Interactive Systems – Digital Fabrication & 3D Printing

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing core terms, technologies, materials, and process-planning concepts from the lecture on digital fabrication and 3D printing.

Digital Fabrication

Computer-controlled production of physical objects or devices from a digital model.

Additive Manufacturing

Fabrication approach that builds objects by successively adding material, e.g., 3D printing.

Subtractive Manufacturing

Fabrication approach that removes material from a workpiece, such as CNC milling or laser cutting.

Formative Manufacturing

Fabrication approach that reshapes material into a mold or form, e.g., vacuum forming, blow molding.

3D Printing

Umbrella term for additive manufacturing technologies that create 3-dimensional objects layer by layer.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

3D printing technique that extrudes melted thermoplastic filament to form layers.

Stereolithography (SLA)

3D printing technique that cures liquid photopolymer resin using a UV laser to solidify each layer.

PolyJet Printing

Material-jetting process that sprays liquid photopolymers and cures them with UV light, enabling multi-material parts.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling

Subtractive method where a rotary spindle automatically removes material under computer control.

Laser Cutting

Subtractive process that uses a high-power laser beam to cut or engrave sheet materials.

Water-jet Cutting

Subtractive technique that slices materials with a high-pressure water stream mixed with abrasive particles.

Support Structure

Temporary material printed to sustain overhangs and delicate features during fabrication, later removed.

Orientation Determination

Process-planning step that chooses how a part is placed on the build tray to optimize accuracy, time, and supports.

Slicing

Conversion of a 3D model into successive 2D layers that the printer will fabricate.

Adaptive Slicing

Technique that varies layer thickness based on geometry to balance speed and surface quality.

Path Planning

Algorithmic generation of toolpaths for each layer, affecting build time, strength, and surface finish.

Infill Pattern

Internal lattice or raster used to fill unseen volumes, saving material while retaining strength.

G-code

Vector-based machine language that instructs CNC and many 3D printers on precise movements and actions.

PLA (Polylactic Acid)

Biodegradable, easy-to-print thermoplastic filament widely used in FDM printers.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

Durable, heat-resistant thermoplastic filament; tougher to print than PLA.

TPU/TPE Flexible Filament

Elastomeric materials for FDM that yield stretchable, rubber-like prints.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Extremely tough, heat-resistant filament suitable for high-strength FDM parts.

Multi-Material FDM

FDM capability that prints with two or more filaments to combine colors or functions (e.g., conductive + insulating).

Layer Resolution (Z Resolution)

Minimum achievable layer thickness; smaller values yield finer detail but longer print times.

Build Volume

Maximum physical space a printer can fabricate, expressed as width × depth × height.

Maker Movement

Community-driven culture promoting DIY fabrication, open hardware, and shared designs.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

Era characterized by cyber-physical systems and digital manufacturing transforming production.

RetroFab

Design tool that combines sensors, actuators, and 3D printing to retrofit existing physical interfaces.

MixFab

Mixed-reality environment that overlays digital designs onto the physical workspace for personal fabrication.

FreeD

Handheld digitally-augmented milling device that assists free-form carving with real-time guidance.

Metamaterial

Engineered internal microstructure that imparts novel mechanical or tactile properties to a 3D print.

Personalization / Customization

Adapting a product’s geometry, function, or aesthetics to individual user needs via digital fabrication.

3D Scanning

Technique that captures the shape of physical objects to create digital models for reproduction or modification.

Online Model Library

Repository such as Thingiverse or Shapeways where users share or purchase printable 3D designs.

Support Contact Area

Surface region where temporary supports touch the print; minimizing it eases post-processing.

Overhang

Portion of a model that extends outward without underlying layers, often requiring support material.

Gusset Support

Triangular support style that braces overhangs by connecting them to lower layers or the build plate.

Build Tray

Printer platform on which the object is fabricated; also called build plate or print bed.

Rapid Prototyping

Fast fabrication of physical models for form-factor or functional testing, typically using 3D printing.

Digital Model

CAD or scanned 3D representation that serves as the blueprint for fabrication.

Build Time

Total duration required for a printer to complete a part, influenced by orientation, layer height, and speed.

Support Volume

Amount of auxiliary material generated to stabilize the print; designers aim to minimize it.

Layer Anisotropy

Mechanical property wherein printed parts are stronger within layers and weaker across them.

Material Jetting

Additive method that deposits droplets of material (usually photopolymers) which solidify to form layers.