3D Printing: A technical overview

The first 3D printing technique was reported by the Japanese inventor, Dr Hideo Kodama, which is a process that utilizes ultraviolet (UV) light to cure photo-sensitive liquid and which then becomes a solid 3D object. Charles Hull, founder of 3D Systems, later patented this technique in 1986, calling it Stereolithography (SLA).

To assist those unfamiliar with 3D print technology:

• Part 1 of 3. Describes the application, evolution, technical details and fabrication of relatively inexpensive 3D printed devices and moulds.