How does 3D Printing work?

Our Z-Corp 3D printers use standard 2D inkjet printing technology to create real, physical 3D objects.

Each object is built up layer-by-layer by printing a liquid binder onto successive thin layers of powder. The printer first lays out a smooth, even bed of powder, about 0.1mm thick. Then it prints the first cross-section of the object onto the powder using the liquid binder. Then it lays out another thin layer of powder, and prints the next cross-section.

The liquid binder binds together the powder within each layer, and binds each layer to the one before. As the layers are laid down and printed, the object is built up layer by layer. Once the process is completed, the object is fully formed, and is surrounded and supported by loose, un-bound powder.

Once the binder has set, the object is removed from the printer. Any loose powder is removed from the object, and then it is infiltrated with resin for extra strength and brighter colours.

How do you print in colour?

In the same way as a colour inkjet printer uses three colours of ink to print colour photographs, our 3D printer uses three colours of binder to print colour objects.

More information

For more information on the 3D Printing process, visit the Z-Corp web site, or get in touch.