3D printing:
3D printing is the process of converting any digital file into a real 3d object. You can draw using CAD design software or scan any object you would like to get into real object or you can simply download any files from the internet. Printer object is formed by successive layers of print material. 3d printing has been great impact in many industries such medical, science, engineering, aerospace, education and many more.
Methods and technologies:
Not all 3D printers use same technologies it differs printers to printers, but all printers ultimate function is to bring the real object it’s all about how it brings. Mostly and widely used technology for creating the final objects are Selective laser sintering (SLS) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) Another method of bringing the real object is to lay liquid material (stereolithography (SLA))
SLS (selective laser sintering)
SLS is an addictive manufacturing technique that requires the use of a higher electrical power laser light (a carbon dioxide laser) to help join little allergens connected with plastic, material, ceramic, or perhaps wine glass powders right size with a sought after three-dimensional form. The laser selectively fuses powdered material simply by encoding, cross-sections generated from your 3-D printer and description from the part (for the case in point from your CAD file or perhaps search within data) on the outside of the powdered cargo area. After each cross-section is actually scanned, this powdered cargo area is actually reduced simply by a single covering width, the latest covering connected with material is actually used number one, and the method is actually replicated before the part is actually finished..
Fused deposition modeling (FDM)
FDM starts with a product, process which forms an STL document, numerically cutting and situating the model for the manufacturing process. Within off the opportunity that obliged, help structures may be created. The machine may apportion numerous materials to accomplish diverse objectives like one could utilize various shades of the same sort of thermoplastic on the same model.
This aspect is created by expelling very small dots of thermoplastic material in order to design or form layers because the plastic material solidifies instantly right after extrusion from the nozzle which is sole heart of printing an object.
Once, after inserting the print material into an extruder, it pushes the material to the tip of the nozzle where the nozzle will be heated to melt the plastic to form the layers. The nozzle can be moved both horizontally and vertically as per the functionality. The mechanism used is often an X-Y-Z rectilinear design, although other mechanical designs such as deltabot have been employed.
Despite the fact that as a printing engineering FDM is exceptionally adaptable, and it is equipped for managing little shades by the backing from lower layers, FDM for the most part has a few limitations on the slant of the shade, and can't create unsupported stalactites.
Stereolithography (SLA)
SLA is an additive manufacturing process which uses the photopolymerization that uses a vat of liquid ultraviolet curable photopolymer “resin” and an ultraviolet laser to build parts' layers each one in turn.
It need the usage of supporting structures which serve to connect the path to the lift stage, counteract diversion because of gravity and hold the cross areas set up so they oppose horizontal weight from the re-coater edge. Backings are created consequently amid the readiness of 3d Computer Aided Design models for utilization on the stereolithography machine, in spite of the fact that they may be controlled physically. Helps must be expelled from the completed item physically, dissimilar to in other, less exorbitant, quick prototyping innovations.
Stereolithography is well known for its speed and it can produce a part up to a size of 50x50x60 cm, and if it is a huge machine that has the feature of stereolithography can generate 210x70x80cm.
Modeling
3d print objects can be created via CAD design or scanning process. Once the design is loaded through software (i.e pronterface) the printer will be ready to print the object after slicing them layer by layer. If consumers find difficult to scan or draw the object, they can download from thingiverse, shapeways, threeding.
Printing
The main process of a 3d printer is to print the object once the file is converted into .stl and loaded, the sliced file will start to get a print via the nozzle. Nozzle commonly comes as 1.75 or 3mm, printer follows the instruction we give in G code like layer thickness, print resolution, temperature, print speed, The more the time a printer takes to print the highest resolution print we might get. Calibration of a printer is a main factor to get good print. Once the temperature reaches its level the plastic get melt and flows through the nozzle and that’s how an object is being created in 3d printer.
Applications
Widely used in science and engineering, medical field, aerospace, automobiles, architecture, educational, entertainment.
3d printing technology has been widely used in many industries recently it was used by NASA and reached the sky. Even Mercedes internal small parts are printed object, and to further extent it’s been seriously under discussion and research to use for internal organs for humans researches might be testing this for animals first if it success then it will be a huge landmark for a 3d printing for now this additive manufacturing is being used for external organs like replacing wounded hand, fingers, artificial hand and leg so and so. Several terms have been used to refer to this field of research like: organ printing, bio-printing, and computer-aided tissue engineering.
Industrial printing
We all for mass production and assembling a full machine requires a lot of internal arts and the production cost will be high, here where 3d printing started to play its role more than decades 3d printing is available but after 2005 people in industrial filed has realized the value of 3d printing and its usage. As 3D printer can create multi parts in just one printer obviously it will save 10 times less than what they spend in the manufacturing process, manufactures, uses 3d printer to create prototypes and that’s why it named as Rapid Prototyping.
Personal 3d printing
If you just check online you can come to know how many 3d companies available in this industry, numerous project and engineers sharpening their brain to get innovative printers, personal printers are manufactured keeping enthusiast, hobbyist in mind. As the market grows day by day providing quality printers the price are coming down now you can get home desktop printers at very affordable rates from its starts from $300 to $4000.
The Reprap open source extends truly lighted this hobbyist market. For around a thousand dollars individuals can purchase the Reprap pack and set up together with their own particular individual 3d printer, complete with any customization they were equipped for making. What truly speeds the improvement is the open source thought. Everyone dealing with the Reprap offers their insight so other individuals can use it and enhance it.
Achievements of 3d printing technology
3D printer! It’s just an awesome machine that has the power capability, ability to dominate all the fields starting from the basic need of human being's food, home, clothes, organs and many. Just have a look at the videos to know the success it has in all industries.
First 3D Printer in space:
Chinese company uses 3D printer to build homes:
3D Printed Organ:
3D Printed Prosthetic Hand:
3D Printed Gun:
Chocolate 3D Printer:
Food 3D Printer:
3D Printed Dress:
Future of 3d printing
It is well analyzed by many research teams and the report says that additive manufacturing will stand tall in all industries where ever it goes. Technically already we have seen many changes in growth in this industry like food from printer, internal organs of human parts, and different print materials PLA, ABS, wooden print, even metallic print and we heard that HP is working on glass print and many more, many engineers, researchers are working on their own to bring more and more additional features which are good sign for 3d printing.
Day by day new innovation's comes out, and researchers say that 3d printing might emerge to 4 billion dollar profit in 2023 now that’s huge, since the market is wide and big enough, it doesn’t matter even the price gets decline as the years progress due to high competition. Though, the price will decline the quality of the printer will be more excellent along with multi features.
These might be some of the considerable changes we will see in near future:
- 3d print shop at our local store to purchase and have a printer in just hours.
- We will be surprised to see our kids coming to us and showing things they made with 3d printer.
- It’s already saved many lives, but in mere future this technology going to be one among medical equipment available in hospitals.
- 3d printing is going to be money saving for many industries.
- More new innovations will get into act using a 3D printer.
Soon or later 3d printer is going to exist in each and every home just like other accessories.