Profession 3D printing technician

3D Printing technicians assist in the designing and programming of products, ranging from prosthetic products to 3D miniatures. They may also provide 3D printing maintenance, check 3D renders for customers and run 3D printing tests. 3D printing technicians can also repair, maintain and clean 3D printers.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional
• Realistic / Investigative
• Artistic / Realistic

Knowledge

• Printing techniques

  The techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.

• Printing on large scale machines

  Methods, processes, and restrictions related to printing on machines that produce large quantities and sizes of graphic print materials.

• 3D printing process

  The process of reproducing 3D objects by using 3D printing technologies.

• Maintenance and repair

  The preservation and restoration of products and systems, and the methods and logistics of these practices.

• Printing materials

  The materials, such as paper, film, metal foils, and glass, on which texts or designs can be transferred by applying ink through direct pressure or with intermediate rollers.

• CAD software

  The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.

• Maintenance of printing machines

  Upkeep procedures and technical working of machines that produce printed graphical material.

• ICT software specifications

  The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.

• 3D modelling

  The process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of an object via specialised software. The product is called a 3D model. It can be displayed as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering or used in a computer simulation of physical phenomena. The model can also be physically created using 3D printing devices.

Skills

• Use technical drawing software

  Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.

• Operate 3D computer graphics software

  Use graphical ICT tools, such as Autodesk Maya, Blender which enable digital editing, modelling, rendering and composition of graphics. These tools are based in mathematical representation of three-dimensional objects.

• Use CAD software

  Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.

• Adjust engineering designs

  Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.

• Create solutions to problems

  Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.

• Identify customer's needs

  Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.

• Draft design specifications

  List the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.

• Operate printing machinery

  Operate machinery for various types of printed documents, adjusting the font, paper size, and weight. This allows ascenders and descenders to be correctly placed.

• Advise client on technical possibilities

  Recommend technical solutions, including systems, to the client within the framework of a project.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB