegasus 88m is a 3D printed ‘superyacht’ that even in 2023 only really exists on paper, but is still well worth talking about. Designed as a completely carbon neutral 3D printed luxury boat, it was conceived with nature a the forefront of designer Jozef Forakis’ mind.

Solar powered panels power electrolyzers that convert seawater into hydrogen, which is then stored in long-term tanks for later fueling. This means the Pegasus 88m can harness the power of the ocean for theoretically unlimited power, removing the need for fossil fuels entirely.

The Pegasus 88m is designed to look like a cloud as it floats on the water. Using a clever mirrored design, the idea is for the frame to reflect the ocean and great the illusion of invisibility.

While still a work-in-progress, we recommend keeping an eye on this exciting, albeit likely unaffordable, 3D printed boat project.

Hydra – The World’s First 3D Printed Aquatic Drone

• Company: AI Seer Marine
• Price: Not For Sale
• Learn More: Naval News

UAE company AI Seer Marine specializes in unmanned boats, and they unveiled the final version of their 3D printed vessel, Hydra, in 2023.

The 5 meter (~16’ 5’’) Hydra is effectively a proof-of-concept that additive manufacturing can play a key role in boat construction. AI Seer Marine uses the lightweight nature of 3D printed frames and parts to enhance speed and efficiency as well as cutting costs along the way.

The project has been underway for some time, and only recently been unveiled as close to finished. You can see the first active trials of the Hydra’s prototype below.

Those of you familiar with boats will recognize the Hydra employs a ‘stealth’ shape, intended for use in naval ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) missions. This means that it likely won’t be available for sale, but it’s still a cool project to keep an eye on.

Autonomous Ferry – 3D Printed Ferry For Paris

• Companies: Roboat, Holland Shipyard, and Sequana Développement
• Price: N/A
• Learn More: Holland Shipyard

The collaborative effort of innovation partners Roboat, Holland Shipyard, and Sequana Développement has born this concept for the autonomous ferry designed to carry tourists and athletes along the Seine river in Paris in preparation for the 2024 olympics.

The model builds on previous Roboat builds of self-sailing and docking passenger vessels in Amsterdam, as you can see in the video below.

Offering visitors and locals alike a unique and futuristic experience in small-scale aquatic travel, the three companies hope this ferry will showcase enough features to be a great step in the future of 3D printed autonomous boats, possibly even replacing bridges.

The companies are being quite secretive about their 3D printed ferry so far, but Olympics-goers are looking forward to experiencing the boat for themselves. And at a planned size of 9 x 3.9m (29.5 x 12.7′), it promises to be the world’s largest 3D printed autonomous ferry ever made.

Impacd Boats – Sustainable 3D Printed Sloops

• Company: Impacd Boats
• Price: $40,000+
• Where to Buy: Impacd Boats

3D printed boats don’t have to be big and flashy, they can also be simple but effective crafts to handle small-scale sailing. Impacd Boats offers customizable 3D printed sloops as comfortable and easy-to-ride boats for any lazy river fan to buy and enjoy.

The main mission is tackling carbon emissions and making a positive impact on environmental health. Their boats are 3D printed using recycled waste material, and even the decorative items included with their models are from sustainable origins.

Impacd Boats took inspiration from data taken from TU Deflt research into sustainability in aquatic travel, and developed a greener, more environmentally friendly construction process using additive manufacturing. Each boat even features an energy-efficient motor that is as silent as they are safe.

They only have two models available at the moment, but are working on the technology to release different kinds of sloop at affordable prices for anyone who wants to discover how to sail guilt-free.

Solvit3D – 3D Printed Boat Parts

• Designers: Alexander and Roman Schmidt
• Price: $1 – $16,694.85
• Where to Buy: Solvit3D

3D printed boats are exciting, but 3D printed boat parts are making just as much of a difference. Solvit3D specializes in 3D printed objects like boat parts and decorations, offering over 60 different examples from light fixtures to compass covers and even custom switch panels.

Brothers Alexander and Roman founded Solvit3D after discovering additive manufacturing’s ability to create complex geometrical shapes with speed and ease. The parts are light and highly customizable for any taste or any boat.

While they don’t 3D print entire boats, Solvit3D should be bookmarked by any sailing enthusiast for practical replacement parts and aesthetic upgrades at very reasonable prices.

Advantages of 3D Printing in Boats

3D printed boats have several key advantages including less waste, lighter weight, quicker and cheaper repairs, and lower carbon footprint.

Reduced Waste

Traditional subtractive boat production, such as CNC milling, results in a lot more waste than 3D printing, making additive manufacturing a more cost-effective and sustainable process.

It’s also worth mentioning that some woods used in boat production are unsustainably, and sometimes even illegally, sourced, further adding to the need for alternative materials and manufacturing methods.

Research in the sustainability measures in boatbuilding carried out in 2021 shows some frankly alarming statistics. Only 55% of companies have a sustainable sourcing policy for their building materials, while 40% claim to not have the budget to research or implement more environmentally friendly construction methods.

Lighter and Better Balanced Boats

Additive manufacturing yields boats that are lighter, faster, and better balanced due to the use of 10-30% infill. Projects like Rammses predict 3D printed boat propellers weighing 40% less than conventional ones. By 2030, lighter titanium could replace steel in yacht production.

Efficient Repairs

3D printing can expedite and reduce the cost of repairs by producing spare parts on-site, a strategy already utilized in the automotive industry.

Lower Carbon Emissions

3D printed boats are more environmentally friendly due to research into lighter, more efficient materials like aluminum alloys for propellers, which can be printed anywhere to minimize transportation.

This innovation is crucial for the maritime sector striving to reduce carbon emissions and waste material through CNC machining. Searious Business, a Dutch association fighting against plastic pollution, even plans to print a 3D boat from plastic waste like Impacd Boats are.

Future of 3D Printed Boats

The boat design industry’s future includes a growing shift to 3D printing, resulting in cheaper, better-performing, and more eco-friendly vessels. The technology will revolutionize the industry by 2030, according to expert Gregory Marshall, with potential applications ranging from self-driving canal taxis to futuristic super yachts, as seen in the innovative 3Dirigo project.

Since Novameat unveiled the world’s first 3D printed steak in 2018, the world has looked to 3D printing as a viable substitute for meat products using mainly plant-based ingredients satisfying to meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans, and environmentally conscious consumers alike.

With meat-free products being an $18.27 billion global industry, and traditional ranching taking up 35% of the world’s inhabitable land while the food industry as a whole is responsible for over 25% of total carbon emissions, meat is a priority for researchers and food companies from both a financial and ethical standpoint.

Here we’ll look at some of the most exciting and unique examples of 3D printed meat, from university research to seafood, and why the future of food is looking very bright.

The Most Exciting 3D Printed Meat Projects

Novameat – The World’s First 3D Printed Steak

• Price: N/A
• Learn More: Novameat

Novameat was the first company in the world to 3D print a meat-free beef steak in 2018. The Barcelona-based production group benefited from the founder and CEO Giuseppe Scionti’s decade of tissue engineering experience and expertise with lab grown meat.

The idea for 3D printing a steak came from the need for plant-based meat products that can emulate the actual texture and taste of real meat.

Targeting EU and UK markets initially, Novameat plans to offer its product in supermarkets and restaurants within five years.

Redefine Meat – Cultured Meat Recreated With Care

• Price: Variable
• Learn More: Redefine Meat

Redefine Meat collaborates with scientists and chefs to enhance 3D printed meat’s flavor. Their product mimics real meat in terms of taste, texture, color, and smell, using materials transformed into purees and 3D printed in layers.

Blood, fat and muscle cells are all recreated using a blend of natural colors and flavorings like coconut fat, legumes, and soy to emulate the texture of real meat without actually using any animal-based products. It’s not only steak on the menu either, as Redefine Meat also offers lamb and pulled pork substitutes in their online store.

