BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • CBBC
  • CBBC iPlayer
  • Newsround
  • Bitesize
  • CBeebies
  • CBBC on TV
  • CBBC Help
  • More menu
More menu
Search CBBC
  • CBBC
  • CBBC iPlayer
  • Newsround
  • Bitesize
  • CBeebies
  • CBBC on TV
  • CBBC Help
Close menu
HomeMenu
  • Home
  • Shows
  • Games
  • Quizzes
  • Watch
  • Join In
  • Newsround
Link to newsround

How does 3D printing work?

  • Published
    22 August 2011

So we've had 3D TV, movies and games - how about a 3D printer?

That's right, there's a new bit of kit that lets you to turn drawings into real-life 3D objects!

The idea is that one day it can be used to create things like toys and jewellery.

Leah's been to see how it all works - and even gets a copy of her face printed in 3D!

Watch Newsround

  • Watch Newsround. VideoWatch Newsround

    De-Graft in the studio with a dog in the screen
  • Watch Newsround - signed and subtitled. VideoWatch Newsround - signed and subtitled

    Newsround BSL logo with hands

Top stories

  • Brothers break record rowing from Peru to Australia

    • Comments
      1
    An aerial image of the brothers arriving at Cairns in Australia in their rowing boat.
  • Could glow in the dark plants be used as street lights?

    • Comments
      5
    succulents glowing red, green and blue in the dark
  • Signs of old flooded village appear as reservoir dries up

    • Comments
      3
    Haweswater valley pictured in May
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold left out of latest England squad

    • Comments
    Trent Alexander-Arnold.
  • Wildfires: Fire brigades tell Newsround about dangers of deliberate fires

    • Comments
      1
    Aftermath of Rainham grass fire shows a firefighter with a hose on a piece of blackened land
  • Quiz of the Week: Have you been following this week's news?

    quiz of the week
  • Rare snow leopard cub gets a name

    • Comments
      2
    a mother snow leopard and her tiny cub in the outside enclosure at the zoo

Best of CBBC

  • Try running your own Viking settlement

    • Attribution
      Bitesize
    Horrible Histories: Raid and Trade
  • Soak up the fun with SpongeBob in Bikini Bottom

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    SpongeBob SquarePants
  • Could the A-Troupe be in trouble?

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    The Next Step
  • Nitro pranks his fellow Gladiators

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Gladiators Epic Pranks
  • CBBC
  • CBBC iPlayer
  • Newsround
  • Bitesize
  • CBeebies
  • CBBC on TV
  • CBBC Help
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.