You are on page 1of 16

Introduction to 3D Printing

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. It is also known as rapid prototyping, is a mechanized method whereby 3D objects are quickly made on a reasonably sized machine connected to a computer containing blueprints for the object. he 3D printing concept of custom manufacturing is e!citing to nearly everyone. his revolutionary method for creating 3D models with the use of inkjet technology saves time and cost by eliminating the need to design" print and glue together separate model parts. #ow, you can create a complete model in a single process using 3D printing. he basic principles include materials cartridges, fle!ibility of output, and translation of code into a visible pattern. Typical 3D Printer 3D $rinters are machines that produce physical 3D models from digital data by printing layer by layer. It can make physical models of objects either designed with a %&D program or scanned with a 3D 'canner. It is used in a variety of industries including jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction, automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education and consumer products. he technology for printing physical 3D objects from digital data was first developed by %harles (ull in )*+,. (e named the technique as 'tereo lithography and obtained a patent for the technique in )*+-. .hile 'tereo lithography systems had become popular by the end of )*+/s, other similar technologies such as 0used Deposition 1odeling 20D13 and 'elective 4aser 'intering 2'4'3 were introduced. In )**3, 1assachusetts Institute of echnology 21I 3 patented another technology, named 53 Dimensional $rinting techniques5, which is similar to the inkjet technology used in 6D $rinters. In )**-, three major products, 57enisys5 from 'tratasys, 5&ctua 6)//5 from 3D 'ystems and 58,/65 from 8 %orporation were introduced. In 6//9, 8 %orp. launched a breakthrough product, named 'pectrum 89)/, which was the first high definition color 3D $rinter in the market. &nother breakthrough in 3D $rinting occurred in 6//- with the initiation of an open source project, named :eprap, which was aimed at developing a self;replicating 3D printer.

Current 3D Printing Technologies


Stereo lithography ; 'tereo lithographic 3D printers 2known as '4&s or stereo lithography apparatus3 position a perforated platform just below the surface of a vat of liquid photo curable polymer. & <= laser beam then traces the first slice of an object on the surface of this liquid, causing a very thin layer of photopolymer to harden. he perforated platform is then lowered

very slightly and another slice is traced out and hardened by the laser. &nother slice is then created, and then another, until a complete object has been printed and can be removed from the vat of photopolymer, drained of e!cess liquid, and cured. 0used deposition modeling ; (ere a hot thermoplastic is e!truded from a temperature;controlled print head to produce fairly robust objects to a high degree of accuracy. Selective laser sintering (SLS) ; his builds objects by using a laser to selectively fuse together successive layers of a cocktail of powdered wa!, ceramic, metal, nylon or one of a range of other materials. Multi-jet odeling (M!M) ; his again builds up objects from successive layers of powder, with an inkjet;like print head used to spray on a binder solution that glues only the required granules together. he =;0lash printer, manufactured by %anon, is low;cost 3D printer. It>s known to build layers with a light;curable film. <nlike other printers, the =0lash builds its parts from the top down. Desktop 0actory is a startup launched by the Idea lab incubator in $asadena, %alifornia. "a#$ho e% an e!perimental project based at %ornell <niversity, uses a syringe to deposit material in a manner similar to 0D1. he ine!pensive syringe makes it easy to e!periment with different materials from glues to cake frosting. In&jet 3D printing It creates the model one layer at a time by spreading a layer of powder 2plaster, or resins3 and inkjet printing binder in the cross;section of the part. It is the most widely used 3;D $rinting technology these days and the reasons beyond that are stated below. his technology is the only one that &llows for the printing of full color prototypes. <nlike stereo lithography, inkjet 3D printing is optimized for speed, low cost, and ease; of;use. #o to!ic chemicals like those used in stereo lithography are required. 1inimal post printing finish work is needed" one needs only to use the printer itself to blow off surrounding powder after the printing process. &llows overhangs and e!cess powder can be easily removed with an air blower. M'()"'CT)*I(+ ' M,D-L .IT/ T/- 3D P*I(T-* he model to be manufactured is built up a layer at a time. & layer of powder is automatically deposited in the model tray. he print head then applies resin in the shape of the model. he layer dries solid almost immediately. he model tray then moves down the distance of a layer and another layer of power is deposited in position, in the model tray. he print head again

applies resin in the shape of the model, binding it to the first layer. his sequence occurs one layer at a time until the model is complete. 'L+,*IT/M he algorithm used in the Inkjet 3;D $rinting is depicted in the figure mentioned below.

