Technologies of 3d printing

Three-dimensional printing is a technique of converting a virtual 3D model into a physical object. 3D printing is a group of rapid prototyping technology.

One variation of 3D printing consists of an inkjet printing system. Layers of a fine powder are selectively bonded by "printing" an adhesive from the inkjet printhead in the form of each cross-section as determined by a CAD file. This technology is the only one that allows for the printing of full color prototypes. It is also familiar as the fastest method.

Alternately, these machines provide for liquids, such as photopolymer, through an inkjet-type printhead to form each layer of the model. These Photopolymer Phase machines make use of an ultraviolet (UV) flood lamp mounted in the print head to cure each layer as it is deposited.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), a technology also used in conventional rapid prototyping, uses a nozzle to deposit molten polymer onto a support structure, layer by layer.