3D Printing For Dummies

Get started printing out 3D objects quickly andinexpensively!3D printing is no longer just a figment of yourimagination. This remarkable technology is coming to the masseswith the growing availability of 3D printers. 3D printers create3-dimensional layered models and they allow users to createprototypes that use multiple materials and colors. Thisfriendly-but-straightforward guide examines each type of 3Dprinting technology available today and gives artists,entrepreneurs, engineers, and hobbyists insight into the amazingthings 3D printing has to offer. You'll discover methods forthe creation of 3D printable objects using software, 3D scanners,and even photographs with the help of this timely ForDummies guide.* Includes information on stereolithography, selective sintering,fused deposition, and granular binding techniques* Covers the potential for the transformation of production andmanufacturing, reuse and recycling, intellectual property designcontrols, and the commoditization of traditional products frommagazines to material goods* Walks you through the process of creating a RepRap printerusing open-source designs, software, and hardware* Addresses the limitations of current 3D printing technologiesand provides strategies for improved success3D Printing For Dummies is the must-have guide to makemanufacturing your own dynamic designs a dream come true!

Introduction 1Part I: Getting Started with 3D Printing 7Chapter 1: Seeing How 3D Printers Fit into Modern Manufacturing9Chapter 2: Exploring the Types of 3D Printing 23Chapter 3: Exploring Applications of 3D Printing 41Part II: Outlining 3D Printing Resources 61Chapter 4: Identifying Available Materials for 3D Printing63Chapter 5: Identifying Sources for 3D-Printable Objects 81Part III: Exploring the Business Side of 3D Printing99Chapter 6: Commoditizing 3D Printing 101Chapter 7: Understanding 3D Printing's Effect onTraditional Lines of Business 117Chapter 8: Reviewing 3D Printing Research 131Part IV: Employing Personal 3D Printing Devices 143Chapter 9: Exploring 3D-Printed Artwork 145Chapter 10: Considering Consumer-Level 3D Printers 157Chapter 11: Deciding on a RepRap of Your Own 169Part V: Creating a RepRap 3D Printer 199Chapter 12: Assembling Structural Elements 201Chapter 13: Understanding RepRap Control Electronics 231Chapter 14: Assembling the RepRap Extruder and RepRap Upgrades265Chapter 15: Identifying Software and Calibrating Your 3D Printer295Part VI: The Part of Tens 331Chapter 16: Ten Ways That Rapid Prototyping Will DisruptTraditional Manufacturing 333Chapter 17: Ten Examples of Direct-Digital Manufacturing andPersonalization 339Chapter 18: Ten Impossible Designs Created Using AdditiveManufacturing 345Index 349