There are few things that are as satisfying as finishing a difficult to make creation, be it a decoration, components or a practical tool there are many things that we make to serve one purpose or another. The many ways one can go about creating their own objects out of some material are numerous, however, none are as quick or as efficient as the 3D printer which is a relatively new piece of tech that has hit the market and is now being used around the world in both professional and residential settings. The 3D printer started out in the late 1980s but didn't gain traction until the mid 2000s. A number of improvements and new methods have risen throughout the years and some of them have basically doubled their output, which has however also doubled their cost.
Primarily you'll see FFF 3D printing machines that are the simplest and most cost effective method for 3D printing. Fused filament fabrication or fused deposition modeling (they're the same thing), this method uses non-photosensitive filaments that are robust and less accurate compared to other types of printing technology. This method is a form of additive manufacturing, at its heart, it's a process that takes any materials such as PLA or ABS filaments and lays them down on the heated plate where they harden. The whole process starts on a computer where a 3D model is made or downloaded, it's sent to the printer that controls the nozzle and extrudes filament to create the desired object, however, the process can enable the object to warp and expand so having a good pattern that reinforces the object from the inside could prove essential.
The materials used also play a large role in the quality durability and finish you might get when printing. PLA and ABS are your most common filaments that you'll be using with the printer, and there are many variations on these two filaments, but first the basics. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic, it's made of corn starch or sugar cane and is biodegradable, so it's more environmentally friendly than ABS. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is widely available and has been used for FFF 3D printing from the start due to its consistent melting point. There are many ways that one can apply a finish to these materials, one method I've seen being used is a vat of acetone where the object hangs over the acetone while it boils (bonus points for evil laughter if you do this) and smooths out the object.
