3D Printers & Scanners

The Rise of Additive Manufacturing in Schools and Industry
3D printing technology has been widely adopted by a variety of industries looking to create prototypes quickly and more affordably without wasting materials. From engineers to architects to the medical industry and the home hobbyist, 3D printing is quickly developing into a powerful additive manufacturing ecosystem. Additive manufacturing is the process of creating an object by building it one layer at a time using filament, such as ABS, PLA, PETG, Nylon, Carbon Fiber, ASA, and rinseable material. The process works by melting plastic filament that is deposited, via a heated extruder, a layer at a time, onto a build platform according to the 3D data supplied to the printer. Each layer hardens as it is deposited and bonds to the previous layer. Basically, it brings a three-dimensional digital object into its physical form by laying down many successive thin layers of a material. In education, educators use 3D printers across all age groups. The younger students learn the basic concepts of 3D Printing while at the high school or post-secondary level, educators are having students design and create prototypes for local businesses.