Riding on a wave of positive reviews, Redefine Meat, much like Novameat, plans to launch its product globally in the near future and has already distributed its products to restaurants in Israel and Europe.

Aleph Farms – 3D Printing Meat in Space

• Price: N/A
• Learn More: Aleph Farms

Aleph Farms is another Israeli start-up that stands out by cultivating real meat from animal tissue samples. A small biopsy from an animal is developed in a nutrient-rich broth, promoting cellular division and organic growth.

In 2019, the company joined forces with Russia’s space program, Roscosmos, to test their meat samples in zero gravity at the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts used a 3D printer to replicate the cells, effectively printing meat in space.

This meat wasn’t consumed in space, and was instead returned to Earth as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate limitless possibilities of this technology.

Steakholder Foods – Slaughter-Free 3D Printed Cultured Meat

• Price: Varies
• Learn More: Steakholder Foods

Steakholder foods is a 3D printed meat specialist company working for the future of foods. They use 3D simulations to customize your steak to your preferences, even down to fat content, while keeping it 100% ethical.

Using bovine stem cells cultivated for slaughter, Steakholder Foods also aims to reduce the environmental impact of the food industry. They also want to share their revelations to increase awareness of the decreasing necessity for livestock rearing and slaughterhouses.

Despite their name, they’re also developing alternatives to chicken and seafood to help reduce the carbon emissions and reliance on the fishing and fowl-rearing industries too. Their made-to-order steaks also help cut down on food waste by ensuring their products are only made when requested.

Osaka University’s Wagyu Beef – Bioprinting a Cultured Meat Substitute

• Price: N/A
• Learn More: Osaka University Research

Finding substitutes to standard meat products is an ongoing endeavor. Wagyu beef, a Japanese delicacy, is known for its marbling and disincentive savory flavor, so researchers at Osaka University tried to recreate it with 3D printing.

In 2021, the research team succeeded in 3D printing this new meat product that mimics the aesthetics and taste of the real thing right down to the texture of the muscle and fat tissue. Using lab grown animal cells, they were even able to recreate the blood vessels, fat cells, and muscle fibers that add to the mouth feel without hurting any animals in the process.

Shiok Meats – 3D Printed Seafood

• Price: $50+
• Learn More: Shiok Meats

Shiok Meats uses cell-based bioinks to recreate crustacean and shellfish meat using 3D printing. With the declining oceanic populations, the fishing industry needs to turn to more sustainable methods to keep our oceans as full of fish as our bellies are without sacrificing nutritional value. Shiok Meats seeks to make 3D printed fish and other seafoods more mainstream beginning with their flagship restaurant in Singapore.

Using these bio inks, Shiok Meats also combats food waste as the products they produce have a much longer shelf life than traditionally sourced fish, which takes only 1-4 days to become inedible. This environmental consciousness not only helps create and utilize sustainable solutions to overfishing, but is also a completely ethical alternative to contemporary seafood.

Pohang University – Algae: The Food of the Future

• Price: N/A
• Learn More: Phys.org

Algae is a vegan food option that’s easy to grow, sustainable, and quite cheap. Using this, researchers at Pohang university have used algae cultivated with light to create 3D printed meat that’s both vegan and environmentally friendly.

After noting the viability of 3D printed organs, the researchers were able to apply these bioprinting methods to create meat substitutes you can eat while maintaining the nutritional value of standard vegan foods.

Project leader Hyung Joon Cha has commented on their success in recreating functioning and stable cell structures and meat tissue with 3D printing helping both the food and medical industries.

Good Food Institute Reports – Bioprinting Meat Scaffolding

• Price: N/A
• Learn More: Good Food Institute

Dr. Sara Oliveira of the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Portugal has used her experience cultivating stem cells to help the meat industry to create cultivated meat products sustainably by using bio ink for food 3D printing.

While her work mainly involves protein structuring, her research through the years 2020 – 2021 proved invaluable to the industry as a whole. This only adds to her over 4 years of experience as a researcher in 3D printed foods and cultivated meat.

VGN Boulevard – England’s Own Plant-Based Junk Food

• Price: £24.95 – £34.95 ($32 – $45)
• Learn More: VGN Boulevard

VGN Boulevard is a plant-based junk food restaurant in Stourbridge England. Their menu is entirely vegan and includes a special 3D printed sirloin steak made with a combination of coconut fat, pea protein, beets, and chickpeas.

The price varies depending on what size you want, but it’s still a very reasonable cost considering the engineering that went into it to emulate the muscle and fat tissues of real meat. Their 3D printed steak uses modern techniques to mimic the real thing and the reviews really speak for themselves.

Unfortunately, VGN is one of a kind, so you will need to make a reservation well in advance and possibly travel quite a long way if you want to check it out for yourself.

3D Printed Meat Pros and Cons

3D Printed Meat Advantages

Potential for Cost-Effective Production

3D printed meat has become more affordable in the last three years as the technology continues to evolve. While still more expensive than traditional meat products, these substitute 3D printed foods are becoming more accessible as the industry grows.

Take RedefineMeat, for example, whose steaks cost between $26 – $40. This is significantly more expensive than the average restaurant-bought steak made with traditional meats which only cost an average of $10 – $12.

The potential for cheaper production comes from the reduced need for livestock rearing, which is an expensive and environmentally damaging process. The plant materials used in 3D printing meat are cheaper and more sustainable to produce, and these savings will pass to the consumer.

Sustainability and Ethical Consideration

3D printed meat leverages fewer resources, consuming less water, land, and energy, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It offers a sustainable and ethical solution, appealing to most vegetarians and vegans due to its slaughter-free production.

Extended Durability

3D printed meat, made of robust vegetable compounds, outlasts traditional meat, as does cultured meat. Reduced refrigeration demands mitigate food waste and contribute further to sustainability via longer shelf-lives.

Drawbacks of 3D Printed Meat

High Initial Costs

Adopting innovative technologies often comes with high initial costs, and 3D printed meat is no different. The current limited production scale inflates the price, making it less competitive with conventional meat sources. Despite the ethical appeal of its slaughter-free production process, the high cost provides a hurdle for many families trying to make ends meet.

Perception Hurdles

The fact that most 3D printed meat alternatives still use animal stem cells and can involve some form of animal testing, many vegans and vegetarians will still not consider it to be a justifiable option.

This issue primarily concerns perception and could change as more people experience and enjoy these products. While it may not entirely shift dietary needs and preferences, it can stimulate consumers’ imagination.

How Does 3D Printed Meat Work and What is it Made From?

3D printed meat is made from bio inks which work like standard 3D printer filaments made from edible materials. These bio-filaments are typically made with a combination of plant-based materials and lab grown cells used to replicate the blood, fat, and muscle tissues present in traditionally sourced meat products.

3D printing allows us to distribute these puree materials into steak and other meat-like structures, recreating meat without needing livestock or slaughterhouses, presenting a real meat substitute that’s entirely cruelty free and environmentally sound.

This technology and technique is growing to the point where 3D printed meat products will someday be readily available and affordable outside of the projects and companies we’ve discussed today.

3D Printed Meat- The History and the Science

The exact vegetarian and vegan population is hard to estimate, but we can assume 4 – 6% of the US population will consider themselves vegan in 2023. This increase from 1% in 2014 increased the demand for meat alternatives indistinguishable from the ‘real’ thing that are ethically justifiable even by the strictest of diners.

3D printing technology plays a crucial role here. It was first conceived for food production by Cornell University students in the mid-2000s, using Fab@Home, the first publicly accessible multi-material 3D printer.

From an initially limited scope, beginning with easily malleable foods like dough, sauce, and chocolate, 3D printed meat has taken off to the point where it is commercially available, albeit not widely yet.

The technology has evolved significantly since the first commercial chocolate 3D printer, in 2012, advancing to the first meat-free 3D printed beef steak in 2018 by Novameat.

