3D Printing, sometimes called Additive Printing, is the process of layering material to create a finished, 3D object.
There are three steps to 3D Printing:
Using software like TinkerCAD, AutoCAD, or Google Blocks, or tools like the Matter and Form 3D Scanner, create an object to print. There are many programs that you can use, all with their own pros and cons. If you are not sure where to begin, you can edit models that others have created and shared on sites like Thingiverse.
Using a program called a slicer, the data contained in your objects stl or obj file is converted into a code that tells the printer how to print your object.
The code that is create with the Slicer program is then loaded into the printer, and your object is printed.