The City College of New York 

Dremel Digilab 3D20 3D Printer 

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Description

• Reflection

• Reference

Introduction 

Whether you are a Mechanical Engineer, Civil Engineer or Electrical Engineer, chances are that you will end up using a 3D printer at some point during your career to assist you with whatever you are designing. The job of a 3D printer is to construct three-dimensional products in a quicker and more efficient way that eliminates the need for activities like assemblies and welding. This additive manufacturing process has redefined the way engineers manufacture materials and I believe, will change the world as a whole.

Historical Background 

Dating as far back as the 1950s, 3D printing has developed from basis theories and fiction into one of the world’s most successful technological advancements. The broad concept and procedure to later be used for 3D printing was described by author Raymond F. Jones in one of his Science Fiction stories called “Tools of the Trade”. In the story he referred to it as “molecular spray”. However, it was just the idea of a 3D printer that developed in the 50s. However, it wasn’t until the mid 1980s when the first developments of some of the additive manufacturing equipment were created resulting in the first 3D printer being developed by Chuck Hull. In 1986, Chuck Hull founded 3D Systems, a company which today sells 3D printers that use a variety of technologies. “They range from entry-level kits to advance commercial systems, and 3D Systems also provides on demand parts services, mostly to business users.” (Hoffman 2020) To this day, 3D systems are equipping engineers and physicist with top notch, high demand equipment. 

Description 

Dimensions: 19.1″ x 15.7″ x 13.2″ (485 mm x 400 mm x 335 mm)

1. The Lid of the printer 
2. Extruder: The part of the printer that ejects material in liquid or semi-liquid form in order to deposit it in successful layers 
3. Guide Rail: The device that directs products through the system  
4. Door Handle: Used to open and close the printer 
5. Gripping Handle: Used to pick up and carry the printer 
6. USB Port: Used for inserting USB drives

7-10. Build Platforms and Touch Pad: Used for placement of objects and operation controls for the printer

11-12. Filament Spool and Holder: Plastic that melt rather than burn when heated.  

Reflection

      The genre of this assignment is a Technical Description. For this assignment, I was tasked with taking an item or any material that correlated with my engineering field and writing a tech description on it. I actually struggled and contemplated for a really long time about what specific item I would choose to describe. Part of the reason is because I haven’t declared for any specific engineering major yet. The other reason could be because there are hundreds, if not, thousands of tools, objects, and materials that all engineers use as a whole. I believe that is what led me to choosing a 3D printer. It’s something that almost every engineer, no matter the field, will at some point encounter. 

      Technical Descriptions can be found in a wide variety of documents ranging from a lab report to a basic instruction’s manual. I believe my technical description would fit well in sections of an instructions manual that comes with the purchase of a Digilab 3D printer. A technical description is used to describe both the historical background and functions of an individual item and mine describes both with the inclusion of the first 3D printer made and the company that made it. 

      I wrote this technical description because I wanted to educate individuals/engineers who have just purchased a Dremel Digilab 3D printer about the product they just bought as well as its origin. It is important that owners learn the components I have mentioned because with 1 piece missing, it creates more work for you to do when the printer itself was specifically designed to replace the work of activities like cutting and welding. I hope and pray that owners of a Dremel Digilab 3D printer have read this tech description, so they not only know what it is, but how it operates. 

References 

Hoffman, T. (2020, July 1). 3D Printing: What You Need to Know. PCMAG. https://www.pcmag.com/news/3d-printing-what-you-need-to-know

Dremel Digilab 3D20 3D Printer, Idea Builder for Brand New Hobbyists and Tinkerers – 3D20-01: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific. (n.d.). Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-Digilab-Printer-Hobbyists-Tinkerers/dp/B00NA00MWS

Service-3D40-Setup-Hardware-Walthrough | Dremel Digilab. (n.d.). Dremel Digilab. https://digilab.dremel.com/service-3d40-setup-hardware-walkthrough

Extruder: essential part of a 3D Printer. (2019, November 28). Sculpteo. https://www.sculpteo.com/en/glossary/extruder-definition/

Hoffman, T. (2018, May 24). 3D Printer Filaments Explained. PCMAG. https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/3d-printer-filaments-explained

Audience Profile Sheet

Reader’s Name:	Any Owner of a Dremel Digilab 3D printer
Reader’s Job Title:	Most likely an Engineer
Kind of Reader:	Primary___X___             Secondary______
Reader’s Level of Education:	Should have a general education
Reader’s Professional Experience:	First time users of a 3D printer.
Reader’s Job Responsibilities:	The users job with a 3D printer is to design something to the best of their abilities.
Reader’s Personal Characteristics:	I wouldn’t know my audience personally however they would most likely be highly creative.
Reader’s Cultural Background:	Any cultural background should be able to read my tech description and get a good understanding.
Reader’s Attitude Toward the Writer (you):	None
Reader’s Attitude Toward the Position you’re applying to:	I have a positive stance because I myself would refer to being someone who’s more “hands on”
Reader’s Expectations for an employee in that position:	They expect it to be about the new product they just purchased.
Reader’s Expectations about the Résumé and Job Letter (as documents):	None
Reader’s Way of Reading the Document:	Skim it _____ Study it __X___ Read a portion of it ___  Which portion? Modify it and submit it to another reader____
Reader’s Reading Skill:
Reader’s Physical Environment:	Most likely in wherever they receive the Printer for.