A 3D printer is a machine that builds physical objects layer by layer from a digital 3D model. The most common type, FDM/FFF, melts plastic filament and deposits it through a moving nozzle.

How FDM works

  1. A slicer converts the 3D model into machine instructions (G-code)
  2. The extruder feeds filament into a heated nozzle (190–300 °C)
  3. The nozzle traces each layer while the bed moves down (or up)
  4. Layers bond as they cool — layer by layer, a part emerges

Main printer types in 2026

  • FDM/FFF: filament-based; the volume market (Bambu Lab, Creality, Prusa, Voron)
  • Resin (SLA/MSLA): liquid resin cured by light; detail over durability
  • Industrial (SLS, MJF): powder-based; production scale

What quality depends on

Printer mechanics matter, but filament consistency decides most print quality — diameter tolerance, dryness and color stability. That's why measured filament is the professional's first upgrade.