3D printing involves the process of making or creating a real three dimensional object. The objects created by the 3D printer can be plastic, nylon, metal and many other types of materials. It is used to print end user products, manufacturing prototypes, aircraft engine parts and also even by using the human cells it can able to build organs. What is 3D printing? The other name for 3D printing is called as additive manufacturing. 3D printers utilize variety of different additive manufacturing technologies. All those technologies share one core matter in common. That is they create 3D objects by building layer by layer successfully until the entire physical object is complete. It is as simple as printing 2D on a sheet of paper, but in 3D it includes the third one Z-axis.
Each and every layer is thinly sliced & horizontal cross section of the object. You just imagine the baker makes the cake layer by layer till the entire cake is ready. 3D printing is also similar to baking but with bit more conscious. The 3D Printer needs a set of instructions from the computer to perform the process. In order to create a physical model it requires computer aided design software. The virtual designs are made using CAD file by using 3 dimensional modeling programs or by using 3D scanner. The created file is sent to the three dimensional printer and along the way, the software slices the design model into thousands or hundreds of horizontal layers. Hence these layers are printed layer by layer that is printed along the way top until the object is complete.
Many manufactures used printers in long for the design process to develop or create prototype in traditional manufacturing. But last few years printers have become expensive & slow. What is 3D printing? It is the process of making 3D solid object from a file. 3D printers are industrial robots. Now with the introduction of fast 3D printers the expense is moreover affordable (thousands of dollars) only and it saves many companies in investing the amount in prototyping process. Nowadays NIKE Company use 3D printers to create variety of colored prototypes of chapels & shoes. Before some years they used to spend more money and time on a prototype. Now due to less cost of 3D printers they can change the designs instantly on the computer and prototype can be printed on the same day.
Some manufacturing company’s uses 3D printers for custom or short run where the printed physical objects are not prototype but original end user products. Suppose if any part of your washing machine got repair. Now you would order the damaged part from the repairman. He usually gets it from a distributor who purchase those things shipped from China. They may mass-produce hundreds or thousands at once which are developed from an expensive mold. Hence in future this kind of situation will completely be reduced or stopped. In future everyone may use 3D printers at home who can print right part from a downloaded CAD file or can able to print at nearby printer shops.
3D printing is a process of producing a three-dimensional object by placing many layers of a material one over the other. This form of printing is carried out under computer control.3D printing is otherwise known as three-dimensional printing. Three-dimensional objects can be created in any shape or structure and of any material. The source is basically from a 3D model or a digital model. 3D is entirely different from all other types of printing. In this process, powdered form of any material is applied over 3D inkjet printers.3D printing technology is used in industrial, commercial and many other applications. This technique is quite complex from 2D type of printing. A digital design is achieved using this 3D printing. 3D printing is supported by a 3D modeling software. This printing is said to be an additive manufacturing process. There are various types of three dimensional printing.
Three-dimensional printing is useful for making new products and technologies. It’s easy to operate the printer and anyone can operate it without any difficulty. But the cost of 3D printers is high and the software cannot be bought at affordable rates. It may take many numbers of days or months to print the 3D object. There are some printers available for personal use that is of medium cost.3D printers are designed in such a way that the people without any knowledge of printers can also use. This is in contrast to traditional method of printing. This printer is connected to the computer and operated with the help of 3D software. The software is helpful in creating 3D digital model. The model formed is sliced into layers. It is converted into a design that can be read by the printers.
There are various 3D printing technologies. Each printer varies from the other in printing different materials. Various materials like plastics, metals etc are used. Printers will process layer by layer and build a defined shape. Stereo lithography was the first 3D printing process and it was for commercial use. This method gives the exact result and end product will be complete. It works with the help of laser light. Digital light processing is another technique like lithography but it uses photopolymers for its operation.
3D printing is an advanced technology for manufacturing any parts and is different from the other manufacturing techniques that are present today. The objects can be created with perfect size and shape with interesting features at a reasonable price. Tools are not employed in this process, so it makes the job easier. It uses standard and quality materials for the product to give a long operating life. For the people who are still confused on what is 3D printing, the simple answer is, it’s the process of creating an object with layers.3D printing can make even complex designs simpler. With the advent of this technology, the whole world utilizes its use to make wonders happen. Definitely 3D printers are a boon to the industrialists and all others. If we have given new great things to the world, all the credit goes to this wonderful machine called 3D printer.
