3D Printing Glossary

3D printing is a revolutionary technology that has experienced exponential growth in recent years. It is used in many fields, such as medicine, architecture, aerospace, manufacturing, and many others.

However, this technology can be complex for beginners, due to the multitude of technical terms and key concepts it involves.

That is why we have created this 3D printing glossary to help you understand the concepts and terms associated with this rapidly expanding technology. Whether you are a novice or an expert in 3D printing, this guide will be useful to familiarize yourself with the most common technical terms used in this field.

Common terms in 3D printing

Additive Manufacturing (AM): Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a process of producing three-dimensional parts from digital data. This process allows for the production of parts quickly and at a lower cost compared to traditional manufacturing methods.

Resin Printer / Metal Printer: Resin printers and metal printers are types of 3D printers used to create parts in resin or metal, respectively. These printers are widely used in additive manufacturing processes to create precise and durable parts.

High-Resolution 3D Printing: A printing process capable of producing objects with very fine detail, essential for applications in dentistry, jewelry, and micro-manufacturing.

Service Bureau / Design Bureau: A service bureau or design bureau is a company specialized in the design and manufacture of parts and products using additive manufacturing technologies. These companies often offer CAD services, rapid prototyping, and small series production.

STL File: The STL file is a file format used to store 3D models. This format is widely used in additive manufacturing processes.

3D Scanner: A 3D scanner is a device that uses lasers or cameras to capture 3D data of a real object. This data can then be used to create 3D models using CAD software.

Post-processing: Finishing steps, such as polishing, painting, or chemical treatment, to improve the appearance and functionality of the printed object.

Powder Bed: Surface on which powder is deposited and sintered layer by layer.

Lost-Wax Casting: Traditional casting technique used in jewelry and foundry, adapted to 3D printing to create wax models.

Detail Accuracy: The printer’s ability to reproduce fine details, essential for complex models like jewelry.

Projector: A device used in DLP printers to project images of each layer onto the resin.

High Resolution: DLP technology is known for its ability to print with high detail accuracy.

Printing Speed: Generally faster than filament-based techniques, as an entire layer is polymerized simultaneously.

Post-processing: Set of operations performed after printing, such as sanding, painting, or curing.

Extruder : An essential component in 3D printers using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) or FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) technology. The extruder is responsible for feeding the filament, typically made of plastic, to the heated nozzle. It plays a crucial role in melting the filament and extruding it in thin successive layers, enabling the progressive construction of the 3D object.

Processes

Thermoplastic Injection: Thermoplastic injection is a process of producing plastic parts on a large scale. Plastic pellets are melted in an injection machine and then injected into a mold to create the desired shape.

Reverse Engineering: Reverse engineering is the process of creating a 3D model from an existing object. This process is used to recreate parts that are no longer available or to improve an existing product.

3D Design and Prototyping

Rapid Prototyping: Rapid prototyping is a process of creating functional prototypes using additive manufacturing techniques. This process allows for the quick testing of designs and features, and for rapid iteration to improve the final product.

Prototype: An early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process.

Functional Parts: Components that are made for use in final products or assemblies, often requiring precise specifications for performance.

Resolution: In 3D printing, the level of detail that a printer can achieve, which is particularly important in applications requiring fine features.

3D Engineering: 3D engineering is a process of designing and developing products using CAD and 3D simulation tools. This process allows for the creation of products faster and with greater precision than traditional methods.

Digital Fabrication: Digital fabrication is a process of creating products using digital technologies such as CAD, additive manufacturing, and computer-controlled machine tools.

3D Modeling: 3D modeling is the process of creating three-dimensional digital models using CAD software. These models can then be used for additive manufacturing, simulation, and other applications.

CAD: CAD, or Computer-Aided Design, is a process of designing products using CAD software. These software tools allow for the creation of precise and detailed 3D models, as well as simulations to evaluate product performance.

CAM: CAM, or Computer-Aided Manufacturing, is a process of designing and producing products using CAD software and computer-controlled machine tools. This process allows for the production of parts with high precision and efficiency.

