Believe it or not, 3D Printing is actually an older technology, however, recently it has becoming increasingly popular. Back in 1983 is when 3D printing first hit the scene. The reason you didn’t hear more about it until recently is because the price of the machines was very high. Recently, many of the patents surrounding 3D printing expired and many new companies moved into the scene building smaller, low cost printers.
Types of 3D Printing and How it Works
Introduction:
There are many different types of 3D printing that exist right now that use a variety of different materials.
Most printers use different types of plastic to create their designs. Our printers use a Plastic called PLA or
Polylactic Acid. PLA is a biodegradable plastic that is created from corn starch. Since it is created from a readily available crop, it is also considered a renewable resource.
Other printers can print using other plastics such as ABS or in materials other than plastic. There are some printers around the world that are being used to print concrete, chocolate, gold, and even living cells! The ability to print objects with different materials expands the types of projects that can be accomplished when using 3D printing.
Student Activities
- Use the Whiteboards to complete a KWL chart.
- Watch the BrainPop video, then complete more of the KWL.
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How do you think 3D printing will impact families in the future?
- How do you think 3D printing will impact companies in the future?
- 3D Printed Pancakes
- Pasta and Chocolate
Extension: