What is 3D printing? How does 3D printing work? Processes and technologies Examples & applications of 3D printing 3D printing industry Industrial printing Personal printing History Future 3D Printing Services 3D Marketplaces Infographic What is 3D printing? 3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the entire object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object. How does 3D printing work? It all starts with making a virtual design of the object you want to create. This virtual design is made in a CAD (Computer Aided Design) file using a 3D modeling program (for the creation of a totally new object) or with the use of a 3D scanner (to c...