"I+)*- 01212

.,*3 "L,.
he workflow can be easily understood with the help of the flowchart given below. & 3;D prototype of a desired object is created in three basic steps and these steps are? $re;$rocess 3;D $rinting $ost;$rocess

"I+)*- 412 P*,C-SS 512 C'D Preparation (Pre-Process)6 Co puter-aided design 2C'D3, also known as co puter-aided design and dra7ting 2C'DD3, is used to prepare a 3;D or 6;D model of the desired object. 1odern %&D packages can also frequently allow rotations in three dimensions, allowing viewing of a designed object from any desired angle. 1ost 3D printers require a special file 2typically .stl format3 to print. &dditionally, we need to modify the design to make up for limitations of the printer and build material.

"I+)*- 51212

3D Printing6

he 3D printer runs automatically, depositing materials at layers @.//3A thick. his is roughly the thickness of a human hair or sheet of paper. he time it takes to print a given object depends primarily on the height of the design, but most designs take a minimum of several hours. he average cost for printing a full color prototype is somewhere between 9/ ; )// B.

"I+)*- 51812

Cleaning 3D Printouts (Post-Process)6

Cvery 3D printer uses some sort of material to support parts of the design that have an overhang. 'ome printers use a loose powder which can be blown off and reused in future models.

"I+)*- 51312

/ere you have the 9/an Solo in Car#onite: stage;

Po<der *e oval6

his is the sculpture with most of the support dust removed and it is then dipped in special glue that makes them stronger and more colorful.

"I+)*- 5131212

/eating

he models are heated to set the glue. It is funny to see the oven in this picture is a standard consumer grade.

"I+)*- 5131812

"inishing Touches he output of all e!isting 3D printers is rough. he te!tures vary from pronounced Dwood grainE to merely DsandyE, .ith a little elbow grease you can get stunning results.

"I+)*- 5131312

=ene7its o7 3D Printing
he most successful companies have adopted 3D printing as a critical part of the iterative design process to?

Increase Innovation $rint prototypes in hours, obtain feedback, refine designs and repeat the cycle until designs are perfect.

Improve %ommunication (old a full color, realistic 3D model in your hands to impart infinitely more information than a computer image. %reate physical 3D models quickly, easily and affordably for a wide variety of applications.

'peed ime to 1arket %ompress design cycles by 3D printing multiple prototypes on demand, right in your office.

:educe Development %osts %ut traditional prototyping and tooling costs. Identify design errors earlier. :educe travel to production facilities.

.in Fusiness Fring realistic 3D models to prospective accounts, sponsors and focus groups

'pplications

Design Prototypes: 3;Dimensional $rinting concept model, functional prototypes and presentation models for evaluating and refining design, including 0inite Clement &nalysis 20C&3 results and packaging. "I+)*- >1212

(o<% here <e have created a du y o7 a (o&ia o#ile phone 7or 7urther study and de onstration6 'ize? 3.9 ! 6 ! /.G inches 2* ! 9 ! 6 cm3 $rinting ime? /.9 hours

2),3

Education: Cngage students by bringing digital concepts into the real world, turning their ideas into real;life 3D color models that they can actually hold in their hands. /ere an electronic device circuit has co e to li7e <ith the help o7 a 3-D Printer6 'ize? + ! 9 ! 6.9 inches 26/ ! )3 ! - cm3 $rinting ime? 3 hours

"I+)*- >1812

2)93 8.3 Healthcare: :apidly produce 3D models to reduce operating time, enhance patient and physician communications, and improve patient outcomes. ' 3-D Prototype o7 the hori?ontal crossection o7 a hu an s&ull has #een prepared to allo< its #etter study6 'ize? *.+ ! G.* ! 3.* inches 269 ! 6/ ! )/ cm3 $rinting ime? 9.9 hours "I+)*- >1312

2)-3

1. 3D $rinting 'uccess 'tory

%amera mounts for the 1) tank and Fradley fighting vehicle were built and tested directly from digital files using the Dimension 3D $rinter.

"I+)*- @12

& 3D printer proved to be a valuable asset and played a key role in developing concepts for the &1$ :esearch &lloy 0uel Door for 7eneral 1otorsH (ummer (6 sport utility vehicle.

2)G3

Conclusion
#othing communicates ideas faster than a three;dimensional part or model. .ith a 3D printer you can bring %&D files and design ideas to life I right from your desktop. est form, fit and function I and as many design variations as you like I with functional parts. In an age in which the news, books, music, video and even our communities are all the subjects of digital dematerialization, the development and application of 3D printing reminds us that human beings have both a physical and a psychological need to keep at least one foot in the real world. 3D printing has a bright future, not least in rapid prototyping 2where its impact is already highly significant3, but also in medicine the arts, and outer space. Desktop 3D printers for the home are already a reality if you are prepared to pay for one andJor build one yourself. 3D printers capable of outputting in color and multiple materials also e!ist and will continue to improve to a point where functional products will be able to be output. &s devices that will provide a solid bridge between cyberspace and the physical world, and as an important manifestation of the 'econd Digital :evolution, 3D printing is therefore likely to play some part in all of our futures.

You might also like