Hobbyists all around the world are making, "hacking," and collaborating on all kinds of creative projects, from computing, electronics, and woodwork to traditional arts and crafts. Together they comprise the maker community, a group increasingly recognized as a powerful movement of connected, creative individuals. The maker community is identified as such largely due to Maker Media, which serves the community via Make magazine, events such as Maker Faires, and e-commerce. As the maker community becomes more visible, so does 3D printing, which is the process of making a three-dimensional solid object from a digital model. Objects are built layer by layer--an additive process--where successive layers of material are laid down in different shapes. Any geometric shape is achievable in a variety of materials, including plastics, ceramics and metals. 3D printing is enabling makers everywhere--from artists to inventors to hobbyists--to easily, and relatively cost-effectively, bring their ideas to life.
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