<p>Frame challenge: is it just 1D printing? Each G1 command moves linearly in a single one dimensional affine subspace of the build volume.</p>
<p>What makes 3D printing 3D is that the resulting object produced is three dimensional. There are indeed a lot of advances to be made in FDM printing by not working only within constant-Z cross sections at a time, but these are matters of surface quality/accuracy and the classes of geometry that are printable, not efficiency.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-23T03:22:05.970Z
2021-04-23T03:22:05.970Z
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<p>The Z axis moves between each layer so you are indeed printing in the 3rd dimension.  There are some techniques that move all three axis at the same time.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-23T02:44:54.960Z
2021-04-23T02:44:54.960Z
Engineer Bill
<blockquote>
<p>I was wondering the other day why don't all three motors move at the same time?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That is perfectly possible for most printers (with limitations, &quot;3D Printing&quot; with all steppers being used is called &quot;non-planar&quot; printing), but there are some major cons you need to deal with. First, there are not that many software suites that slice objects perfectly well like the &quot;normal&quot; per &quot;fixed/variable layer height&quot; slicing as the slicers are under developed. Second, it requires a specific tall and slender nozzle/print head, else the height of printing is very limited. Last, besides generally not being useful for rectangular prints (except for 90° overhanging structures<sup>1)</sup>), this method is only/best suitable for curved objects as the top layer will follow the contours of the object.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It makes sense if a 3D printer really does print with all three motors moving.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>No, it does not make sense, the essentials of 3D printing it that it produces a 3D object, not that all stepper motors should be running simultaneously.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Won't it also be more efficient if they do 3D print in all axes?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Not necessarily, there are limitations to non-planar printing like geometry and print quality, but, you could (in some cases) print with less support material.</p>
<hr />
<p><sup>1)</sup> : From <a href="https://xyzdims.com/2021/03/03/3d-printing-90-overhangs-without-support-structure-with-non-planar-slicing-on-3-axis-printer/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rene K. Mueller, published March 3, 2021, https://xyzdims.com</a>:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/eaJm0.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are tilted sliced"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/eaJm0.png" alt="Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are tilted sliced" title="Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are tilted sliced" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Liiiw.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are conically sliced"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Liiiw.png" alt="Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are conically sliced" title="Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are conically sliced" /></a></p>
<p><em>Note that these are <strong>demonstration</strong> pieces, normally you would rotate the print for 90° and print it sliced normal (planar).</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-23T07:06:44.157Z
2021-04-23T07:06:44.157Z
0scar
<p>I was wondering the other day why don't all three motors move at the same time? Don't normal paper printers move 2 motors at a time? they're 2D printers. It makes sense if a 3D printer really does print with <em>all</em> three motors moving. Won't it also be more efficient if they do 3D print in all axes?</p>

<3d-design><mechanics>
Is 3D printing really just 2D printing? Because only 2 motors move per layer
Friendio1
# Is 3D printing really just 2D printing? Because only 2 motors move per layer

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-23)

I was wondering the other day why don't all three motors move at the same time? Don't normal paper printers move 2 motors at a time? they're 2D printers. It makes sense if a 3D printer really does print with *all* three motors moving. Won't it also be more efficient if they do 3D print in all axes?

**Tags:** 3d-design, mechanics

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-04-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

> I was wondering the other day why don't all three motors move at the same time?

That is perfectly possible for most printers (with limitations, "3D Printing" with all steppers being used is called "non-planar" printing), but there are some major cons you need to deal with. First, there are not that many software suites that slice objects perfectly well like the "normal" per "fixed/variable layer height" slicing as the slicers are under developed. Second, it requires a specific tall and slender nozzle/print head, else the height of printing is very limited. Last, besides generally not being useful for rectangular prints (except for 90° overhanging structures1)), this method is only/best suitable for curved objects as the top layer will follow the contours of the object.

> It makes sense if a 3D printer really does print with all three motors moving.

No, it does not make sense, the essentials of 3D printing it that it produces a 3D object, not that all stepper motors should be running simultaneously.

> Won't it also be more efficient if they do 3D print in all axes?

Not necessarily, there are limitations to non-planar printing like geometry and print quality, but, you could (in some cases) print with less support material.

---

1) : From [Rene K. Mueller, published March 3, 2021, https://xyzdims.com](https://xyzdims.com/2021/03/03/3d-printing-90-overhangs-without-support-structure-with-non-planar-slicing-on-3-axis-printer/):
[![Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are tilted sliced](https://i.sstatic.net/eaJm0.png "Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are tilted sliced")](https://i.sstatic.net/eaJm0.png "Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are tilted sliced")
[![Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are conically sliced](https://i.sstatic.net/Liiiw.png "Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are conically sliced")](https://i.sstatic.net/Liiiw.png "Non-planar slicing for printing 90° overhangs are conically sliced")

*Note that these are **demonstration** pieces, normally you would rotate the print for 90° and print it sliced normal (planar).*


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-23. Score: 2

Frame challenge: is it just 1D printing? Each G1 command moves linearly in a single one dimensional affine subspace of the build volume.

What makes 3D printing 3D is that the resulting object produced is three dimensional. There are indeed a lot of advances to be made in FDM printing by not working only within constant-Z cross sections at a time, but these are matters of surface quality/accuracy and the classes of geometry that are printable, not efficiency.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-23. Score: 1

The Z axis moves between each layer so you are indeed printing in the 3rd dimension. There are some techniques that move all three axis at the same time.


---

