3D printing: Another dimension for DIY

There’s a bit of a conceptual gap between fashioning parts by hand and by computing power. But cheaper equipment and more accessible software sees plenty of farmers with a foot in both camps; if you’re not convinced, take a look at the stuff on show in profi 03/22. Interested? Here’s an introduction to the basics, passed on by a model maker with wide experience of different techniques.

Process options

While the tech evolves apace, the root process is the same. First, design an item in computer modelling software. Then pass the resulting file to a device – the 3D printer – which turns the digital model into a physical item. We’re dealing only with the printer side of things here, and at DIY level: not the world of industrial kit and methods.

For home use the most popular process is Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). The raw