best 3d printers
Note: Our best 3D printers round-up has been fully updated. This feature was first published in May 2015.
3D printers print 3D models, using a process called additive manufacturing or AM. This process uses computer control to lay successive layers of material to build a 3D model.
Two plastics, ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and the more eco-friendly PLA (polylactic acid or polylactide), are the materials most commonly used, but the technology has advanced to the point where almost any material can be printed with, from food to metal – although not necessarily at home.
The most widely-adopted 3D print file format is .stl, which can be exported from most 3D modelling and scanning applications. As well as creating 3D models yourself, you can download a huge selection from sites such as makerbot’s Thingiverse.com.
As with conventional 2D printers, resolution and size are all important. A high resolution will produce a higher quality print than a low one, and a large print bed may be more convenient, enabling you to print your objects in one go rather than splitting the print into several parts.
If you’re in the market for a home 3D printer then there’s a lot to consider. Do you want …read more
Source:: techradar.com – Computing Components
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