Sam: I’m Sam.
Neil: And I’m Neil.
In 1436 in Germany, Johannes Gutenberg, invented the printing press -
a machine capable of making many copies of the same page of text.
Ever since, printing has been used around the world
to produce books, newspapers and magazines.
Sam: Printing technology has come a long way since Gutenberg’s time,
but even today’s most advanced laser printers
have only printed flat, two-dimensional objects…
until now.
Neil: In this programme, we’re discussing 3D printers –
printers which can build solid, three-dimensional objects
out of a variety of materials including plastic, concrete and metal.
Sam: Now, Neil, when you say a printer that can make solid objects,
I guess you’re not talking about a normal printer…
Neil: That’s right, Sam.
These large and complex 3D printers work in a completely different way.
Unlike a sculptor who chips away at a block of stone to reveal a shape underneath,
3D printers work in the opposite way,
building up physical objects by adding material layer on layer.