INTRODUCTION TO 3D PRINTING

 

Wikipedia defines 3D printing as any various processes used to make a three-dimensional object. In 3D printing, additive processes are used, in which successive layers of material are laid down under computer control. These objects can be of almost any shape or geometry, and are produced from a 3D model or other electronic data source. A 3D printer is a type of industrial robot. Another terminology used for 3D printing is Additive Manufacturing (AM).

 

3D printing in the term's original sense refers to processes that sequentially deposit material onto a powder bed with inkjet printer heads. More recently the meaning of the term has expanded to encompass a wider variety of techniques such as extrusion and sintering based processes. Technical standards generally use the term additive manufacturing for this broader sense.

 

3D Printing Technologies

While all 3D printers create objects using additive methods, different approaches exist to actually physically depositing the material.  The following are the most common methods used:

 

• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) or also commonly known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) . 

• Stereolithography (SLA)

• Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

• Selective Laser Melting(SLM)

• Powder Bed and Binder (coming soon)

 

Selective laser sintering (SLS) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) are the most common technologies using this way of printing. Another method of printing is to lay liquid materials that are cured with different technologies. The most common technology using this method is called stereolithography (SLA).

 

3D Printers

In the 3D printing industry, the printers are commonly categorised into the following:

 

• Industrial Grade Printers

• Consumer Grade Printers

 

The printers are commonly evaluated based on the following considerations:

 

• Technology

• Pricing

• Build Size

 

It is also importantly to know that consumables and spare part accessories should also be considered. 

 

Types of Material

Materials may differ depending on the material deposition technique used. For example, the most common for FDM is spooled ABS, PLA style plastic filaments. However, many other materials can be printed, including ceramic, metal, rubber, clear plastic, glass and others.  The materials available are dependent on the method of printing. 

 

Software

In the market, there are essential modeling and slicing software tools. Modeling tools are used in the design process and the files are typically saved as STL ( (STereoLithography) file format.

 

Slicing tools are used to slice the models into layers and saved as .gcode file formats so that the 3D printers can understand. 

 

The following sections will go into more details of each topic to allow you to (hopefully) understand more about 3D printing as the industry evolves. 

 

 

Source: See Terms of Use. 

 

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