A presentation about 3D printing glossary terms.

1. 3D Printing Glossary

2. 3D Printing Glossary
● I started a new career path, and in my journey of becoming a Community
Manager at Mixed Dimensions, I am learning as much as I can about 3D
printing world. I am excited to start this new adventure and be part of a
revolution that is changing the way we live. Being new to 3D printing, I
thought it would be necessary if I created a list of 3D printing glossary terms.
If I missed anything here, drop me a line...

3. 3D Bioprinter
A 3D printer that uses bio-ink to produce living tissues.
3D Bioprinting
The process of generating living tissues using 3D printing technology.
3D Hobbyist
Individuals who are enthusiastic about 3D printing.
3D Model
A digital file of an object in three dimensions that is created using 3D CAD or through
3D scanning.

4. 3D Printer
A machine used to create a 3D solid object from a 3D file.
3D Printing
A method of Additive Manufacturing that adds material to an object
layer by layer to create the final product.
3D Printing Bureau
Print shops.
3D Scanner
A hardware device that scans a physical object and turns it into a digital
file.

5. ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a type of plastic
filament used as a 3D printer material for FDM printers.
Additive Manufacturing
The process of adding components in layers to create a
three-dimensional solid object from a digital model.

6. Bounding Box
Printer bed size. Usually calculated in imperial or metric.

7. CAD/CAM
Computer-Aided Design/ Computer-Aided Manufacturing. The use of computer
software to help in the creation, adjustment or optimization of a design.
CLIP
Continuous Liquid Interface Production is a technology developed by Carbon3D that
balances light and oxygen to reduce the layers. The best feature of the printer is
that it is much faster in speed comparing to the other printers.
CNC
Computer Numerical Control is Machines which allow tools to craft automatically.
Curing
The process of hardening the material for the model to create its final form.

8. DLP
Digital Light Processing is the process that uses UV light projector to
cure resins into solid 3D objects.
DMLS
Direct Metal Laser Sintering is an additive manufacturing technique
uses a laser to heat and fuse metal powder to create a 3D model from
metal.

9. Escape Holes
Part of the Hollowing process. Escape holes are placed on 3D models to allow
access material to escape. Leading to a lower printing price of the build.
Extrude
The process of placing the build material on the build platform by heating
thermoplastic to a liquid state and pushing it through a small nozzle.
Extruder
A group of parts that handles the feeding and extruding of the build
material. Consists of two assemblies: a cold end to pull and feed the
thermoplastic from the spool, and a hot end the melts and extrudes the
thermoplastic.

10. FDM
Fused Deposition Modeling. The process of building an object by heating and
extruding thermoplastic filament.
Filament
The plastic material made from build materials. FDM/FFF printers use it as raw
material and as extruded plastic.
Flipped Faces
Faces that are pointing in the wrong direction in a 3D model.
Key feature: MakePrintable automatically detects flipped faces and flips them.

11. G-Code
A programming language for the use of some 3D printers to communicate from
computer to printer.

12. Hollowing
It’s the process of making a solid object hollow to reduce material
usage.

13. Infill/ Filling
Refers to the structure that is printed inside an object. It is extruded in
a designated percentage and pattern, which is set in the slicing
software.

14. Kapton Tape
Polyimide Adhesive tape is heat-resistant. It’s placed on the surface
of the print bed to prevent 3D printed model from warping

15. Non-manifold edges
It occurs when more than two surfaces share together an edge, which causes
an issue in solidity.
Key feature: MakePrintable fixes non-manifold edges.
Nozzle
The part of the hot end that deposits the melted plastic material.

16. Mesh
A collection of vertices, edges, and faces that make the shape of a 3D
object.
Mesh Simplification
The technique of reducing the number of faces used in surface mesh while
maintaining the overall shape.

17. OBJ
Object file is a common type of 3D file that many software programs use it
as an exchange format.
Overhang
Part of a 3D model that lacks support below it. If the angle of a 3D model is
less than 45 degrees, it usually needs support.
Over-lapping
It occurs when two or more objects intersect, the inside and outside of the
models cannot be properly distinct.
Key feature: MakePrintable automatically meshes together intersecting
objects into a single part.

18. Photogrammetry
The science of creating detailed measurements from photographs. 3D models can
be produced from photogrammetry.
Print Bed
The flat surface of the 3D printer where the 3D model part forms.

19. Raft
The process of printing a disposable base on the base surface, then building a 3D
model on top. Provides stability and reduces warping.
Repository
A place where something is stored.
RepRap
Replicating Rapid Prototyper is open source project created by Richard Rap. A 3D
printer that is capable of 3D printing another 3D printer.
Resin
Liquid material, Digital Light Processing (DLP) commonly uses resin.
RP
Rapid Prototyping is a process of creating a prototype of an object using three-
dimensional computer aided design (CAD).

20. Slice
A single layer of a 3D printed model.
Slicer
A software that converts a 3D digital model into a machine readable code for the 3D
printer. It slices the 3D model into multiple horizontal layers.
SLA
Stereolithographic is an additive manufacturing process using a vat of liquid UV-curable
photopolymer “resin” and a UV laser to build parts, a layer at a time.

21. SLS
Selective Laser Sintering is an additive manufacturing (AM) technique that uses a laser
as the power source to sinter powdered material, aiming the laser automatically at
points in space defined by a 3D model, binding the material together to create a solid
structure.
STL
STereoLithography is a file format describes 3D objects without any color or texture.
Support Structure
The use of supports on a 3D model with steep overhangs.
SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics is a file format that DLP printers use.
Spool
Filament Wrap.

22. Wall Thickness
The thickness of the 3D model walls. In order to print a 3D model, it requires a
minimum wall thickness for every material.
Key feature: MakePrintable fixes wall thickness issues.
Water Tight Model
A solid 3D model that has no holes.
Key feature: MakePrintable ensures that 3D models are watertight and solid.

23. http://www.makeprintable.com/
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