In these five short years, we’ve seen massive improvements in 3D printed meat as a viable substitute for traditional ranching and farming techniques, keeping us fed while helping to sustain the environment.

Though plastic printing is widely affordable now through desktop FDM 3D printers, less is known the its metal applications. In this guide, I’ll be ranking the 10 best 3D printing projects from jewelry professionals in 2023.

3D Printed Jewelry Manufacturing Process: Lost Wax Casting

The most common process for creating jewelry using 3D printing is lost wax casting.

This process involves firstly 3D printing jewelry models in wax (similar to resins used in stereolithography). These wax molds are then encased in plaster (known as the investment), and heated to a very high temperature to create an impression. After this, the impression is then filled with a liquid precious metal (such as gold or silver) to create the finished piece of 3D printed jewelry.

The most commonly used precious metals include brass, stainless steel, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. However, plastics such as Nylon are occasionally used for simple pieces such as 3D printing rings.

10 of the most stunning pieces of 3D Printed Jewelry

1 – Nervous System 3D printed Hyphae Ring

Nervous System is a 3D printed jewelry company founded in 2007 by Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg, and a pioneer in the 3D printed jewelry space. Based in Somerville, Massachusetts, Nervous System combine stunning design with 3D printing technologies to create their pieces. They combine unconventional and complex geometries and take inspiration from a variety of aesthetics, including coral, colorful agate slices, and more.

One of Nervous Systems’ main philosophies is about creating online design applications that allow customers to collaborate and co-create products. This aligns with Nervous Systems’ goal to make design more accessible to the masses. Nervous System don’t just make 3D printed jewelry such as rings and bracelets however, they also create lamps and even innovative agate puzzles, though these beautiful puzzles are laser-cut rather than 3D printed.

The company brings a creative, yet academic, approach to 3D printing jewelry: Creative Director Jessica has degrees from MIT and the Harvard School of Design, and taught design at MIT. Their stunning Hyphae 3D printed ring is also available in silver, and retails at $250.

2 – RADIAN Solitaire 3D printed ring

RADIAN is a 3D printed jewelry company based in Berlin who are influenced by architecture and graphic design, uniting additive manufacturing and contemporary crafting to create beautiful and elegant pieces. Founded in 2012 by Nicole Nitz and Sandro Schieck, RADIAN have released several collections, including their Solitaire collection that includes the Solitaire ring shown below, and also 3D printed earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and even 3D printed soap dishes made from recycled PETG filament.

RADIAN produce marvelous 3D printed jewelry pieces focused on geometric and abstract shapes. RADIAN create these stunning pieces out of stainless steel, gold, silver, and Nylon. The success the company has since received has resulted in RADIAN 3D printed jewelry being stocked all around Germany and Europe, and even as far as the Middle East, Russia, and the United States.

3 – Diana Law Sapphire Ear Accesssories

Diana Law is an experienced fashion and jewelry design with an extensive and varied career across Europe before she started her 3D printed jewelry company in 2014. With a rich history of design study in Paris, France, Diana incorporates her creativity and inspiration into her 3D printed necklaces, pendants, bracelets, headpieces, and more. The brand combines additive manufacturing with design freedom, offering both sustainable production “with no fear while celebrating individualism”, according to her website.

3D printing jewelry allows Diana Law to create stunning jewelry from materials such as plastics and stainless steel. She creates her jewelry with selective laser sintering, printing fine Nylon layers. In 2018, Diana Law released her IDENTITÉ collection, featuring 3D printed accessories combined with real precious gemstones such as sapphires — an extremely ambitious project. The collection included sapphire ear maps, as shown below, as well as bracelets, and even gemstone-infused clutch bags.

4 – GUY & MAX — high fashion 3D printed jewelry

GUY & MAX is a brand founded by two brothers — the sons of a diamond merchant — who hone in on exactly what makes jewelry so beautiful and enticing, and how you combine design ideas for the best results. Based in Central London, you do not simply order your ring or necklace online pre-made, but go through a detailed process including consultations to create the ideal piece of 3D printed jewelry for you. It is truly a collaborative production process.

In line with GUY & MAX’s philosophy, they try to use recycled metals where possible to avoid mining. Completely custom pieces are worked on based on the interested buyers desires and dreams, and with computer simulations and 3D printing, these intricate geometries can be brought to life, and combined with any gemstone. In addition, customers are invited to bring back their 3D printed jewelry pieces for a free yearly cleaning service for their jewels every year after purchase.

5 – American Pearl Completely Custom 3D Printed Jewelry

American Pearl are a very well-known jeweler who have been in business since 1950 in New York. The American company sells a huge variety of jewelry designs, many of which incorporate oyster pearls within them.

In 2014 American Pearl announced they were moving into the 3D printed jewelry sector, allowing customers to customize their own unique pieces using 3D printing. This could be done at home via the web, using 3D printing to achieve precision in rings, earrings, necklaces, and more. By using additive manufacturing technologies like their Jewelry Replicator service, American Pearl revealed they had manage to double their sales, showing how popular custom jewelry and 3D printing has become.

6 – Spinning Globe Pendant by Aethyr

Not a 3D printed jewelry brand per se, but this 3D printed pendant designed by Aethyr is an absolutely stunning piece. Available to purchase on Shapeways in a variety of metals including brass, silver, and bronze, the globe spins freely within the frame.

The design was inspired by Cornelius Norbertus Gijsbrechts’ Celestial Globe painting, which was deemed so realistic that many spectators could not discern between the 2D painting and the real 3D object.

Part of the ‘trompe l’oeil’ genre of art (meaning deception of the eye), 3D designer Aethyr used this to create this beautiful piece of 3D printed jewelry.

7 – Anna Reikher — Nature-Inspired 3D Printed Rings

Anna Reikher creates stunning and very detailed 3D printed jewelry inspired by her passions — including nature, yoga and origami. The results are some of the most intricate and delicate 3D printed rings we have ever seen, as shown in the frog-themed ring shown below.

Anna turned to creating her own 3D printed jewelry after becoming a mother, having previously worked in the 3D printing industry in the jewelry sector. All her jewelry pieces are the result of hand drawings which are then sculpted into detailed 3D printer models, before being printed using lost wax casting

8 – 3D printed deer skull pendant with antlers

Created by Scott Camazine, on Etsy, this deer skull pendant is based on accurate 3D scans using a CT scan of real animal skulls. You can have your deer skull pendant 3D printed in stainless steel, or in sterling silver, bronze or brass.

Not only is this a beautiful piece of 3D printed jewelry, but it is also anatomically correct, having been directly scanned from an at-one-point-living deer. Fans of the animal will appreciate this, and even those just looking for a fashion accuracy will enjoy it. The designer has created a variety of other skull-themed projects, including various other animal skulls, for other interested in accurate animal jewelry.

9 – Intricate Framework Bracelet by Studio Noesis

This beautiful 3D printed bracelet by Studio Noesis can be 3D printed for you in a variety of materials, including brass, silver and bronze. The framework structure gives it strength, despite how lightweight and minimalist it is.

The bracelet is by Australian designer Luke Flanagan, who uses 3D printing to produce models earrings with a smooth surface and minimalist, sleek look. The lowest cost brass bracelet starts at below $100, with the silver version costing more.

10 – 3D printed droplet pendant by LIFIC

This beautiful minimalist droplet pendant, designed by LIFIC (real name Matthew Choto), can be 3D printed in materials ranging from a $30 steel pendant, to a 14K yellow gold pendant for over $1,000!

The faceted droplet design looks elegant, with the open lattice look developed so that other necklaces can easily be attached if you do ever want to switch them out. Overall, it’s another example of modern jewelry software democratizing fashion with independent designs that can reach millions of fans online.

Over 120,000 people are currently on waiting lists for a donor organ in the USA. The average wait time for an organ transplant is 1,085 days for a heart in the UK, and 3.6 years for a kidney transplant in the USA. Organ donors can offer a kidney, but can’t donate a heart – which usually come from brain-dead patients.

