Are you part of the Maker scene?
If so, you probably have your very own 3D printer (or, depending on how keen you are, several 3D printers) stashed in your garage, shed, basement, attic or local makerspace.
Unlike an old-school 2D plotter than can move its printing mechanism side-to-side and top-to-bottom in order to skim across a horizontal surface, a 3D printer can move its print head vertically as well.
To print on a surface, a 2D plotter usually uses some sort of pen that releases ink as the print head moves in the (X,Y) plane.
A 3D printer, however, can be instructed to emit a stream of liquid filament from its print head as it moves in (X,Y,Z) space.
In hobbyist printers, this filament is usually a spool of fine polymer cord that’s melted by a heating element as it passes through the head, so that it emerges like gloopy plastic dental floss.
If emitted close enough to…
