A machine that creates a plastic or metal part one layer at a time (the additive fabrication method). Used mostly for quickly creating prototypes and molds, 3D printers are also used to build final parts. Available for myriad industrial uses as well as for the hobbyist, a variety of different technologies are used to form the layers. For details, see 3D printing.
Standing in front of one his company's high-end 3D printers, Chuck Hull co-founded 3D Systems, and his stereolithography technology pioneered rapid prototyping in the mid-1980s. (Image courtesy of 3D Systems, Inc., www.3dsystems.com)
For creating objects about the size of a cupcake, MakerBot's Thing-O-Matic comes in a kit form with open source instructions for assembly. The little man on the left was put together from several parts. (Image courtesy of MakerBot Industries, www.makerbot.com)
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