Extrusion
The most commonly seen type of 3d printer is the
extrusion printer. Effectively the "original" type of 3d
printer was the extrusion printer, created in 1984. This
type of printer melts plastic through a nozzle, laying
it carefully down on the previous layer as stepper
motors move the nozzle to designated x, y, and z
coordinates.
http://www.makerbot.com/wp-content/themes/makerbot/images/press/REP2_PRESS_15x10_low2.jpg
Above is a picture of one of the
best selling consumer 3d printers to date. The
MakerBot Replicator 2. Starting at around $2,000, this
printer is extremely affordable for its capabilities.
Soon extrusion printers will be a common household
item.
Some advantages of the extrusion printer are that it is generally less expensive than other types of printers. They have the potential to be highly customizable such as the extrusion printer "Reprap" that utilizes other 3d printers to create parts for the printer itself. The goal of the Reprap is to be able to print another printer, allowing for the exponential growth of the 3d printer. Undoubtedly a bright future.
Some advantages of the extrusion printer are that it is generally less expensive than other types of printers. They have the potential to be highly customizable such as the extrusion printer "Reprap" that utilizes other 3d printers to create parts for the printer itself. The goal of the Reprap is to be able to print another printer, allowing for the exponential growth of the 3d printer. Undoubtedly a bright future.
The mechanics of extrusion
printers are covered in the pages Mechanics, Physics Page 1, and
Physics Page 2
