Included in the guide is an explanation of 3D printing, in addition to further information on 3D design tools and methods of 3D printing, as well as guidance on its advantages and disadvantages and its application in areas such as construction. This topic guide will benefit those in a range of professions, including architects, surveyors, manufacturers, system integrators and engineers. 

Chris Thompson, a research engineer for BSRIA's Sustainable Construction Group, commented: ''There’s a new kind of printer that prints three-dimensional objects. The technology has developed significantly in the past 20 years and 3D printing now has a whole host of uses. The aim of this topic guide is to give a background to 3D printing technology and show what 3D printing can offer to the construction industry in general, and building services in particular.

''In the future, the scope of 3D printing is only going to increase to include prosthetics, food, cars and even houses.

''3D printing is mainly used in the manufacturing sector for prototyping, helping new products go to market faster. It is also increasingly being used for one-off bespoke components. These can range from the microscopic scale to large structures weighing tens of kilograms.”

What is 3D printing?

The 3D printer uses a model design created through computer-aided design (CAD) as its template, which is broken down into individual layers by the 3D printer’s software. Material is then deposited, usually via a nozzle device, layer by layer until the 3D product is complete. There are other methods of 3D printing that vary from the method of this example.

Improvements in speed and accuracy and the increased range of materials that can be used have put 3D printing at the forefront of product development and opened up new markets. Advances in technology, especially CAD, have aided this. Indeed, a manually controlled 3D printer would almost be impossible to use accurately. 3D printing also enables the manufacture of different shapes, such as hollow structures, which was previously not feasible with traditional subtractive methods such as milling.