The History of 3d

Printers
By: Aiden Svitich

Intro to 3d printers
Desktop 3d printers are a relatively recent technology that
vastly changes the way we create things at home. Unlike the
conventional method of removing material until the desired
shape is required, 3d printers build objects from the ground
up; layer by layer. I am interested in this technology because
of how accessible and affordable it is for people to create
whatever they want, whenever they want to. A

3d
printing
is
accessib
le to
anyone.

How Smart is a 3d Printer.

3d printers today can print models from an impressive
range of materials. These materials include:
thermoplastics, ceramics, chocolate, metals, resin and even
concrete.
The specifications of 3d printers heavily rely on the
company producing the product. However, there are some
similarities between all 3d printers.

Printers come with moveable X, Y and Z axis.

Desktop printers usually have a print surface of 150X150mm 200X200mm.

Usually run off of standard 120v wall output.

Additive manufacturing machines come with one
microprocessor that controls the stepper motors and print
head, as well as monitor the print head temperature. They
also come with 3-4 stepper drivers(depending on model).
Makerbot, Solidoodle, Lulzbot, Ultimaker are just a few of
the more popular companies that create 3d printers.

The Evolution of 3d Printers

1986

Charles Hull acquires a patent for the first ever stereo lithography
apparatus (SLA printer) and founds the company 3D Systems
Corporation.

This brand new technology radically changed the way many

aircraft, vehicle and medical companies would create new machines
and improve old parts.

The SLA machine allowed companies to prototype at the fraction of

the cost and time compared to conventional subtractive
manufacturing.

I think the creation of the SLA printer would have impacted my life
greatly because it aided in changing the way we can manufacture
things, as well as inspire other people to come up with new and
interesting ways to do things.
The printer hardens resin with
an ultraviolet blast. It continues
to do this layer by layer, until
the desired shape has been

The Evolution of 3d Printers

1986
3d Systems develops the software for computer aided
manufacturing called the standard tessellation
language(STL ). This software converts computer aided
design (CAD) files into polygonal shapes that all 3d printers
recognize to plot their course.
The development of STL provided all 3d printers with a
generic language which they could use to create an object.
This allowed the technology to grow even further

The Evolution of 3d Printers

1987

Carl Deckard creates the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printer

Selective Laser Sintering has a much broader spectrum when it

comes to the materials it can use. These materials may be
ceramics, Nylon and even metal.

This printer can also create more complex geometries, allowing for
less post-print assembly. This ultimately saves time and money.

Carl Deckard has created a machine with real world capabilities,

that can be applied to auto motives, aircraft, medical devices and
many more.

SLS printers are another step towards cheap and efficient product
development.

The Evolution of 3d Printers

1989

Scott Crump co-founds Stratasys Inc. and creates the first ever
Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) printer.

These are the standard desktop printers you may find in any back
yard inventor or hobbyist's garage. They work by heating and
depositing a malleable material (usually a thermoplastic) onto a
platform, layer by layer.

The development of FDM printers brings additive manufacturing to

the masses at an affordable price.

People are now able to bring their ideas to life, without having to
invest a lot of time and money.

Top 3 Desktop 3d Printers on the

Market (for the average hobbyist)

3rd
Printbot Play

$399.99 (Maker Shed)

Good quality to price ratio

Cheap entry level printer

Lightweight and portable

This is a good entry level

printer however, it is very
limited to size of models
that can be created.

2nd
SeeMeCNC Rostock MAXv2

$999.00 (Amazon.com)

Sold in kit format for a reduced price

This printer is an
excellent choice, but
Very tall build area which allows for taller models only if the owner is
capable of tackling a
complex kit-build.
Simple and easy LCD user interface

1st
LulzBot Taz5

$2,199.99 (Maker Shed)

Very large print area with a controllable heat bed

Can print many different materials that other printers cannot

Open source allows for modification

Highest quality print resolution

The Taz5 is the

best 3d printer
for the average
hobbyist
because it is
relatively user
friendly. The
company has
also embraced
the fact that
owners may
want to
upgrade their
product. This
printer can also
print in many
other materials
that other
printers, at the
same price,

The Future of 3d Printers

The next big leap in the 3d printer field will be the
capability for these machines to print in different and more
useful materials for real world applications. I think they will be
able to receive files from a wireless router or cloud based
system in the future. 3d printers are constantly becoming
cheaper and more versatile.
I predict that 3d printers in the future will become as
common in homes as the television. Additive manufacturing is
a much more efficient method of creating something, through
factors such as time, economy and material-consumption. In
the future, we may be able to print anything we could possibly
want in the comfort of our own home. 3d Printers are already
commonplace in the development of prototypes however, I
believe 3d printers will replace many of the mass
manufacturing technologies that we use today.

Sources
http://3dprintingindustry.com/3d-printing-basics-freebeginners-guide/history/
http://theinstitute.ieee.org/technology-focus/technologyhistory/layerbylayer-the-evolution-of-3d-printing
http://www.tctmagazine.com/blogs/guest-column/sla-vs-slsprototypes/
http://makezine.com/comparison/3dprinters/