You’re not guaranteed to survive the waiting time, so the ability to 3D bioprint organs would be invaluable.

What is 3D bioprinting?

3D bioprinting, uses bioinks – biocompatible materials and human cells – to create living tissues and organ structures in the same way plastic parts are 3D printed, layer by layer.

Bio-compatible are sometimes used as scaffolds, creating structures that human cells are then inserted into. They are then cultivated into fully functional human tissues.

These living 3D printed tissues are currently used to study human organ function, as well as to test new drugs without having to use animal testing. Many scientists believe we are close to creating fully-functioning, transplantable 3D printed organs with new 3D bioprinting technologies.

History of 3D Bioprinting and 3D Organ Printing

The first instance of a 3D printing organs was achieved in the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine back in 1999. Researchers created an artificial scaffold for a human bladder — and follow-ups 10 years later found the patient had no complications. Three years later in 2002, Wake Forrest Institute researchers 3D printed a fully functional kidney.

The first commercially available 3D bioprinter was developed in 2009 by Organovo, able to 3D print live human cells for the first time, and without having to first build a scaffold. Soon after, this bioprinter created a biodegradable blood vessel without a scaffold.

More recently in 2019, Israeli researchers 3D bioprinted a miniature heart capable of contracting as real hearts do, with a blood vessel network to contract as our hearts do, and built anatomically like human hearts. This rabbit-sized heart will likely form the basis for future research into 3D printing human organs.

Additional research also includes Polish researchers’ work into printing a prototype of a bionic pancreas.

Here are some of the most exciting and hopeful projects for bioprinting organs.

3D Printed Skin

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It protects your innards, holds you together, and regulates your body’s temperature. However, since skin doesn’t perform any complex chemical-sorting or blood-pumping activities, the skin is one of the simplest organs to replicate. In theory, this should make it the easiest organ to 3D bioprint.

3D Printed Skin Replacing Skin Grafts

Skin grafts are currently the most effective treatment method for burn victims, but are far from perfect. They can get infected, scar badly, bleed copiously, and recovery times are long. They also need to be taken from other parts of your body, commonly the thigh or buttocks — which many would be keen to avoid.

Here’s where 3D printed skin comes in. Back in 2017, researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid collaborated with BioDan to create a prototype for a 3D bioprinter that can print completely functional human skin. Since 3D printed skin can be created quickly and be applied straight onto the wound, wounds can recover significantly better than with skin grafts which take longer.

More recently, researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York have developed a new form of 3D bioprinted skin, featuring working blood vessels. This is important because current grafts eventually “just falls off; it never really integrates,” according to research leader Pankaj Karande, as current skin grafts lack functional vascular systems.

“Right now, whatever is available as a clinical product is more like a fancy Band-Aid,” said Pankaj Karande, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering and member of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS), who led this research at Rensselaer. “It provides some accelerated wound healing, but eventually it just falls off; it never really integrates with the host cells.”

Pankaj Karande

Rather, current skin grafts act like “a fancy Band-Aid,” says Karande. This new research could provides the base for future effective 3D printed skin treatments to minimize the long-term and permanent damage done in burn victims.

Testing on mice showed that successfully transplanted 3D printed skin began to communicate and connect with the mouse’s existing vessels. This is hugely encouraging, suggesting the same would occur in humans.

However, the team themselves acknowledge the current limitations. The vascular systems of burn victims’ skin are often destroyed, leaving no existing system for this 3D bioprinted skin to attach to and work with. There are still serious improvements to be made before use in future patients.

The team instead are trying to tackle skin grafts for diabetic and pressure ulcers, but hope the technology can eventually be adapted for serious burn injuries and bioprinted skin grafts.

Bioprinted Skin for Medical Testing

Companies such as L’Oréal are investing significant sums into R&D to discover ways to create 3D printed skin. 3D bioprinted skin is useful not just for humans directly, but also having real, living skin offers skincare and other medical companies new ways to test products without requiring living humans or animals.

New products, such as sun creams and other ointments could be developed more quickly and effectively, helping reduce the prevalence of skin cancer. Additionally, more authentic fake skin makes for better tattoo artist apprenticing before scratching their designs onto real people — perhaps improving tattoos of the future.

Bioprinted & Silicone 3D Printed Hearts

Around 3,000 people in the USA are waiting for a heart transplant on any given day. Since about 2,000 hearts become available each year, waiting times can be years.

Contrary to what you might think, the heart is one of the most biologically simple organs in the body. It only has one function — to pump blood around the body. This should make it one of the easiest 3D printed organs to bioprint and transplant.

Current thinking suggests the best way of creating a 3D printed heart is through bioprinting ‘scaffolds’. Rather than 3D printing heart cells layer-by-layer, these biodegradable scaffolds provide structural support for cells, directing them to where they should be. Then, when the cardiac cells develop into a mature, finished 3D printed heart structure, the scaffold can be broken down and removed.

This has already been shown to work on a micro scale with a patch of working heart tissue. The 3D printed heart tissue was successfully used to repair a damaged mouse heart.

There are still barriers and difficulties, however. Hearts use extremely small, one-cell-thick structures — capillaries — extremely difficult to accurately bioprint. They are simply too small.

3D Printed Capillary Breakthrough

Prellis Biologics, recipient of a recent $3M investment to 3D print capillaries, claim to be able to 3D bioprint one-cell-thick capillaries that oxygen and nutrients can move through.

3D organ printing is impossible without capillaries. However, in 2018, Dr Melanie Matheu, Founder and CEO at Prellis, announced developments to print at the speed and resolutions required to form viable capillaries. Speed, and not only accuracy, is key, as cells cannot survive without blood supply for long — less than 30 minutes.

Capillaries are roughly 5-10 microns in diameter, but Prellis claim to be capable of 3D bioprinting structures up to 0.5 microns, and print these structures 1000x faster than existing methods. (Previously, 1 cm3 of printed tissue could take weeks using microvasculature.) Prellis’ new goal is to 3D bioprint an entire kidney vascular system within 12 hours.

These successes do not mean bioprinted organs are imminent, as the technology needs serious refining and improvements. Prellis Biologics are developing connective tissue for drug testing before striving for fully transplantable organs and natural tissues, so life-saving transplants are still a while off.

Other research instead aims to artificially mimic the heart’s role, rather than create real 3D bioprinted hearts.

3D Printed Silicone Artificial Hearts

In July 2017, ETH Zurich, led by Nicholas Cohrs, a doctoral student, created the first 3D printed heart made up entirely of soft silicone synthetic polymers. Its pumping mechanism works very much like a real human heart, and was printed in one large structure. This means no parts need to be pieced together except the input and output pumps.

This artificial 3D printed heart managed to last around 30 minutes before the materials couldn’t handle the strain and broke down. This represents good progress, but shows how far away we still remain from any viable alternative to real human heart transplants.

3D Printed Lungs

In May 2019, researchers at Rice University, USA, 3D printed an artificial air sac that contracts and expands just like real human lungs. These air sacs breathe without bursting, and could be key in overcoming current 3D bioprinting issues with creating working complex vascular networks.

“One of the biggest roadblocks to generating functional tissue replacements has been our inability to print the complex vasculature that can supply nutrients to the densely populated tissues… Our organs actually contain independent vascular networks, like the airways and blood vessels of the lung or the bile ducts and blood vessels in the liver. These interpenetrating networks are physically and biochemically entangled, and the architecture itself is intimately related to tissue function.”

Jordan Miller, research leader

The lung-mimicking air sacs used SLATE bioprinting technologies (Stereolithography Apparatus for Tissue Engineering), using a bioprinter to solidify a liquid pre-hydrogel using blue light, with the result featuring airways and blood vessels.

