3D printer

3D printing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. The term "3D printing" can refer to a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object, with material being added together (such as plastics, liquids or powder grains being fused together), typically layer by layer.

3D printing processes are considered viable as an industrial-production technology. One of its key advantages is the ability to produce very complex shapes or geometries that would be otherwise impossible to construct by hand, including hollow parts or parts with internal truss structures to reduce weight.

Applications are limited to the imagination but include:
 * Medical industry like prosthetics, spares and repairs
 * Milling, turning, and precision grinding
 * Food industry like chocolate and candy, and flat foods such as crackers, pasta, and pizza
 * Fashion industry
 * Transportation industry

3D printers are the early prototypes of energy-to-matter converters or replicators.

See also:

4D printer