Course Content
Module 1: Introduction to 3D Printing
This section gives an overview of what 3D Printing is and is origins.
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What is 3D Printing?
00:05
3D Printing’s origin…History and Evolution of Additive Manufacturing
Types of 3D Printing Technologies (FDM, SLA, SLS, etc.)
Part 1 Quiz
00:10:00
Module 2: 3D Printers & Materials
This section gives an overview of the various 3D Printer components, 3D Printer types and materials.
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Components of a 3D Printer
Filament Types and Resin Basics
Choosing the Right Printer and Materials!
Module 2 Quiz: Materials and Printer Components
00:05:00
Module 3: 3D Printing File Types
This lesson provides a comprehensive understanding of the myriads of file extensions in the 3D Printing.
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FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
SLA (Stereolithography)
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)
FAM (Fluid Additive Manufacturing)
00:00
Other Technologies.
Module 3: 3D Printing File Types
00:05:00
Module 4: Introduction to 3D Modeling
Start designing your own printable objects with easy-to-use modeling tools. This module introduces you to beginner-friendly 3D modeling software and teaches you how to create objects that are optimized for the printing process.
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Basic Design Concepts
Beginner-Friendly Software (Tinkercad, Fusion 360, FreeCAD)
Getting Started with FreeCAD!
Designing for Printability
Module 5: Slicing and G-Code
Before printing, models need to be sliced into printable layers. Learn how slicing software works, how to adjust print settings like layer height and infill, and how the slicer generates the G-code that your printer uses to build the object.
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Introduction to Slicer Software (Cura, OrcaSlicer and more)!
03:52
Layer Height, Supports, Infill, and Print Settings
Generating and Reading G-code
Module 6: The Print Process
Now it’s time to bring your models to life. Learn how to set up your printer, load materials, calibrate settings, and start your first print. This module also covers how to identify and fix common printing issues like warping or layer shifting.
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Printer Setup and Calibration
Starting Your First Print
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Module 7: Post-Processing
After printing, your model might need some finishing work. Discover how to remove supports, sand rough edges, paint your models, and combine printed parts into assemblies. These techniques can take your prints from good to great.
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Removing Supports
Sanding and Surface Finishing
Painting and Assembly
Module 8: Introduction to 3D Scanning
Learn how physical objects can be digitized using 3D scanning technology. This module introduces different scanning methods, software for cleaning and editing scan data, and how scanning is used in design, repair, and reverse engineering.
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Types of 3D Scanners
Mesh Cleanup
Retopology Applications in Reverse Engineering
Module 9: Real-World Applications
Explore how 3D printing is transforming industries like healthcare, automotive, education, and aerospace. See case studies and examples of how professionals use 3D printing to solve real problems and prototype new ideas.
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3D Printing in Industry, Medicine, and Education
3D Printing in Construction & Housing
3D Printing in Fashion and Art
3D Printing in Defense and Military Applications
Module 10: The Business of 3D Printing
In this module, students explore how 3D printing extends beyond the workshop and into the world of business, sustainability, and emerging markets. From eco-conscious manufacturing to digital entrepreneurship, learners discover how additive manufacturing is reshaping supply chains, product development, and global commerce. The module begins by examining sustainability trends, showing how 3D printing reduces waste, supports local production, and enables environmentally friendly materials. Students then move into the future of additive technologies, including bioprinting, AI-driven design, and off-planet construction. The module also highlights how 3D printing enables new business models—from custom product startups and digital part libraries to contract printing services and hybrid manufacturing workflows. Students gain insight into market opportunities, value propositions, and the strategic use of 3D printing to create value across industries. Whether learners aim to start a business, join an innovative company, or simply understand the economics behind additive manufacturing, this module equips them with the tools and trends that define the future of 3D printing as a business.
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Sustainability and Future Trends
Building a Portfolio or Business in 3D Printing
Complete a Print-to-Finish Project
Submit for Feedback and Certification
Receive Your Certificate and Bonus Gift
Private: 3D Printing Fundamentals.
About Lesson

✅ Summary

Explore the origin story of 3D printing, tracing its development from the early 1980s to the foundational technologies that shaped the industry. This lesson introduces the key inventors and milestones behind SLA, SLS, and FDM—pioneering processes that remain essential in additive manufacturing today.

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

  • Identify the major inventors and breakthroughs that launched 3D printing

  • Describe the fundamental differences between SLA, SLS, and FDM technologies

  • Understand how early technologies evolved into modern 3D printing methods

  • Recognize the broader impact of these developments across industries

📘 Lesson Content

📌 The Birth of 3D Printing (1980s)

The origins of 3D printing trace back to the 1980s, when several groundbreaking technologies were developed. These innovations introduced a completely new way to build physical objects—from the ground up, one layer at a time.

🔬 Stereolithography (SLA) – Chuck Hull (1984)

  • Inventor: Chuck Hull

  • Year: 1984

  • Company: Co-founder of 3D Systems

  • Process: Uses a UV laser to cure liquid photopolymer resin, solidifying each layer to form a 3D object.

  • Impact: This was the first practical 3D printing process and introduced the STL file format, still widely used today.

Why It Matters:
SLA offered unmatched precision and surface quality for its time, setting the standard for high-detail 3D printing in engineering and prototyping.

⚙️ Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) – Carl Deckard & Joe Beaman (1980s)

  • Inventors: Carl Deckard and Joe Beaman

  • Institution: University of Texas at Austin

  • Process: A laser selectively fuses powdered materials (plastic, metal, ceramic) into solid layers.

  • Strength: Allows for durable, functional parts without the need for support structures.

Why It Matters:
SLS expanded 3D printing beyond simple prototypes—into functional, load-bearing parts used in aerospace, automotive, and medical applications.

🔧 Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) – Scott Crump (1989)

  • Inventor: Scott Crump

  • Year: 1989

  • Company: Co-founder of Stratasys

  • Process: Extrudes heated thermoplastic filament layer by layer to build up a model.

  • Accessibility: FDM became the most common method in consumer 3D printing due to its simplicity and low cost.

Why It Matters:
FDM democratized 3D printing, bringing it to homes, classrooms, and startups with compact, affordable machines.

🧠 Beyond the Basics: Evolving Technologies

The early foundation set by SLA, SLS, and FDM enabled the development of newer methods, such as:

  • Digital Light Processing (DLP) – Uses a projector to cure resin all at once per layer

  • Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) – HP’s powder-based method offering fine detail and fast print speeds

  • Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) – Fuses metal powder for industrial-grade metal parts

These innovations cater to specific industry demands in biomedicine, aerospace, jewelry, and rapid manufacturing.

🌍 Industry Impact

The impact of these early breakthroughs cannot be overstated. 3D printing today is used for:

  • Rapid prototyping in product design

  • Medical implants and prosthetics

  • Tooling and low-volume manufacturing

  • Educational and artistic exploration

From garage inventors to Fortune 500 companies, additive manufacturing has revolutionized how we design, test, and produce physical objects.

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