CollPlant & United Therapeutics Collagen Lungs

Other projects include CollPlant Biotechnologies and United Therapeutics’ collaboration to create transplantable 3D printed lungs. The collaboration aims to combine CollPlant’s rhCollagen (recombinant human collagen) technologies with United Therapeutics’ organ manufacturing systems.

CollPlant’s tech uses tobacco plants, previously associated instead with lung damage rather than lung rescuing and improvement, to create collagen. Collagen is used to create their collagen-based bioinks, which are used to 3D print lungs.

United Therapeutics plan to use collagen lungs as a skeleton to insert real human cells into. Unfortunately, these lungs will never work for human transplanting, but they can act as a structure to build future 3D bioprinted lungs and organs from.

“We are trying to build the little stick houses for cells to live in.”

Derek Morris, a project leader at United Therapeutics.

The partnership also aims — in partnership with 3D printing giant 3D Systems, using their UV laser printers – using a pool of collagen to 3D print a lung outline. They aim for this outline to feature every airway branch, including alveoli and capillaries, within a few years’ time. They already 3D bioprinted a windpipe with two bronchi back in 2018.

United Therapeutics predicted back in 2018 that they were 12 years away from manufactured organs. We hope to see them hit their goal in 2030.

3D Printed Intestines

Our intestines are key for absorbing water, nutrients and medicines, as well as preventing deadly illnesses affecting our bodies.

Researchers in New York’s Cornell University are trying to create synthetic bioprinted intestines for animal-free and medicinal testing. Using a PolyJet 3D printing process, the team created a microscopic bioreactor that induces peristaltic flow in the lumen cells that line the intestine and are responsible for contracting the intestine’s muscles.

Results showed that cells grown in the bioreactor and were demonstratively more defined, uniform and effective, absorbing more glucose than those without induced peristaltic fluid.

These advances could prove key for intestinal failure patients, and could help limit organ rejection problems.

3D Printed Liver

Organovo 3D Printed Liver Tissues

Organovo have a rich history in 3D printing liver tissue. The company was founded back in 2007, licensing 3D bioprinting technology from the University of Missouri, and developed by Gabor Forgacs.

Organovo’s ExVive kidney and lung tissues are a breakthrough, as they can be 3D bioprinted to create both tissues and separate capillary blood cell networks that mimic the body’s real systems. Merck & Astella have released data confirming Organovo’s tissue models fare better than traditional drug-testing methods.

Organovo are now working on clinical trials for the direct transplantation of 3D printed liver tissue patches. These patches are roughly the size and thickness of a dollar bill, and therefore can’t help patients fully recover, but for patient’s on the liver transplant list, it could keep them going for an additional 1-2 years, saving their lives.

The aim is to start transplanting these liver tissues into patients in 2020. Organovo claim the therapeutic liver transplant market is worth more than $3bn in the USA alone.

California Liver Bioprinting Breakthroughs

Back in 2016, Dr Shaochen Chen at the University of California, San Diego, announced 3D printed liver tissue developments that mimic real human liver structure and function. Patient’s cells were taken from their skin and combined with two other cell types before being changed into liver cells.

Stem cells are special in that they can change into multiple cell types and divide to produce more of these. This makes them extremely valuable for research and treatments.

The 3D printed liver bioinks were then deposited into 3 x 3 mm squares. The squares were cultured in vitro for 3 weeks as they turned into tissues. Following testing, the 3D printed liver tissue was found to successfully maintain the key liver functions for a longer time than existing liver models can.

Sao Paulo, Brazil, Miniature 3D Printed Livers

More recently in late 2019, researchers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, bioprinted miniature livers from human blood vessels. Despite their diminutive stature, these 3D printed livers can perform all the liver’s complex processes, from producing vital proteins, storing key vitamins, and secreting bile to absorb fats.

Cellink’s Inkredible 3D bioprinter produced the livers in a 90-day printing process. This spanned taking a patient’s blood to obtain stem cells, reprogramming them into liver cells, integrating them into the 3D bio-ink, and then bioprinting them to create the liver. The bioprinted cell structures were then cultivated for 18 days.

Though not large enough, these developments move 3D bioprinting towards the end of the infancy stage, building towards a major breakthrough.

3D Printed Brains

As the body’s most complex and uncharted organ, the least 3D printed organ progress has been made in the brain.

Only very recently have scientists even 3D bioprinted the first tissues as soft as brain tissue. It is extremely difficult to 3D print such soft biological materials as when building layer upon layer, the previous layers simply collapse under the pressure.

However, advances have been made. Zhengchu Tan, a researcher at Imperial College London, tested bioprinting an extremely soft hydrogel by cryogenically freezing previously printed layers. Once frozen, these layers were more stable, enabling more layers to be printed on top. The freezing is then repeated until the hydrogel tissue is complete.

Once finished, the tissue is then slowly thawed so that it retains its shape and form, operating together as one tissue.

Having succeeded in creating these first soft hydrogel tissues, more complex objects are in the works which will be much harder to maintain their structure and cool equally across the part.

3D Printed Organs: Conclusion

Overall, we’re becoming more accomplished at biologically inspired engineering. With simpler organs like skin, significant advances have already been made. However, with 3D printed organs such as hearts, livers, and kidneys, the microscopic size of capillaries means we are likely decades away from organ transplantation.

We may be close to a situation where 3D printing a new organ is common, significantly expanding our lifespans. Scientific breakthroughs occur all the time, and as 3D printing improves and becomes more precise, perhaps we can use new health resources to free patients from the organ shortag

The aim of this printing glossary is to lay out the definitions for all of the common vocabulary you’re likely to come across in 3D printing.

So let’s cut through the confusion and clear up the most common 3d printing terms.

(P.S- if you find that there’s a particular 3d printing terminology that wasn’t included, let us know in the comments and we’ll be glad to add it in.)

Key 3D Printing Terminology

3D Modeling

3D modeling is the process of developing a digital depiction of a three dimensional object using computer aided design software. Without a 3D model there can be no 3D print. See also CAD.

3D Printing

3D printing is a process where a three dimensional object is created from a digital model, usually by depositing multiple layers of material. See also additive manufacturing.

3D Printer

A machine that produces a three dimensional object one layer at a time. There are several different types of 3d printers each using a different 3d printing method. See also FDM, SLA and SLS.

3D Printing Pen

A handheld tool that uses FDM technology and thermoplastic filament to allow users to create three dimensional objects by laying down layers of extruded print material.

45° Rule

A general rule used in 3d modeling that advises against designing objects that contain angles greater than 45° unless a support material is used. See also Bridge, Chamfer, Overhang and Support Materials.

ABS

Short for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. ABS is a thermoplastic printing filament used in FDM-type 3d printers. It is a petroleum-based plastic that is not biodegradable. However, it is recyclable. ABS is strong, durable and soluble in acetone. It has a printing temperature between 230C and 250C. When printing with ABS, the use of a heated printing bed (around 90C) is recommended to prevent warping.

Acetone

A chemical solvent used in 3D printing as a vapor bath that is used to finish objects made with ABS. Acetone must be handled carefully in a well-ventilated environment well away from any flame sources.

Additive Manufacturing

The process of creating a three-dimensional object from a 3D model by adding materials, usually one layer at a time. 3D printing is an additive manufacturing technology.

Adhesion

The process whereby extruded thermoplastic filament sticks to the build surface of an FDM-type during the 3D printing process. Adhesion is necessary in order to successfully print a three-dimensional object using thermoplastic filament. Lack of adhesion can cause a printed object to warp as it cools. See also warping.

ASA

Short for Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate. ASA is a cousin of ABS that offers the strength of ABS along with UV and overall weather resistance. This makes ASA a great choice for any object that has an outdoor application or will be exposed to weather. ASA has a printing temperature of 235C to 255C and offers a finish similar to PLA.

Atomic Method

A method of unclogging the clogged print nozzle of a FDM-type 3D printer. More information on the atomic method can be seen here.

