From forming small-scale action figures to assembling entire apartment buildings, 3D printing, devised in the early 1980s, is a rapidly expanding and increasingly commonplace technology d this slim entry in the Cutting-Edge Technology series introduces youngsters to the basics of the budding tech trend in five breezy chapters. Following a brief overview of the printing process and the products it provides osthetic arms, jewelry, tools, and more ell also illuminates four primary printer categories, the materials used in each, and remarkable real-word manufacturing feats, such as 3D-printed braces and vehicles. Notably, the penultimate chapter addresses two problems commonly associated with 3D printing: safety concerns and pollution. At once straightforward and chock-full of fun facts, Abell's text, peppered with boldface vocabulary words, will both engage and educate. With vivid full-page photos throughout (including a step-by-step closeup of the printer itself), as well as an appended glossary, reading-comprehension quiz, and suggestions for further reading, this is a well-rounded classroom resource sure to jump-start scientific curiosity d creativity even the youngest readers.