PDM (Product Data Management) : is a system for centralizing, organizing, and securing all information related to a product throughout its lifecycle. It facilitates the management of CAD files, the tracking of revisions, collaboration between teams, and access to technical data. By integrating a PDM, companies optimize their productivity, reduce errors, and ensure the traceability of modifications.

3D Printing Techniques

DLP / SLS / SLA / Laser Sintering: DLP, SLS, SLA, and laser sintering are additive manufacturing techniques.

• DLP, or Digital Light Processing, uses a photosensitive resin and a light source to create objects.
• SLS, or Selective Laser Sintering, uses a laser to heat and fuse powder to create objects.
• SLA, or Stereolithography, also uses a photosensitive resin and a laser to create objects.
• SHS, or Selective Heat Sintering is A 3D printing technique that uses thermal energy to fuse materials together layer by layer.
• DMLS, or Direct Metal Laser Sintering is an additive manufacturing technique that fuses metal powder into a solid part by melting it locally using a focused laser beam.
• EBM, or Electron Beam Melting is a type of additive manufacturing for metal parts where an electron beam is used to melt the metal powder layer by layer.
• LENS, or Laser Engineered Net Shaping is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high-power laser to fuse metallic powders into a solid.
• DMD or Digital Micromirror Device is a component used in some forms of DLP technology, consisting of an array of tiny mirrors that direct the light to perform layer curing.
• PolyJet Printing is an additive manufacturing technique that jets layers of curable liquid photopolymer onto a build tray.
• 2PP, or Two-Photon Polymerization is a high-resolution 3D printing technique that uses laser beams to initiate polymerization at the focal point, allowing for the creation of complex microstructures.
• MJF or MultiJet Fusion is a 3D printing method developed by HP that uses powder and infrared light to create detailed and durable parts quickly. It’s good for complex geometries.
• FDM or Fused Deposition Modeling is A common 3D printing technique where thermoplastic filaments are heated and extruded layer by layer to build objects. It’s affordable and versatile.

Polymerization: Polymerization is the process of creating long chains of molecules called polymers. This chemical reaction is widely used in the production of plastics and resins.

Vat Photopolymerization: An additive manufacturing process where a liquid photopolymer in a vat is selectively cured by light-activated polymerization.

Light-curing: Light-curing is a quick way to harden materials using light, often used in making dental fillings and fixing materials together. When the material is exposed to a certain type of light, it changes from liquid to solid. This method is great for jobs needing fast and precise hardening.

G-code: A programming language used to control 3D printers, indicating the movements of the extruder and other parameters.

Extrusion: The process of ejecting melted or powdered material to form the layers of an object.

Powder Bed Fusion: A technique where a laser or another heat source fuses powder particles to form an object.

Filament: Material in the form of a thread used in some 3D printers, generally plastic like PLA or ABS.

Dimensional Accuracy: The level of fidelity with which the printer reproduces the dimensions of the digital model.

Bioprinting: 3D printing technique using living cells to create tissues or organs.

Multi-Material 3D Printing: The ability of a 3D printer to use multiple types of materials in a single printed object.

Print Head: Part of the 3D printer that deposits the material. In FDM printers, it often includes the extruder.

Warping: Deformation that can occur during the cooling of the layers of a 3D printed object.

Shore Hardness Scale: Used to measure the hardness of 3D printed materials, especially elastomers.

Brims and Skirts: Structures printed around the base of an object to improve adhesion or simply to ensure the extruder is functioning correctly before starting the main print.

Raft: An initial platform on which an object is printed to improve adhesion to the print bed.

Dual Extrusion 3D Printer: A printer capable of using two different filaments or materials simultaneously.

Infill: The internal structure of a 3D printed object. It can be adjusted to modify the strength and weight of the finished object.

Structured Light: A technique that allows the measurement of the 3D shape of an object by projecting and observing a light pattern deformed by the object’s surface. It utilizes software that calculates the position of each projected point, along with a device that adapts its cameras to the volume of the object. Structured light combines photogrammetry to reposition different captures in the same reference frame.

Photogrammetry: Photogrammetry is a technique used to measure the position and 3D shape of an object based on multiple photos taken from different angles. It is employed to analyze the geometry, movement, and deformations of an object using visual markers called fiducial markers. It can replace or complement a 3D coordinate measuring machine, a 3D scanner, or a deformation measurement device.

