co-author: William Brent Wright

What we’ll cover in our “How to”

0. An Overview of 3D Printing in O&P and What to Consider Before Jumping In

• Academic Research
• Commercial growth of the digital workflow in O&P
• The 3D printing revolution
• Technology application in your clinic — 3D Scanners, Software, and Fabrication
• Our thoughts
• FAQ — a few common questions before we get started

I. A Digital Workflow

• What Are All the Pieces of a Digital Process?

II. 3D Printer Anatomy

• What are the different types of 3D printing and which one should I choose?
• What size printer do I need?
• What printer frame do I need?
• What are the parts of a printer?
• Some Definitions
• Extrusion Types
• Nozzle Size
• Filament Diameter
• Our suggestions so far, regardless of use case

III. What Printer Should I Buy?

• Things to Consider
• Build Volume
• Compatible Materials
• Where to buy (remember to get 1.75mm filament!)
• Enclosure
• Nozzle Size
• Printer Comparison
• Our Printer Recommendation

IV. Slicing

• Layer Height
• Infill
• Shell/Wall Thickness
• Retraction
• Bed Attachment
• Support Material
• Temperature
• Slicing Profiles

V. Troubleshooting your prints if you run into problems

VI. References, acknowledgements, and more resources