3D Printing
Noun · Hacker Culture
Definitions
3D Printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating three-dimensional objects by depositing material layer by layer according to a digital design file. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing (which carves material away from a solid block), 3D printing builds objects from the ground up, enabling complex geometries that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive to manufacture conventionally. Common technologies include FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling, extruding melted plastic filament), SLA (Stereolithography, curing liquid resin with UV light), and SLS (Selective Laser Sintering, fusing powder with a laser). Materials range from plastics and resins to metals, ceramics, and even biological materials. Applications span rapid prototyping, custom manufacturing, medical implants, aerospace components, and architectural models. The technology has democratized small-batch manufacturing, allowing individuals and small companies to produce custom parts without expensive tooling or minimum order quantities.
In plain English: Making physical objects from digital designs by printing them layer by layer.
Example: "The robotics club used 3D printing to prototype sensor mounts and custom enclosures before committing to machined parts."
Origin Story
From Sci-Fi Dreams to Desktop Factories
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the process of creating three-dimensional objects by depositing material layer by layer from a digital model. The technology was invented in 1983 by Chuck Hull, who created the first working 3D printer using a process he called stereolithography (SLA). Hull received a patent in 1986 and co-founded 3D Systems Corporation to commercialize the technology. However, Hull was not alone in the space: Carl Deckard at the University of Texas developed selective laser sintering (SLS) around the same time, and Scott Crump invented fused deposition modeling (FDM) in 1989, later founding Stratasys. For two decades, 3D printing remained largely an industrial prototyping tool, too expensive and specialized for wider use. The turning point came in 2009 when key FDM patents expired, enabling the RepRap open-source project and companies like MakerBot to produce affordable desktop printers. This democratization sparked a maker revolution, putting rapid prototyping in the hands of hobbyists, educators, and small businesses. Today, 3D printing is used in aerospace, medicine (including custom implants and prosthetics), architecture, and even food production.
Coined by: Chuck Hull
Context: Hull invented stereolithography in 1983 and patented the first 3D printing process in 1986.
Fun fact: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 3D printing enthusiasts and companies produced millions of face shield frames, ventilator parts, and nasal swab components when traditional supply chains could not keep up with demand.