Are you considering this technology but don’t know how 3D printing works? The many types of printers and materials can be confusing. We’ve prepared a practical guide for you on how to get started with 3D printing. You’ll learn what types of printers are currently on sale and which one is right for your printing needs.
How does 3D printing work?
First of all, it’s important to understand what 3D printing is. You probably already know the standard printer that prints ink onto paper and creates text. You have it at home and you use it all the time.
A 3D printer uses layer-based object modeling, using different types of materials as the fill. The most commonly used fills are made of ABS plastic material or PLA filament.
Among the first—and now widely available—are so-called UV Resin (resin) printers. Next, we have FDM printers, which come in different price ranges and can be quite affordable nowadays. However, the more expensive models add speed instead.
Today, you can also find pricier resin printers that turn liquid material into your final design. Their main specification is their ability to capture incredible details—something that regular FDM printers can’t do.
Design of the model
The 3D print itself consists of two steps. First, you design the model using software (e.g. CURA), and then you actually print it using the printer. When it comes to the design phase, the main advantage is that you can customize all the features of the final object yourself. It’s up to you what structure the resulting product resp. printed object will have.
However, it’s not necessary to plan the final design. If you’re not confident, you’ll find several practical, ready-to-use designs online that can make things easier. For example, try designs offered by portals like Thingiverse or Instructables.
Printing process and speed
At this point, the values differ again. The printing process, speed, and the precision of the details depend on the type of printer and the technology that particular printer offers.
As we explained earlier, unlike a standard printer, a 3D printer doesn’t use ink—instead, it uses materials, usually made of plastic or resin.
If we look at solid material, the printer’s technology heats the plastic material and then applies it in the required layers onto the platform at the bottom of the printer. The object is printed from the bottom up, layer by layer, all the way to the top edge according to the design.
The printer prepares for layer-by-layer printing using its components. The basic printer model includes an extruder, material, a heated nozzle, cooling, a printing platform, and a display. Printing speed then also depends on the details and the number of printed layers.
What objects do we print?
With a 3D printer, you can print various objects. From fun figures, toy structures, or other, for example, spare components—today’s technologies allow you to print much more.
Modern designs can print selected parts of the human body or health and protective aids in the form of shields that were especially important and valuable during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Color printing
If we look back into the past, original inkjet printers could only print in black and white. So they used only black ink. Later, color inkjet printers arrived, using ink cartridges with three colors. By mixing these colors, they created color printing.
3D printers also use a very similar principle. Today, you can find a wide range of single-color and dual-color 3D printers on the market. However, you can even get printers with an RGB color spectrum.
Multiple color combinations are created using a process called extrusion. In this case, an advanced and extremely hot extruder mixes multiple color filaments and, through the nozzle, produces the final desired colors.
We’ve also prepared a big comparison of Creality 3D printers, so you can choose the one that fits your needs.
Availability of 3D printers
3D printers from trusted manufacturers like Creality or Anycubic are available in the catalogs of well-known international sellers today. The cheapest picks often go for less than €150 / 177 USD. These are mainly printers with FDM or UV Resin technology.
More expensive models—typically a few hundred euros higher—may also include resin technology, which is faster and more detailed. Plus, when buying, you can choose a printer with an enclosed chamber, where printing takes place inside a casing made of glass or plastic. With this type of printer, though, you’ll need to account for a larger product size.
A few tips on 3D printers
Creality Ender-3 V2
CZ warehouse
TIPExpress delivery from the Czech warehouse with no customs duties and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you express from the local Czech warehouse. Delivery from Czechia usually takes 7-10 days and is handled by courier. On delivery, you don’t pay any additional fees—no customs duty and no VAT.
Creality 3D Ender-3 Pro
PL warehouseTIPExpress delivery from the Polish warehouse with no customs duty and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you express from a local Polish warehouse. Shipping from Poland usually takes 7-10 days and is handled by a courier. When it arrives, you don’t pay any extra fees—no customs duty or VAT.
Creality LD-002H 3D printer
CZ warehouseTIPExpress delivery from the Czech warehouse with no customs duties and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you express from the local Czech warehouse. Delivery from Czechia usually takes 7-10 days and is handled by courier. On delivery, you don’t pay any additional fees—no customs duty and no VAT.
Creality Ender-5 Plus
TIPExpress delivery from the Czech warehouse with no customs duties and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you express from the local Czech warehouse. Delivery from Czechia usually takes 7-10 days and is handled by courier. On delivery, you don’t pay any additional fees—no customs duty and no VAT.
TIPExpress delivery from the Polish warehouse with no customs duty and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you express from a local Polish warehouse. Shipping from Poland usually takes 7-10 days and is handled by a courier. When it arrives, you don’t pay any extra fees—no customs duty or VAT.
Artillery Genius / Genius Pro
CZ warehouse
TIPExpress delivery from the Czech warehouse with no customs duties and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you express from the local Czech warehouse. Delivery from Czechia usually takes 7-10 days and is handled by courier. On delivery, you don’t pay any additional fees—no customs duty and no VAT.
Resin for 3D printers
TIPExpress delivery from the Czech warehouse with no customs duties and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you express from the local Czech warehouse. Delivery from Czechia usually takes 7-10 days and is handled by courier. On delivery, you don’t pay any additional fees—no customs duty and no VAT.
TIPExpress delivery from the Czech warehouse with no customs duties and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you express from the local Czech warehouse. Delivery from Czechia usually takes 7-10 days and is handled by courier. On delivery, you don’t pay any additional fees—no customs duty and no VAT.
TIPWith Banggood Express shipping, you don’t pay any extra fees.
We recommend choosing shipping via Banggood Express, where you won’t have to pay anything extra. Customs duties and any VAT are handled by the seller for you. Shipping can be selected in your cart after you enter your delivery address. Delivery with Banggood Express usually takes about 15 -20 days, but it may also take longer.
TIPExpress delivery from a German warehouse without customs duty and VAT.
This product will be delivered express from the local German warehouse. Shipping from Germany usually takes 7-10 days, and the delivery is handled by a courier. When it arrives, you won’t pay any additional fees—no customs duty or VAT.
Do you like our article about 3D printers, and do you already know how 3D printing works? Are you considering buying a 3D printer from our selection? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions with us below in the discussion under the article. Follow our Facebook page and the China Planet portal to learn more.
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