Changes

3D printers are a new technology that enables users to print a solid object using a variety of materials.  These are used in private, educational, manufacturing, medical, and other venues.  To use this type of printer a user creates a 3D model on a computer, then sends the job to the printer.  The printer then constructs the object on a mat, by moving the nozzle (or print head) on a dual-axis assembly and releasing small amounts of the material where it is needed. In general, these printers are very slow in comparison to 2D printers, but the technology is still evolving and improving significantly.<br />

3D printers are a new technology that enables users to print a solid object using a variety of materials.  These are used in private, educational, manufacturing, medical, and other venues.  To use this type of printer a user creates a 3D model on a computer, then sends the job to the printer.  The printer then constructs the object on a mat, by moving the nozzle (or print head) on a dual-axis assembly and releasing small amounts of the material where it is needed. In general, these printers are very slow in comparison to 2D printers, but the technology is still evolving and improving significantly.<br />

===Materials===

==Uses==

Depending on the purpose and design of the 3D printer, it can use a wide variety of materials.  The material is sold as filament sized at either 1.75mm or 3mm, which is fed into the nozzle, melted, and released as needed. These include:

The versatility of these devices makes them useful in a wide variety of ways.  Hobbyists, find various uses for these, but many professional fields are beginning to adopt them. Some manufacturers have found these quite useful because they are able to create specialized components, which would be expensive to acquire in other ways.  Other industries are beginning to use them for the novelty of the process and product.  For example, [[The Hershey Company]] is beginning the process of making their kisses using 3D printers.<ref name="entrepreneur.com">https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241596</ref><br />

Perhaps one of the more bazaar but ingenious applications of this technology is the production of human body parts. Medical researchers have found that they can use live tissue from a patient to create an artificial organ, which their immune system is very unlikely to reject, since it is composed of their own cells.  Although not a common practice, this seems to offer much safer organ replacement which is available almost any time one is needed.

====Standard materials====

==Materials==

 

===Standard materials===

*ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

*ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

*PLA (Polylactic Acid)

*PLA (Polylactic Acid)

*NylonX (Polyamide)

*NylonX (Polyamide)

====Flexible materials====

===Flexible materials===

*TPE

*TPE

*PCTPE (Plasticized Copolyamide TPE)  

*PCTPE (Plasticized Copolyamide TPE)  

*PETT (PolyEthylene coTrimethylene Terephthalate)<ref>https://www.allthat3d.com/3d-printer-filament/#pett</ref>

*PETT (PolyEthylene coTrimethylene Terephthalate)<ref>https://www.allthat3d.com/3d-printer-filament/#pett</ref>

====Composite materials====

===Composite materials===

*LAYBRICK

*LAYBRICK

*Wood Composite

*Wood Composite

*Conductive (modified PLA for low voltage, low current circuitry)

*Conductive (modified PLA for low voltage, low current circuitry)

*LayCeramic

*LayCeramic

*LAY-FOMM 40

*LAY-FOMM 40

====Specialty materials====

===Specialty materials===

*"Sandstone" (PLA with chalk powder)<ref>https://www.allthat3d.com/3d-printer-filament/#sand</ref>

In some rare cases, special materials are needed. Although not commonly used nor always readily available for purchase, these material add to the versatility of 3D printing. This list could extend significantly, but here are a few examples:

*Polycarbonate

*Polycarbonate

*Bendlay

*Bendlay

*MoldLay

*MoldLay

*Chocolate<ref>http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/12/19/hershey_chocolate_3d_printer.html</ref><ref>https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241596</ref>

*Chocolate<ref>http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/12/19/hershey_chocolate_3d_printer.html</ref><ref name="entrepreneur.com">https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241596</ref>

====Support materials====

===Support materials===

These are materials which are needed during printing to support parts of the product, during construction, but must be removed when the job is complete.  These are printed to fill the space, then dissolved later, leaving only the intended product, with the intended voids.

In some cases, there must be a void in a project, but while printing, something must be there to support other parts.  I cases like this, support materials are used. These are printed to fill the space, then dissolved later using the required solvent, leaving only the intended product with the intended voids. These support materials include:

*PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate; water soluble)

*PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate; water soluble)

*High Impact Polystyrene (dissolved by Limonene)<ref>https://www.allthat3d.com/3d-printer-filament/#hips</ref>

*High Impact Polystyrene (dissolved by Limonene)<ref>https://www.allthat3d.com/3d-printer-filament/#hips</ref>