3D printers have come a long way in a few years. 3D printers are now capable of printing food, houses, even organs; not just plastic parts. At Stuck Cog we are currently using Fused Deposition Modeling using PLA and PLA+ plastics.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing a type of additive manufacturing. This means that products created with FDM type 3D printers are created with layers. These layers are visible.
3D printing can be used to manufacture parts by the thousands or to rapid prototype your product and concept proof. Rapid prototyping means that you can get parts in a days; not weeks like traditional tool and dye.