This name is as much historical as it is technical. In the "real world" historical naming often takes precedent, irregardless of any technical nuance.
The original 2D printer was a plotter for CAD drawings / maps / etc. (Yes, I'm an old fart ... I've used them.) It was literally a pen held perpendicular to a sheet of paper. There were 2 motors (via a gantry and cable system) that would control the X and Y coordinates of the pin. (There as generally a small servo to lift the pen off the paper when you didn't want to draw, but that's about it. Very simple machines.)
So ... for the engineers in the room, calling it a 3D printer just makes perfect sense... Now you are controlling the X, Y, AND Z coordinates.
This name is as much historical as it is technical. In the "real world" historical naming often takes precedent, irregardless of any technical nuance.
The original 2D printer was a plotter for CAD drawings / maps / etc. (Yes, I'm an old fart ... I've used them.) It was literally a pen held perpendicular to a sheet of paper. There were 2 motors (via a gantry and cable system) that would control the X and Y coordinates of the pin. (There as generally a small servo to lift the pen off the paper when you didn't want to draw, but that's about it. Very simple machines.)
So ... for the engineers in the room, calling it a 3D printer just makes perfect sense... Now you are controlling the X, Y, AND Z coordinates.
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