What is 3D printing?

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the exact opposite of the traditional way of making objects. Instead of editing or "subtracting" material to form an object — like a sculptor cutting away at clay — 3D printing adds layer after layer of material to build an object, but only where it's needed. Product designers and engineers upload a digital (CAD) file to a 3D printer, which then prints a solid 3D object.

Thermoplastics are the most commonly used materials, but the technology also includes photopolymers, epoxy resins, metals and more. Advanced bioinks, using a mixture of human cells and gelatin, have also been used to 3D print complex tissue models. Even edible materials, such as chocolate, are used in 3D printers.