Bed

Another name for the build plate of an FDM-type 3d printer. It is usually made of aluminum or glass. See also Print Bed.

Bed Leveling

The process of adjusting the bed of a FDM-type printer to ensure that it is level and at a right angle to the print head. Bed leveling is critical to obtaining a successfully printed object.

Belt

Used in a FDM-type printer to take the rotational energy of the stepper motors and use it to move the print head along the x and y axes. Belts are toothed and are usually reinforced to inhibit stretching.

Binder Jetting

A metal 3D printing technology which involves depositing a binding agent onto a powder bed to form a part.

Blue Painter’s Tape

Used in FDM printing on the bed of a printer to improve adhesion. 

Bottom/Top Thickness

A slicer program setting that is used to determine how much material will be laid down before the infill printing starts and how much material will be laid down after the infill printing is finished. See also Slicer.

Bowden Extruder

A method of conveying thermoplastic filament used by some FDM-type 3D printers. On a printer with a Bowden extruder, the cold end is separated from the hot end and attached somewhere on the printer frame. See also Cold End and Hot End.

Bowden Tube

A part on some FDM-type 3D printers with a Bowden extruder setup. The Bowden tube is used to guide thermoplastic filament from the feeder assembly in the cold end to the hot end where it is heated and extruded.

Bridge

A 3d modeling term to describe a horizontal overhang placed between two vertical supports.

Brim

A brim is a layer or layers of extruded thermoplastic that is used to stabilize small parts or islands on a printed object. A brim helps these areas to adhere to the print bed. Unlike a raft, a brim is connected only to the perimeter of an island, not to the bottom.

Build Surface

The surface on which a printed object is produced. Often various types of build surfaces will be placed onto or attached to the printer bed to improve adhesion.

Buildtak

Used in FDM printing on the bed of a printer to improve adhesion. More information on the use of Buildtak can be found here.

Build Volume

The maximum size of an object that a 3d printer can produce, measured in length times width times height.

CAD

Short for Computer Assisted Design. CAD is the use of computer software to produce a digital design in either two or three dimensional formats that can then be used to print a physical object.

CAD was originally developed for use in architecture and engineering. However, there are now a number of user-friendly applications on the market that are either free or available at a low cost.

Cartesian Coordinates

A system of coordinates along three axes representing length, width and height and expressed as x, y and z. Cartesian coordinates are used by 3d printers to move through three dimensions while printing an object.

Chamfer

A 3d modeling term that describes a symmetrical, sloping surface at an edge or corner that is used to avoid violating the 45° rule.

CLIP

Continuous Light Interface Production: A 3D printing technology utilized by Carbon 3D to create parts far faster than most other technologies. Uses a similar technology to Stereolithography.

CNC

Computer Numerical Control: A subtractive manufacturing method involving a machine removing parts from a block of material to create the finished part. An alternative to 3D printing and additive manufacturing.

Cold End

A part on an FDM-type 3d printer. The cold end grabs and pulls thermoplastic filament from the spool it is stored on and moves it into the hot end.

A typical cold end consists of either a hobbed gear or knurled wheel that is attached to a feeder motor. As the shaft of the motor spins, it rotates the hobbed gear or knurled wheel which grabs the filament and moves it toward the hot end.

Cold Method

See Atomic Method

Copolymer

A type of plastic used in FDM printing. A copolymer is a material that is made up of several substances, each of which exists in long molecular chains. For example, ABS is a copolymer and consists of strands of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene molecules all bound together.

Cracking

A 3D printing defect. Cracking occurs when one layer of print material bonds inadequately with another layer. When this happens, as the object cools, a split or crack occurs between the two inadequately bonded layers. See also Splitting.

Curing

The process of hardening a 3d printing material to its final form. Commonly used term in SLA printing where light is used to harden liquid photopolymer resin. See also Hardening and SLA.

DED

Direct Energy Deposition: A form of metal 3D printing used by companies such as Sciaky and Optomec to create metal parts.

Desiccant

A hygroscopic substance used as a drying agent. Desiccants are often employed in FDM printing where many printing materials are hygroscopic. See also hydrolysis.

Direct Drive Extruder

A method of conveying thermoplastic filament used by some FDM-type 3d printers. On a printer with a direct drive extruder, the cold end is placed on top of the hot end. See also Cold End and Hot End.

DLP

Short for Digital Light Processing. A form of 3D printing where a light source is used to cure photopolymer resin to produce a printed object.

DMLS

Direct Metal Laser Sintering: One of the most common metal 3D printing technologies, DMLS is similar to Selective Laser Sintering in that material powders are fused layer-by-layer in a process of powder bed fusion, though with SLS plastics are used rather than metals with DMLS.

Dual Extrusion

A FDM-type 3D printer with two extruders. Each extruder can print with a different filament material. Useful for building soluble support structures and producing multicolored objects.

EBM

Electron Beam Melting: A form of metal 3D printing used by companies such as Arcam that is similar to DMLS but instead uses an electron beam rather than a laser.

Enclosure

A part on a 3D printer that protects the user from moving parts and high-temperature objects. Is also used to increase or stabilize the ambient air temperature around the print to stop warping or cracking of the print, caused from cooling too fast.

End Stops

A part of a 3D printer. End stops are switches mounted on each of a printer’s axes. The switch is tripped when a particular axis moves to its end. End stops enable a 3d printer to find its starting point when beginning to print.

Extrude

The process of forcing out a thin layer of melted thermoplastic onto a build surface in order to build up a printed object.

Extruder

See Bowden Extruder and Direct Drive Extruder.

Extruder Motor

A motor in the cold end that uses a hobbed gear or knurled wheel to move thermoplastic filament from a storage spool to the hot end for extrusion.

Fan

See Heat Sink Fan and Layer Cooling Fan.

FDM

Short for Fused Deposition Modeling. A 3D printing process where melted thermoplastic is deposited in successive layers to produce a  finished object using a digital model.

Feeder

See Cold End.

FFF

Short for Fused Filament Fabrication. An alternative name for FDM.

FFM

Short for Fused Filament Manufacturing. An alternative name for FDM.

Filament

The printing material used by FDM-type 3d printers. Filament is usually a thermoplastic that is fed by a cold end to the hot end as a solid. In the hot end it is heated to a printing temperature and extruded out through the print nozzle.

Filament comes in different diameters and usually sold in spools. There is a wide variety of filament materials available, as well as a wide variety of quality. In general, a high-quality filament will produce better end results that a less expensive filament that may be of poorer quality

To view our Ultimate Filament Comparison Guide, click here.

Filament Drive Gear

A part on a FDM-type 3d printer. The filament drive gear grabs that printing filament and moves it off of the storage spool and to the hot end of the printer for extrusion.

Fill Density

A slicer program setting that is a measure of how much material will be printed inside the outer shell of the object in question. Infill density is used to conserve filament while printing and speed up printing times. More information on slicer program settings can be found here.See also Slicer.

Frame

A part of a 3d printer. The frame is the chassis or outer case of a 3d printer. The frame is usually made of acrylic plastic, aluminum or stainless steel. A solid frame reduces printer vibration which increases printer accuracy and results in more precise end objects.

GCode

A program language that controls the actions of a 3d printer – things like motion, speed, rotation and depth. Commonly, this code is generated by a slicer program. See also Slicer.

Glue Stick

Used in FDM printing on the bed of a printer to improve adhesion. More information on the use of glue stick can be found here.

Hairspray

Used in FDM printing on the bed of a printer to improve adhesion. Not recommended due to mess and inconsistencies. 

Hardening

See Curing.

Heat Creep

Heat creep is a problem that occurs in FDM-type 3d printers when higher temperatures extend back and upwards from the hot end. This causes the “melt area” to extend father back as well, softening and melting the print material well before the nozzle end of the extruder.

The softened thermoplastic increases the amount of pressure needed for extrusion. Eventually, the extruder motor can’t keep up and the nozzle gets clogged.

