How 3D printing actually works

3D printing builds an object one thin layer at a time. A digital model is sliced into hundreds of horizontal cross-sections, and the printer lays down material to recreate each one until the full part exists.

The most common desktop method, FDM, melts a plastic filament and draws each layer with a moving nozzle. Resin printers instead cure liquid with light for finer detail. Both start from the same place: a 3D model and a slicer.

You do not need to master any of this to work with us. But understanding the basics helps you design better parts and set realistic expectations for strength, finish, and turnaround.