Recoater

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A device or person that applies an additional coating or layer to a surface to enhance protection, appearance, or functionality
2. An apparatus or individual responsible for spreading or renewing a coating layer on an object for maintenance or improvement purposes
3. One who or that which deposits a fresh covering or finish over an existing surface to restore, protect, or modify its characteristics

Etymology: "Recoater" is a plain formation: the verb "recoat," meaning to apply a fresh coat of paint, varnish, or similar covering to something, with the agent suffix "-er" attached to name the device that does the job. The suffix "-er" has been used this way since Old English, where it turned verbs into words for doers and tools, so a recoater is literally a thing that recoats. The term is most at home in technical settings. In industrial manufacturing, particularly in additive (3D) printing, a recoater is the blade or roller that spreads a fresh layer of powder across the build platform before each pass of the laser or binder. Each new layer is laid down by the recoater, which is why the word describes a machine part as much as a generic tool.

Synonyms: coater, applicator