This process is called slicing since it takes scans of each layer of the model and tells the printer how it should move the print head to create each layer in turn. Since a printer doesn’t understand how to take a complex 3D mesh and turn it into a printed model, the 3D model must be decoded into information that the printer can understand. This is called prototyping, making a rough draft to help test the final copy without wasting valuable time and materials. However, they’re not just used for making fancy geometric shapes, as it’s usually much cheaper for a large factory’s R&D department to print a single model in plastic rather than rigging up the whole factory to make the actual part. Some models are so complex that they’re impossible to make with traditional manufacturing techniques like molding or CNC routing, and that’s where 3D printers take an obvious lead. One benefit of a 3D printer is that it can print nearly anything. RELATED: What is Sketchup (and How Do I Use It)? This is a bit different to how 3D models might be made for movies or games, though you could certainly print out very detailed figures from traditional 3D modeling software.

These are usually made in a CAD program designed for working on real-world 3D models, like TinkerCAD, Fusion360, or Sketchup. Every object printed on a 3D printer starts with a 3D model.

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