MOVINGLight® : Patented innovation by Prodways, the MOVINGLight® technology uses a unique photopolymerization process. It rapidly produces prototypes and functional parts with exceptional resolution. This advanced system operates by solidifying photosensitive resins exposed to UV rays from a constantly moving dynamic DLP® (Digital Light Processing).

Material Jetting: A 3D printing process that deposits droplets of a build material that are solidified layer by layer.

Materials

Plastics

• Thermoplastic: Thermoplastic is a type of polymer that can be melted and reshaped multiple times without losing its properties. Thermoplastics are widely used in additive manufacturing processes to create durable and strong parts.
• Photosensitive Resins: Liquids that harden under UV light, used in SLA (Stereolithography) or DLP (Digital Light Processing).
• Polyamides: Also known as nylon, these are thermoplastic polymers widely used in additive manufacturing processes to create durable and strong parts.
• Nylon: Durable and flexible, used in SLS (Selective Laser Sintering).
• Resin: Liquid material used in additive manufacturing techniques like Stereolithography (SLA) or Digital Light Processing (DLP).

Metals

• Steel: Used in metal 3D printing for its strength, often via SLM (Selective Laser Melting) or DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering).
• Titanium: Known for its strength and lightness, preferred in aerospace and medical applications.
• Aluminum Alloys: Lightweight and strong, used in automotive and aerospace industries.

Ceramics

• Used for applications requiring high thermal and chemical resistance.
• Printing techniques include powder jet binding and laser sintering.

Composites

• Carbon Fibers: Strengthen plastics to increase stiffness and resistance.
• Glass Fibers: Another option for reinforcing plastics.

Flexible Materials

• TPU/TPE: Thermoplastic elastomers used for objects requiring flexibility and resilience.
• TPE/TPU/TPC: These are types of thermoplastic elastomers widely used in additive manufacturing processes to create flexible and resilient parts.

Resins

A type of polymer used in some forms of 3D printing that hardens when exposed to a specific type of light.Biomaterials

• Photosensitive Resin: Liquid material that hardens when exposed to a certain wavelength of light.
• Thermoset Resins: Materials that undergo a chemical change to become irreversibly hard, used in some forms of 3D printing for their durability.

Biomaterials

Used in bioprinting for the creation of tissues and organs.

Special Materials

• Conductive Materials: For electronic applications.
• Magnetic Materials: For specific components requiring magnetic properties.
• Color-Changing Materials: React to temperature or other stimuli.

Soluble Materials

• Used to create soluble supports that can be dissolved after printing, facilitating the removal of these supports.

Dental 3D printing

Digital Dental Workflow/3D Dentistry: The digital dental workflow is a process of designing and manufacturing dental prostheses using 3D scanners, CAD software, and 3D printers. This process allows for the production of dental prostheses more quickly and with greater precision than traditional methods.

Intraoral Scanner: A device that captures 3D images of the patient’s teeth and gums, allowing for the creation of digital dental models.

Aligners: Removable dental devices that use 3D printing technology to create custom-fit aligners for patients, such as clear aligners for orthodontic treatment.

Surgical Guides: Devices used to aid in the planning and execution of dental surgeries. These guides can be created using 3D printing technology for maximum precision.

Crowns: Dental crowns are fixed dental prostheses that cover the visible part of a damaged, broken, or decayed tooth. They are custom-made from a mold of the prepared tooth by the dentist and then cemented onto the prepared tooth to protect it and give it a natural appearance.

Bridge: A dental bridge is a fixed prosthesis that replaces one or more missing teeth by relying on the adjacent teeth for support. The bridge is composed of one or more crowns that are fixed onto the adjacent teeth to the edentulous space, and one or more pontic elements that replace the missing teeth. The bridge is custom-designed from a mold of the prepared teeth by the dentist and is cemented in place to restore the function and appearance of the missing teeth.

Dental Implants: Medical devices made of titanium or ceramic that are inserted into the jaw to replace missing tooth roots and serve as a base for fixing dental prostheses.

Dental Model: A 3D replica of the patient’s teeth and gums used for planning and manufacturing dental prostheses.

DICOM File: A digital file format used to store 3D medical images, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.