1.- INTRODUCTION

Technology is evolving more and more rapidly. 3D printers are part of what is called the third industrial revolution. Manufacturing processes become automatic and production control is carried out by means of a computer.
 The first examples of this new productive system, was the numerical control and the computer-aided manfuctura (CAM). For this reason, CAD evolved rapidly, since it allowed to move from design to production quickly and easily.

Now that 3D printers are available for domestic use, anybody can make plastic parts, utensils and other materials at a lower cost and with more flexibility to design for their specific needs.

3D printers has a wide variety of uses, including education, medical applications, relief replicas for people with visual impairmet.


3D printing allows you to create three-dimensional objects by adding successive layers. The objects are divided into flat layers that, in turn, are formed by joining the contour lines.

If you want to print something in 3D you will need

1.- A Desing. The desing should be done as a file, so you need a program for it. Among others you can use SketchUp, TinkerCAD, OpenCAD, etc.. The file must be saved in STL format. We can also find parts in respositories such as Thingverse, EducaMadrid

2.- A 3 D Printer. 3D Printer is a machine than can print figues with volumen from a computer design.

3.- Materials. We use plastic (termoplastic) to do our 3D models. You can use ABS, PLA, others. We usually use PLA because of its properties, low toxicity and it is also enviromental friendly.