3D Printing

Welcome to Mike Dodd's 3D-printing workshop. Thanks to advances in technology, hobbyists now can create items that would be difficult or impossible using traditional methods like machining metal.

3D printing is known as "additive machining" because it adds material to build a model, rather than cutting it away with a lathe or milling machine.

The two printers shown here move a heated nozzle over a "build plate," extruding molten plastic in layers to form the model. The plastic solidifies within seconds after being laid down. This method is known as "FDM" (fused deposition modeling), and is widely used.

Click Details in the menu bar above to learn more about 3D printing. Click Projects to see some of the many items I've made.