What is 3D Printing? A Complete Beginner's Guide

3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, is the process of creating physical objects from a digital model by adding material layer by layer.

How it works

1. Modeling: you create or download a 3D file (.STL or .3MF).
2. Slicing: a "slicer" cuts the model into layers and generates G-code.
3. Printing: the machine builds the object layer by layer.

The two most common technologies

FDM (filament): melts a plastic strand and deposits it in layers. Popular, cheap and versatile.

Resin (SLA/MSLA): uses UV light to cure liquid resin, with far superior detail.

Want to know the cost of each print? Try the FDM cost calculator or, if you print SLA/MSLA, the resin printing cost calculator.