Heat Sink Fan

A part of an FDM-type 3D printer. A heat sink fan helps to dissipate the heat from the heat sink in the hot end.

Heated Build Chamber

A part of an FDM-type 3D printer. An enclosed compartment around the build plate that eliminates drafts and temperature variations to reduce or prevent material warping.

Heated Print Bed

A part on an FDM-type 3D printer.  A heated print bed keeps the build surface warm, promoting greater adhesion and decreasing incidents of warping.

HIPS

Short for high-impact polystyrene. High impact polystyrene is a 3d printing filament that is strong, durable, non-toxic and recyclable. It combines the hardness of polystyrene with the elasticity of rubber to produce a high-impact thermoplastic that is tough and strong without being brittle.

In 3D printing, HIPS makes an excellent soluble support material. HIPS is soluble in Limonene, an easily obtainable solvent that is derived from the skin of lemons.

Hobbed Gear

See Filament Drive Gear.

Hot End

A part on an FDM-type 3d printer. The hot end heats the thermoplastic printing filament to melting temperature and extrudes the melted material onto the build surface.

A typical hot end consists of a heating block which produces the heat necessary to melt the print filament, a thermistor which controls the temperature of the heating block and a print nozzle through which the melted filament is extruded. A heat sink is also typically used to radiate excess heat away from the print end.

Hydrolysis

The chemical breakdown of a hygroscopic material due to exposure to water.

Hygroscopic

The ability of a material to absorb water. Many thermoplastic printing materials exhibit a hygroscopic tendency to one extent or another and need to be insulated from exposure to atmospheric moisture.

Infill

See Fill Density.

Kapton Tape

Used in FDM printing on the bed of a printer to improve adhesion. More information on the use of Kapton Tape can be found here. 

Knurled Wheel

See Filament Drive Gear.

Layer

In 3D printing, a layer is any one of the individual thin sections of print material that make up a printed object. Before printing, a slicer program takes the STL file generated by the CAD software and slices the digital object into multiple horizontal sections or layers.

The printer then uses the GCode generated by the slicer to produce the object one sequential layer at a time, with each layer adhering to the previous one.

Layer Cooling Fan

A part of a FDM-type 3d printer. A layer cooling fan cools off the printing material as soon as it is deposited on the build surface.

Layer Height

A slicer program setting. Layer height is the setting that establishes the height of each layer of filament in your print. In some sense, layer height in 3d printing is akin to resolution in photography or videography.

When you choose a thicker layer height, your object will have less fine detail and the layers will be more visible. When you choose a thinner layer height, a higher level of detail is possible and your layers will tend to blend into one another.

However, keep in mind that the thinner you make the layer height the more time it will take to print the object in question, since there will be more layers to print. See also Slicer.

Limonene

A solvent used in 3d printing to dissolve HIPS when it has been used as a support material. Limonene is a natural substance that is produced from the rinds of lemons.

Lost Wax Casting

Can be used along with 3D printing technologies to create 3D printed jewelry.

MJ

Material Jetting

MEM

Short for Melted and Extruded Modeling. Another name for FDM printing.

Motherboard

A part on an FDM-type 3d printer. The motherboard is the brain of an FDM-type 3D printer. It takes the commands given by the GCode and turns them into physical movements. The motherboard contains all of the circuitry needed to operate the printer’s motors and sensors.

Multi Jet Fusion

A new 3D printing technology patented by HP in their new 3D printers. Offers the possibility of full-color plastic parts.

Nylon

Nylon is a thermoplastic printing filament used in FDM-type 3D printers. It offers excellent strength and durability while, at the same time, it is exceedingly versatile.

It can be printed very thin to allow for flexibility and not lose its strength and ability to stand up to wear and tear. It also has a low friction coefficient with a correspondingly high melting temperature. This makes it an excellent choice for prototypes and moving parts of all kinds. Nylon has a printing temperature of 255C to 275C.

Polyamide: PA12 Nylon powders are often used in SLS, and Nylon is also used in 3D printing.

OBJ

Short for Object File. A 3d file format used by CAD programs as an alternative to STL files when information about color or material is important.

Overhang

Any part of a 3d model that lacks support below it. Parts that protrude at angles greater than 45° are generally considered overhangs. See also Support Materials and Support Structures.

Painter’s Tape

See Blue Painter’s Tape.

PC

Short for Polycarbonate. See Polycarbonate.

PEI

Short for polyetherimide. Used in FDM printing on the bed of a printer to improve adhesion. More information on the use of PEI can be found here. 

Perimeter

A slicer program setting. Perimeter refers to the thickness of the walls or shell of a printed object. The greater the number of perimeters, the thicker the shell of the object will be.

PETG

Short for Polyethylene Terephthalateglycol. PETG is a thermoplastic printing filament used in FDM-type 3d printers. An object printed with PETG will be very strong but, at the same time, it will have a bit of flex to it. You may be able to bend it, but it will be very hard to break it.

PETG is transparent and has a printing temperature of around 220C-235C. It has no odor when printing and produces an end result that has a marvelous finish. In addition, PETG is a great material to print with because it shrinks very little when cooling, so objects printed with PETG will experience very little warping.

To learn more about PETG filament and how to print it, click here.

Photopolymer

A material used in 3d printing that hardens when exposed to certain types of light. Photopolymers are used in Digital Light Processing (DLP) and Stereolithography (SLA).

PID Tuning

proportional-integral-derivative controls which are used for heated beds and hot ends in many RepRap 3D printers.

Pillowing

A 3D printing defect. Pillowing occurs on the top surface of an object. It looks like there are gaps in the surface layer, along with little bumps or pillows. In general, pillowing is caused by a top layer that is too thin and/or improper cooling of that layer. Under certain circumstances, insufficient infill can also contribute to the problem.

PLA

Short for Polylactic Acid. PLA, or Polylactic Acid, is a biodegradable, environmentally friendly thermoplastic that is manufactured out of natural substances, usually corn or sugarcane. You’ve probably already encountered PLA in your home since it is used to make everything from garbage bags to disposable cutlery and plates.

PLA prints at relatively lower temperatures than other printing materials (180C – 210C). Even though it is biodegradable, it remains a strong and durable material, albeit brittle, capable of being used in a wide variety of projects. PLA is available in wide variety of colors and is not readily soluble.

To learn more about PLA, click here.

PMM

Short for Polymethyl Methacrylate. PMMA is a thermoplastic printing filament used in FDM-type 3D printers. PMMA is known commercially as acrylic and is marketed under various brand names, such as Plexiglas, Lucite and Perspex. Widely used as an alternative to glass in applications where more strength and durability is needed, PMMA has significantly higher impact strength than glass.

It also has half the density of glass but is comparable in clarity and UV absorption. PMMA comes is widely used investment casting to produce patterns that can be used as molds for metal objects and parts. PMMA has a printing temperature from 235C to 255C is soluble in acetone.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic printing filament used in FDM-type 3d printers. It is an extremely strong, lightweight and transparent thermoplastic. Marketed under the trade name Lexan, it is used to make products as varied as CDs and DVDs, bullet proof glass, riot gear, sunglass lenses, scuba masks, electronic display screens, phone and computer cases and much more.

Polycarbonate has a very high impact strength, far greater than glass and more than ten times that of an acrylic material like PMMA. At the same time, it has less than half the density of glass, but with comparably high level of transparency. In fact, polycarbonate transmits visible light better than many kinds of glass.

With polycarbonate you get a strong and durable material that can carry weight and survive rough handling, but is also flexible enough to withstand tensile forces that shatter, deform or break other materials. Polycarbonate has a printing temperature of 260C to 300C and is soluble in dichloromethane.

PolyJet

A 3D printing technology which allows for both incredibly smooth surface finishes and very good accuracy. Also allows for full-color models and multiple materials within the same part. Involves depositing photopolymers that are cured by being exposed to a UV light.

