General principles : 3D Modelling

3D printable models may be produced with computer aided design i.e. CAD package, using a 3D scanner, or via a plain digital camera and photogrammetric software. 3D models made with CAD result in fewer errors and can be modified prior to printing, permit verification in design of object prior it is printed.

The manual modelling procedures of making geometric data for 3D computer graphics is like plastic arts like sculpting. 3D scanning is a procedure of gathering digital data on the shape and appearance of actual object, making a digital model on the basis of it.

Printing

Prior to printing a 3D model from STL file, it should first be analyzed for errors. Many CAD applications create errors in output STL files: self-intersections, holes, faces normals, noise shells or various errors. A step in STL generation called as repair repairs such issues in original model. Usually once completed, STL file requires to be processed by software known as slicer that converts model into series of thin layers and creates G-code file having instructions modified to specific kind of 3D printer (FDM printers). Then this G-code file can be printed via 3D printing client software.

Creating model with modern methods can take anywhere from a number of hours to numerous days, relying on the way utilized and size and difficulty of model. Additive systems can decrease this time to few hours, though it differs broadly relying on the kind of machine utilized and size and number of models being created concurrently. 3Dprinters provide designers and concept development teams the capability to create parts and concept models via a desktop size printer.

Finishing

Although the printer-produced resolution is enough for several applications, printing a little oversized version of required object in standard resolution and then eliminating material with a higher-resolution subtractive procedure can attain greater accuracy.

Few printable polymers like ABS let the surface finish to be smoothed and enhanced using chemical vapour procedures based on acetone or similar solvents. Few printing methods need internal supports to be built for pending attributes during production. These supports should be mechanically eliminated or dissolved upon finishing point of print.