3D printing is an amazing technology which involves the process of making 3D solid object from a file (digital). The physical objects are created by using additive processes. It involves an object is created by placing down the successive material layers. Each layer is seen as slice thinned horizontal cross section of the physical object. How 3D Printing Works? At first you have to make a virtual design of the object that you want to create. The virtual designs are made using Computer Aided Design (CAD) modeling software such as Sketchup, Solidworks, 123D Design and Blender or by using 3D scanner. This 3D scanner will scan the object to make a digital copy. For generating 3D models, 3D scanners utilize different technologies such as volumetric scanning, structured or modulated light, time of flight and many more.
Nowadays many big IT companies like Google and Microsoft made their hardware to workout 3D scanning. Microsoft’s kinect is a good example. Hence in future we can expect smart phones with inclusion of this 3D scanning technology. Digitizing or scanning the real physical objects into 3D models will become easier than capturing pictures. 3D professional scanners are very expensive. When you decide to print the digital file for 3D printing the modeling 3D software slices out the object model into thousands of horizontal layers. On uploading the sliced file in 3D printer the physical object is created layer by layer. The 3D printer reads out each and every slice and creates a physical object by blending the layers hardly to stick together.
3D printer is an amazing technology where a real object is created through single process and has lot of benefits. It incredibly reduces time, money and man power. The 3D printer utilized by lot of manufacturing companies gives an efficient lifetime unbreakable products. The are various 3D printing technologies that exist today. They are Fused Deposition Modeling, Stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering and more.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
In Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology, a hot thermoplastic material is pushed from a temperature controlled print to produce real object with high accuracy to original 3D model. In this method, the object is split into two sections. The plastic is heated and melted and the liquid form plastic is squeezed through into the nozzle which extrudes into the required section of the object. Once a layer is laid, it is cooled and hardened and then the next layer is deposited. The set up is simple and easy to handle. The products produced with this technique and materials have good physical and chemical properties.
Stereolithography (SLA)
Stereolithography (SLA) was the first technology that was practiced in 3D printing. This technique is based on liquid printing and was used in 3D printers for commercial purposes. The idea behind this technology is to be appreciated as it produces a well-defined 3D object. Stereo lithography was the only technology that was practiced in earlier days. After the advent of 3D printing technologies, this technology began to subside slightly. But it still used for many applications. In this method, the material is a liquid. This liquid material is converted into solid object with the help of a machine.
First, the CAD software processes the design or model and produces a file format that has description about the 3d object. The machine spreads the liquid and deposits a layer with the help of laser light. Once the layer becomes hard, the printer holds down for few seconds and starts printing the next layer. After the printing is done, the object is washed with a solution and placed in a UV furnace for the final finish. The printers need a design format and it must be understandable by them. STL is the format that Stereo lithography use for 3d object printing. This format contains all the information about the object such as size, shape, structure, geometry, measurements etc. The quality of the finished object depends on the type of SLA used.
Other 3D Printing Technologies
In Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing technology type an object is built by using laser to fuse together the successive layers of a mixer of other powdered substances like metal, ceramic, wax, nylon or other materials.
3D printing is a process that includes all the technologies for creating a three-dimensional object. Each technology uses a material. The materials for the technologies differ one from the other. The similarity between various technologies is that a computer is needed for all the methods and software is required to create a model or design for an object. The materials for these technologies can be plastic, metal, nylon etc.
3D printing process produces an amazing final product and objects are created with fine materials which are strong enough. Materials like plastics, ceramics, metals and sand are used for many industrial prototyping & in productions. Types of 3D printing materials used in 3D printers are as follows:
Metal
There are lots of metal types which are used for industrial 3D printing. Most common used types are cobalt and aluminum derivates. And stainless steel metal in powdered form for melting or sintering or EBM processes. This silver metal can be plated with many other materials to produce bronze or gold effects. In last few years the gold and silver metal materials are used in 3D printers which find its place in jewelry applications. These two metals are really strong which are processed in powder form. Titanium is also one of the strongest metal materials used in industrial applications and it is usually supplied in powder form used for melting and sintering processes.
Metals are used for printing and used in many industrial applications. Stainless steel is a strong and thick metal that is used in powdered form for printing. It is silver colored and this can be coated with other metals to give a new appearance. Metals like gold and silver are widely used for making jewels. They are used directly for making designs. Titanium is another strong material that has some role in the printing industry. It has light weight and it is used in powdered form for creating models.
Ceramics & Paper
Ceramics are newly added 3D printing materials in 3D printers and the process after printing has to go according to the same way as using traditional way of productions for example glazing and firing. The products are made out of 3D printing with different levels of success. The paper is easily available and less cost materials used in 3D printers. The objects created using paper are environmentally safe & friendly, recyclable and do not need post processing.