Polymer

A type of plastic used in FDM printing. A polymer is a material that is made up of multiple long molecular chains of a single substance. For example, PVC or poly vinyl chloride consists of a bunch of vinyl chloride molecules.

Power Supply

A part on a FDM-type 3d printer. The power supply takes the 240V AC electricity from the wall and converts it to low voltage DC power for your printer to use.

PP – Polypropylene 

another 3D printer filament used in FDM.

Print Bed

See Bed.

Print Head

See Cold End, Hot End.

Print Nozzle

A part on a FDM-type 3d printer. The print nozzle is attached to the bottom of the hot end and is where the melted thermoplastic printing material is extruded. In general, a smaller diameter nozzle will produce finer details in the finished object, albeit at a slower print speed and a greater risk of clogging.

To learn more about various Nozzle sizes and why you’d use them, click here.

Print Resolution

An indication of printing quality. Horizontal resolution refers to the movements made by the print head along the x and y axes. The smaller the movements, the higher level of printing detail the printer produces.

Vertical resolution refers to movements by the print head along the z axis. The smaller these movements, the smoother the finished surface of the printed object. See also Layer Height.

Print Speed

A slicer program setting. Print speed is how fast the print head travels while extruding filament. Therefore, optimal speed depends on the object you are printing and the filament material that you are using to fabricate the object. In general, simple objects with less detail can be printed faster without complication.

On the other hand, more complex objects with more detail will benefit from a slower print speed. Print speed can also affect adhesion to the print surface, cause under or over extrusion and other problems. Because of this, it pays to experiment with your print speed to see what works best for the job you’re printing. See also Slicer.

Printing Temperature

The optimal temperature for a thermoplastic printing material to be at for effective extrusion. The printing temperature differs from material to material.

Printing Volume

See Build Volume.

PVA 

Polyvinyl Alcohol – another 3D printer filament used in FDM.

Raft

A raft is a layer or layers of extruded thermoplastic that is used to stabilize a printed object. A raft helps an object to adhere to the print bed. Unlike a brim, a raft is connected to the perimeter and bottom of an object.

RepRap

Short for Replication Rapid Prototyper. A project started in Britain in 2005 to produce a 3d printer capable of printing another 3d printer. Also the brand of the printers produced through the project.

Retraction

A slicer program setting. This setting is used to pull the filament slightly back into the print head during times when the head is traveling from one print point on an object to another.

This stops the filament from leaking out of the print nozzle and leaving strings of material across otherwise empty space. If your CAD design has a discontinuous surface, your slicer program should automatically enable the retraction setting. See also Slicer. Here’s a guide to common Slicer settings.

Shell

The outer wall of a designed object.

Shell Thickness

A slicer program setting. Shell thickness refers to the number of layers that the outer wall will have before infill printing will begin. The higher the setting is for shell thickness, the thicker the outer walls of your object will be.

Obviously, thicker walls make for a sturdier object, so if strength is a quality that you’re after, it pays to increase the shell thickness appropriately. Obversely, delicate or decorative designs do not usually require strength. Increasing the shell thickness in these instances provides no real benefit and will likely distort the design of the object being printed. 

SLA

Short for Stereolithography. A 3D printing technology. SLA focuses a UV laser onto a tank of photopolymer resin. The light cures or hardens the top layer of the resin, building the object from the top down.

SLA produces high resolution objects with extremely smooth finishes. However, that resolution and finish comes with a price.

Slice

A horizontal layer of a digital object produced by a slicer program. Each slice contains coordinates for printing locations on the build surface, as well as instructions as to layer height, shell thickness and more.

Slicer

A 3D slicer is a piece of 3D printing software that takes a digitized 3D model and converts it into printing instructions that your printer can then use to turn the model into a physical object. In essence, the slicer takes the CAD model and “cuts” it into layers.

It then calculates how much material needs to be used for that layer, where the material should go and how long it will take. It then converts all of the information for each layer into one GCode file which is sent to your printer.

SLS

Short for Selective Laser Sintering. SLS 3D printers use powdered polymer material to build a 3D object through the use of a laser. The laser sinters or binds the powder together one layer at a time from the top down.

Soluble Materials

Any thermoplastic printing material that is soluble, or dissolvable, when immersed in another substance. PVA and HIPS are both popular soluble printing materials.

Solvent Method

A method of unclogging the clogged print nozzle of a FDM-type 3d printer. More information on the solvent method can be seen here.

Splitting

See Cracking.

STL

A 3D file format used by CAD programs. You can use an STL editing software to edit and optimize them.

Stringing

A 3D printing defect. Stringing is usually caused by the print nozzle oozing print material as it moves from one place to another. The oozed material cools and hardens into thin “strings” – hence the name.

Support Materials

Printing materials used to support overhangs on a designed object. Support materials are usually soluble to facilitate easy removal after printing.

Support Structures

A layer or layers of extruded thermoplastic that is used to support overhangs on designed objects. Support structures are usually removed after printing is completed.

Stepper Motor

Unlike regular DC motors, which rotate continuously when given power, stepper motors rotate in increments. This gives them precise control over their position. Most FDM-type 3d printers use NEMA 17 type motors with 200 increments (steps) per revolution.

Subtractive Manufacturing

The opposite of additive manufacturing. The process of creating a three-dimensional object from a 3d model by removing materials, usually one layer at a time. CNC machining is an example of subtractive manufacturing.

Thermistor

Also known as a thermally sensitive resistor. A part on a FDM-type 3D printer. A thermistor is an element with an electrical resistance that changes in response to temperature. Used to regulate the temperature of the heat block in the hot end of a printer.

Thermoplastic

A substance, usually a plastic, that is able to melt and harden at precise temperatures.

TPU

Short for Thermoplastic Polyurethane. TPU is a thermoplastic printing filament used in FDM-type 3d printers. It is an extremely flexible and durable extrusion printing material. Its flexibility and elasticity make it an excellent choice for belts, springs, and phone cases. TPU is also very resistant to abrasion, as well as grease, oil, and wide variety of solvents. This makes it an excellent choice for industrial applications as well. TPU has a printing temperature of 210°C to 230°C.

To learn more about the differences between TPU and it’s close relation (and more commonly available) TPE, click here.

ULTEM 

A 3D printing material thermoplastic which has properties including extra thermal resistance, high strength, and good chemical resistance.

Under Extrusion

A problem experienced by FDM 3D printers. Under extrusion occurs when your printer is unable to supply the correct amount of material needed to correctly print a layer. You can learn more about under extrusion and how to correct it here.

User Interface

A part on some FDM-type 3d printers. Some FDM-type printers have an LCD screen so they can be controlled directly without hooking them up to a computer.

Warping

A 3d printing defect. Warping occurs when an object is cooling after printing. Cooling causes contraction and this contraction causes stress along the object’s lateral surfaces. The quicker the cooling occurs, the greater the stress on the object.

This stress is greatest at corners where two sides meet. There, the pulling stress exerted on both sides causes the corner of the object to deform and pull up and inward. The result is not pleasing to the eye and usually makes the object unusable. You can learn more about warping and how to correct it here.

Water Method

A method of applying Kapton Tape to the build plate of an FDM-type 3D printer to improve adhesion. You can find out more about the Water Method here. 

X-Axis

A part of the Cartesian coordinate system used by FDM-type 3d printers to move through three dimensions while printing an object. The x-axis represents left to right horizontal movement.

Y-Axis

A part of the Cartesian coordinate system used by FDM-type 3d printers to move through three dimensions while printing an object. The y-axis represents front-to-back horizontal movement.

Z-Axis

A part of the Cartesian coordinate system used by FDM-type 3d printers to move through three dimensions while printing an object. The z-axis represents top to bottom vertical movement.

Our aim was to make this 3D print Glossary as complete as possible. If you feel we’re missing any keywords, or would like further explanation please comment below or contact us.