Plastics
Filament form is widely used as the material in fused deposition modeling (FDM) process. Due to the properties of flexible, durable and strong ability of this plastic material it is reliable for 3D printing as well as the colour option. Colour can also be added during post printing. ABS is commonly used plastic and used in filament form in FDM 3D printers. This kind of plastic is strong and come in variety of colours. From lot of non proprietary source this plastic material can be bring in filament form. Thus it is popular. PLA are used in filament format for FDM process and resin form for SL/DSL processes. This plastic is bio degradable and comes in different colors including transparent. This has been useful for many applications of 3D printing.
Plastics are strong materials that are used in 3D printing. Nylon is a white colored plastic material known for its high strength, low weight, good quality and durability. They are flexible and have a long life that can be used over a wide range of period. It is used alone as a raw material in the form of powder and even can be combined with other materials to produce another raw material for creating three-dimensional object. Nylon is also used as filaments in 3D printing technologies.
Bio Material & Food
The research has been on process for 3D printing using bio materials for medical and many other applications. Many institutions are researching to build human organs for transplant using living tissues through 3D printing and also using external tissues for body part replacements. Next research is to develop foodstuffs like meat using 3D printers. Research is been conducted to produce balanced whole meals using 3D printers and also printers are provided that work with sugar.
A wide range of materials is used in 3D printing industry. It includes plastic, polymers, metals, ceramics and many more. Each material has a physical and chemical property that differs from the other material. Don’t get confused on what material to choose and why. There are so many things to be considered while selecting a material. It’s always necessary to compare the materials with one another in order to rely on the best one.
Innovation of 3D printers is an excellent job and it involves the process of creating a real object from the 3D model digital file in printers. Here three dimensional objects are created by successive layers by additive manufacturing technologies. 3D printers are massively used in both manufacturing and industrial applications. 3D printing technology applied in industrial process is mainly to reduce the money and time consumption & producing the product on time and arrive quickly. Following are some of the 3D printing applications.
Jewellery Sector
Traditionally in the process of jewel making higher levels of expertise with more knowledge is required in specific disciple like mould- making, fabrication, casting, forging, electroplating, stone cutting, gold smiting and polishing. Hence for making a single jewelry product lot of steps have been gone through and now with the introduction of 3D printing technology it saves time and money. Hence it eliminates many traditional steps that involved.
Medical Sector
In order to improve people’s lives lot of materials are developed and process has been improved with many technologies which meet standards of medical grade. The research has been on process for 3D printing using bio materials for medical and many other applications. Many institutions are researching to build human organs for transplant using living tissues through 3D printing and also using external tissues for body part replacements. The technology is on process for the development of three dimensional printing of bones, skin, tissues and pharmaceuticals. Printing In addition to support of making prototypes for product development in dental and medical industries, the utilized technologies makes patterns for metal casting of tooth crowns and also in manufacturing of certain tools.
Electronics Sector
Lot and lot of electronics products are produced using 3D printers for smart phones, automobile and for military aerospace applications. For example Compared to traditional process printing cell phone antenna is very flexible, compact and reduced product thickness. It does not involve any process such as hard tooling, adding plastic resins and plating processes, completely driven digitally. The 3D printers directly print complex three dimensional molded interconnect devices with line and pitch on all surface materials. And also it directly writes down the needed specifications on the circuit and reduces the time in work process. The 3D printed circuits are used to create heater patterns on polycarbonate (PC) materials for automotive applications. The PC used in glazing applications saves weight up to 50% compared to glass using. Using 3D printers the open source robots are been built.
Architecture Sector
Transformation is the key in today’s worlds of design and manufacturing sectors. 3D printing has made its foot prints in art & furniture manufacturing, making toys for children and fashion. People in many countries scan their head and replicated in plastics. Colorful products are being produced with different kinds of materials and are strong enough. Some of the materials are reusable. 3D printing applications in architecture reduces number of steps, saves time in design phase and retains the fine details of the architectural plan.
Technology has started to tap the doors of all the business and industries to a great extent. Drastic changes are happening every minute in this digital world. 3D printing technology is first of its kind that was just invented to use in the industries. But man has started to understand its worth and has implemented the same in ample fields to great extent of his knowledge. People are just eager to use all kind of opportunity to execute and put into operation all the technology which gives pleasure and happiness to human kind. 3D printing applications is applicable and significant in all the major industries and business. They have brought a huge change in the way man is thinking from the land to the sky.
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